Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Dr. Julie
This article will teach all dog owners how to get a dog to gain weight fast, especially those in desperate need of gaining a few pounds.
It is common to see overweight dogs in desperate need of losing a few kilos, but what about the dogs that need to gain more weight?
If your dog is suffering from weight loss for whatever reason, there are many health tips and tricks to help him gain weight. Your dog’s health is critical; ensure you maintain a balance of exercise and diet.
It is possible to get underweight dogs to return to a healthy weight; however, it will come from dedicated nutrition and care.
Table of Contents
Is Your Dog Underweight?
It is easy to look at your dog and tell if it’s underweight or not. Are you noticing your dog’s ribs, spine, pelvic with no trace of fat? Is your dog lethargic all the time? Has its coat lost its beautiful shine and instead is faded, and the hair looks lumpy? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then your dog could be underweight and requires additional nourishment.
The first step to take if you have an underweight dog is to take it to the vet to rule out underlying medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism. If your vet rules out no sickness, then it’s time to fatten up your dog.
How To Get Your Dog To Gain Weight Fast
Here are several ways on how to make a dog gain weight fast
Introduce A New Feeding Schedule
Dogs are different in how they metabolize and process their food, but the concept is quite similar. A good example is people who eat a few hours before bedtime are more likely to gain weight. Doctors encourage us not to eat right before bed, as our body will store the nutrients as fat. If you use this logic in reverse, you can help your dog gain some required pounds.
If you feed your dog twice a day, consider giving it smaller portions of food in the morning and a more significant amount at night. This causes its body to store fat during sleep instead of bun the energy. This method ensures that your dog does not burn off the much-needed calories while exercising throughout the day.
Another weight gain method is to feed your small dog meals frequently times. Split your dog’s daily dose of food into 3 or 4 meals. You will be providing him with nutrients all through the day. Whatever schedule you choose should help your dog add weight.
Be careful when taking your dog out for exercise after eating. Always allow a 30-minute break for food to settle to avoid bloating.
Feed Your Dog With High Protein Or High-Calorie Dog Food
If you have ever raised a puppy, you understand the importance of high protein and high-calorie dog food. The increased nutrients aid in young dogs’ growth and development and are necessary for puppies to grow into adulthood. High-calorie and high protein foods can be expensive, but they are worth it.
Learn more about: Best Dry Dog Food For Rottweilers
You can use this diet for underweight dogs! Use high protein and fat food to help your dog gain weight over a period. This method aids your dog to gain weight gradually by using high protein and fat food, as you will start to notice within a few weeks.
If you can find a higher protein in the same meat protein you are already feeding, start by adding it immediately! If you need to switch meat proteins to give it more nutrients, mix a small amount of the new food in your dog’s old diet. It will go a long way in preventing any stomach upset.
To make this formula,
Start with 10% new food and 90% old food. Increase the new food daily until you reach 100% new food. This could take anything between 10 to 14 days. Your dog could experience an upset stomach for a few weeks after. Should you have any concerns, consult your vet.
Feed It with Pumpkin and Sweet Potato
Sweet potato and pumpkin are excellent weight-gaining secrets!
If you want to help your dog gain weight, but do not want to give it more meat protein, try adding sweet potato or pumpkin to his food. This will boost it in fat and fiber to help him put on a few pounds. The nutrients from these two foods prevent him from having an upset stomach.
Learn more about: Can Dogs Have Raw Pumpkin? An In-Depth Look
Feed Your Dog With Peanut Butter and Extra Whole Food Treats
Extra calories to an underweight dog are significant in helping it add some weight. To help your dog quickly gain weight, give it high-fat treats throughout the day and before bedtime. A peanut is an excellent option! All-natural peanut butter is healthier than most dog treats but helps both humans and dogs gain weight quickly.
When feeding your dog with peanuts, try to give them a healthy treat as a vegetable piece with peanut butter. Carrots are low acidity and low sugar treat that will reduce the risk of stomach upset. Do not feed your dog with high acidity foods like fruit with peanut butter, as this can cause stomach upset.
Provide More Exercises
Some people associate exercise with losing weight. However, a large portion of a dog’s weight should be muscle, not flesh. Introducing regular exercise for your dog will help it maintain proper weight and build muscle. Paired with a high protein and fat diet should fill your dog in no time.
Final Words
Getting a dog to gain weight is an easy process but must be consistent with bearing fruits. Choose the food you will be feeding your dog and get into a consistent feeding schedule until it gains the right amount of weight you need.
Be sure to talk to the vet about your dog’s ideal weight because you want to avoid getting it obese. If your dog needs to put on a significant amount of weight, it’s best to start talking to the vet before incorporating any new food schedules.
Have you had a dog that suffered from being underweight? Let us know how you helped it reach the ideal weight. Share with us your success stories and tips to help many more dog lovers.
