Increased caloric intake will help your dog achieve weight gain; just be careful not to overwhelm their system as excessive meals may cause digestive distress.
Add cooked lean cuts of beef to their diet for an additional source of protein and fat. Plain yogurt could also be beneficial, though make sure it’s unflavored or sweetened!
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High-Protein & Fat Foods
Most dogs needing to gain weight will benefit from consuming a diet rich in proteins and fats. This will allow their muscles to build leanness while providing energy reserves. Search for high-protein food such as bison, venison, fish proteins or lamb and pork as these provide more lean muscle building potential and energy reserves.
These proteins are leaner and will prevent the buildup of harmful triglycerides in your body. A quality diet also offers concentrated sources of calories from vegetable oils or fruit and vegetables.
Add calories to your dog’s diet by feeding whole foods such as cooked chicken liver or salmon. Just be sure that these additions are kept calorie-controlled; too many calories may lead to digestive issues in dogs. Small meals should be fed throughout the day for best results.
Pumpkin & Sweet Potato
Add whole foods such as pumpkin or sweet potato to your dog’s food is an effective way of helping them gain weight, as well as being an alternative to many processed treats and soothing your pup’s picky eating habits.
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A and potassium, helping your dog feel satisfied after meals and making them an ideal treat for diabetic dogs. But remember, sweet potatoes contain high levels of carbohydrates; you should eat them sparingly!
Before feeding sweet potatoes to your dog, it’s best to cook them first. While white potatoes belong to the Nightshade family and should never be consumed raw, sweet potatoes offer many health advantages when cooked and can provide numerous health benefits when eaten raw.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is packed with proteins, which help build muscles. In addition, it provides healthy fats and vitamins A and E – vitamins A helps support eye health while vitamin E promotes muscle tissue repair.
However, it is crucial that you read labels to ensure there are no added sugars or hydrogenated vegetable oils in the peanut butter as these could be potentially hazardous to their health. It would also be wise to steer clear of brands using xylitol which is toxic for canines.
Make sure your pup receives only safe ingredients by opting for organic dog-specific peanut butter like Trader Joe’s Organic No Salt Creamy Peanut Butter which has only two ingredients and is suitable for canines.
Canned Food
Canned food can be an ideal way to increase the caloric intake of your pet each day and may also appeal to pickier eaters who might otherwise turn down dry kibble.
When selecting canned food for your pet, look for one with high levels of protein from quality sources. Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch is a grain-free formula with ample amounts of fish protein for increased energy production.
Your veterinarian can help address the source of your dog’s weight loss and offer guidance in feeding a high-calorie diet that supports their healthy gain of weight in an organic, sustainable fashion. Incorporating low-cal nutrient dense foods like yogurt, shredded chicken, peanut butter or cooked eggs as supplements into this program may further aid success.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids that are easily digested and absorbed, providing energy and supporting immunity while aiding weight loss and improving skin health. Coconut oil provides energy for active dogs as well as more sedentary ones alike.
However, dogs suffering from pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia may not respond well to such high-fat food, so it’s wise to start slowly by giving a small amount of coconut oil and monitor any possible adverse reactions or palatability issues.
Step one of successfully increasing your dog’s caloric intake should be gradual. Make sure your weekly weigh-ins provide evidence of no overfeeding; this will prevent digestive upset, stress and separation anxiety as well as large quantities of any new food being introduced until you know how your pup responds.
