Having proper knowledge about the best foods for dogs to gain weight or lose weight is essential if you want your dog to live a happy and healthy life. The condition of the body predicts the dog’s health. So, it’s the responsibility of the dog owner to maintain his body mass.
Some dogs are more likely to gain weight and become obese than underweight. Before talking about the best foods for dogs to gain weight, let’s take a look at different reasons why dogs become underweight and how we can help them gain weight.
Why do dogs lose weight and become underweight?
Loss of weight in dogs can be due to various reasons. Maybe your dog suffered from an injury or illness recently or it was adopted or rescued from somewhere where it wasn’t getting adequate nutrition, or it is a picky eater and doesn’t eat to its appetite.
It is also possible that your dog is internally fighting disease. It is quite possible that your dog is suffering from some problem without showing it. These problems may include but are not limited to diabetes, dental issues, anxiety, illness, surgery, thyroid problems, allergies, liver disease, etc.
So, no matter what’s your dog’s condition, there must be proper food for the dog to gain weight if it is underweight. But before getting into the main topic, you must be wise enough to guess whether your dog is skinny or not.
What happens if my dog is underweight or overweight?
Unlike humans who think it’s good to be slim and smart, the case is not similar in dogs. Underweight dogs may suffer from many diseases, and it weakens their immune system, so they are more susceptible to harmful diseases than those having normal weight.
Malnourished dogs can catch a cold easily, or they may suffer from parasitic infections, so you must be wise enough to feed the best foods for the dog to gain weight to achieve an ideal weight.
While dogs which are overweight are prone to joints, heart disease, and breathing problems, research studies reveal that being overweight leads to a decrease in the life span of dogs. So, it’s essential to keep an eye on your dog; it should neither be overweight nor underweight.
How can I help my dog gain weight?
If your dog is too skinny, you can help it gain weight by
- Feeding the food rich in proteins and fats. Proteins and fats have proven natural ingredients to pack weight on your dog’s body.
- Try to change the meal schedule; if your dog eats twice a day, give it once in the morning and the second when it will be about to sleep. Research studies show that if we eat something just before sleeping hours, it will be stored as fat in our bodies. So, your dog’s case is not different from this, and you notice visible pounds on your dog’s body just within a couple of weeks.
- The third way is to increase the amount of your dog food. Most dogs are prone to weight loss just because of malnutrition. If your dog eats twice a day, your task is to encourage it to eat four times a day. Decide a food for the dog to gain weight– proper food, more food, more energy, more fats, and proteins are needed to gain weight.
- Some dogs are prone to lose weight because they are involved in strenuous activities and games. A moderate walk and exercise are a must, but they should not exceed the limit; otherwise, your dog has to pay a high cost of it in the form of losing weight.
- Stress is the root cause of all the illnesses; keep your dog happy if you want your dog to gain weight.
How many calories are required to gain proper weight for dogs?
It is difficult to calculate the accurate number of calories the dog requires, which varies with the breed, age, and gender.
The average young dog consumes 20-30 calories per pound. Young dogs need 30-43 calories per pound compared to young dogs that require 20-25 calories to avoid being overweight. If you provide the proper amount of the best foods for the dog to gain weight, your dog will undoubtedly gain good weight.
How many times should I feed my dog?
Feeding more than two times per day is a sound approach instead of providing your dog with a whole bowl of food one or two times to gulp.
How can I know that my dog is underweight?
The simplest and most straightforward way is to give a stand-up command to your dog and see or touch its ribs, spines, and pelvic bones with no fat barrier. Check if the coat or skin of your buddy is loose, shining, or lusty, and if so, unluckily, your dog is underweight.
It would be best to immediately visit the vet to address this issue and rule out medical problems. Your puppy may be affected by malnutrition and poor food.
You don’t have to look further for the best foods for dogs to gain weight as we have compiled a list of the foods to sort out this hassle for you.
Signs that indicate that a dog is too skinny
If your dog’s physical appearance is light, with easily visible ribs, and you feel no evidence of fat, your dog might be underweight.
If your puppy is physically not active and is lethargic all the time, he is probably underweight; you should immediately consult your vet, follow his prescription and dig for the best foods for dogs to gain weight.
Best Foods for Dogs to Gain Weight
Below are the 10 best foods for dogs to gain weight that are available commercially.
1) Bully Max High-Performance Super-Premium Dry Dog Food
Bully max high-performance super-premium dog food contains a plethora of proteins. The metabolism of dogs is different from humans, and a high proportion of proteins and fat is required to gain weight. It’s a dry food containing grain that does not interrupt the digestive system.
Ingredients:
Chicken meal, chicken fat, Brown rice, Ground sorghum, dried plain beet pulp, pearled barley, Vitamins, Minerals, antioxidants, etc. It is free from wheat, soy, and corn.
Benefits:
It is enriched with 30% protein and 20% fat, all necessary nutrients; hence it is the best food choice for dogs to gain weight.
2. CRAVE Protein containing dry dog food
Crave should be one of the best foods for dogs to gain that pet owners want for their dogs. Crave food offers 460 calories per cup and is best for lactating or nursing female dogs.
Ingredients:
Salmon, Seafood, Chicken meal, Split peas, Chicken peas, Chicken fat, Lamb meal, Fish meal, Chelated minerals, etc.
Benefits:
Crave has a lot of benefits, containing 34% proteins and 17% fats. It offers a particular type of salmon food and minerals and is thus one of the best foods for dogs to gain weight.
3. Solid Gold Barking at moon high protein dry dog food
Solid gold dry food is one of the best foods for dogs to gain weight and is free from grain, gluten, wheat, and soy.
Being a house of natural ingredients boosts the energy level, strengthens the muscles, supports healthy metabolism, and suits young dogs of all stages.
Ingredients:
Beef, Dried egg, Ocean fish meal, Pea proteins, Minerals, Antioxidants, etc.
Benefits:
Gold’s formula consists of 41% proteins and 20% fats without grains and offers 345 calories per cup, all vitamins, carbohydrates, and antioxidants.
4. Nature’s Logic Canine feast meal dry dog food
Nature’s Logic feast meal dry dog food is a complete package of premium ingredient food, a mix of nutrients with digestive enzymes and is best food for dogs for gain weight. Nature’s logic is enriched with all-natural ingredients and is free from synthetic ingredients.
Ingredients:
Chicken meal, Chicken fat, Pumpkinseed, Millet, prebiotic digestive enzymes, Yeast culture, etc.
Benefits:
This premium ingredient food offers 417 calories per cup, 36% proteins, 5% fibre, 15% fat, and prebiotic enzymes.
5. Elite k9 Nutritious Maximum Bully Dog Food
The formula of this dog food contains real chicken and pork, which deliver more Protein, fats, and natural flavors per bite. Elite K9 food provides all the indispensable vitamins, minerals needed for activeness, healthy and long life of your friend, so it’s the reason to enlist it among the best foods for dogs to gain weight.
Ingredients:
Natural Chicken, Pork meal, White rice, Chicken fat, Barely, Cranberry, Oatmeal, Pumpkins, etc.
Benefits:
This recipe delivers 481 calories per cup and is designed by keeping a high proportion of 32% Protein and a balanced ratio of 22% fat and carbohydrate.
6. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Sport Dry Food
Purina pro plan dog food is a sport-inspired food that pounds on young lightweight dogs and gives your puppy a fluffy look.
Ingredients:
Real chicken, Brewer’s rice, Gluten cornmeal, Animal fat mixed with Tocopherols, a by-product of poultry meal, etc.
Benefits:
Offering 30% proteins and 20% fat, 475 calories per cup, Amino acids and antioxidants. So, you can rely on this one of the best foods for dogs to gain weight without thinking twice.
7. Nulo freestyle limited-dry dog food
Nulo freestyle dry food is designed especially for sensitive dogs that faces problems regarding the digestive system. Many vets recommend it because the prebiotic enzymes stimulate the streamline of digestion.
Ingredients:
Salmon meal, Deboned salmon, Chickpeas, Canola oil, and Chickpea flour, etc.
Benefits:
This dog food is enriched with a salmon meal and also coated with Omega 3 and fatty acids. It serves 430 calories per cup, 30% protein, and 17% fats.
8. Taste of Wild grain-free dog food
The taste of wild dog food has a different flavor than other dog foods best for dogs to gain weight. It consists of the unique flavor of natural water buffalo and is free from any grains and eggs.
Ingredients:
Chicken meal, Lamb meal, and Water buffalo meal, etc.
Benefits:
It offers 32% proteins and is a complete package of nutrients, roasted meal, enriched with proteins and antioxidants.
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-free dog food
Blue Buffalo food contains the natural protein of deboned bison, natural ingredients, and balanced vitamins that complete the demands of your furball as the best food for dogs to gain weight.
Ingredients:
Fish meal, Deboned meal, and peas, etc.
Benefits:
Blue buffalo food delivers 416 calories per cup, containing 34% proteins, Omega 3, and fatty acids necessary for joints and skin.
10. Ziwi peak New Zealand wet dog food
Ziwi peak dog food is designed for picky eaters that are underweight but dislikes dry food. It is a wet food and versatile among all other wet food, overloaded with beef proteins.
Ingredients:
Beef lung, Beef kidney, water, Beef, Beef tripe, and Chickpeas, etc.
Benefits:
One of the best foods contains 91% of meal proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and chelated minerals.
Natural foods that are the best foods for dogs to gain weight
1-Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes are a rich carbohydrate source. It is readily available at any grocery store.
2-Pumpkins:
Pumpkin is a fantastic food for gaining weight if you increase the level of fat and fiber in your puppy’s bowl, for improving digestion and putting on pounds.
3-Eggs:
The eggs are rich in proteins, fats, and amino acids. This best food for dogs to gain weight helps in building muscles and strength.
Conclusion:
If you want to keep your dog healthy, you should keep its weight in a healthy range. For that, you need to have information about best foods for dogs to gain weight. Provide your dog with good exercise and a proper diet rich in fats, proteins, minerals, and carbohydrates. These nutrients are present in almost all the best foods for dogs to gain weight. These can help your dog gain weight quickly.
Although there are some homemade options, it’s a daunting task to prepare a balanced food garnished with all the nutrients in one go. To ease your hassle, we have compiled a list of best foods for dogs to gain weight. Thank you for reading and enjoy your time with your lovely pet.