Some dog owners have a hard time getting their dogs to gain weight. In this blog, we will discuss some ways that you can help your dog gain weight.
Table of Contents
Why a dog can lose weight?
Dogs can lose weight for a variety of reasons. Some dogs are just naturally thin, while other dogs lose or gain weight due to medical conditions.
Here are some common causes for your dog to lose weight:
– Picky eater – If your dog is not eating enough food, he will not gain weight. You may need to come up with ways to encourage your dog to eat more.
– Medical condition – There are a number of medical conditions which can cause weight loss in dogs, so if your dog is losing weight, it’s important to take him/her to the vet. Some common medical causes for weight loss include hypothyroidism and diabetes.
– Small stomach capacity – Some dogs just have a smaller stomach capacity than other dogs. This causes them to eat less, and also prevents them from eating as much food as they need in one sitting.
– Dog’s metabolism is too fast – Your dog might be burning off calories faster than he can eat and drink them. You may need to find ways of changing your dog’s lifestyle to help him gain weight.
How can I increase my dog’s calorie intake?
When it comes to increasing a dog’s calorie intake, there are a number of ways that you can do this. Here are some common tips:
– Find higher calorie food – If your dog is a picky eater or if he has a small stomach capacity, you may need to find a food with higher calorie content. You should speak with your vet about the best food for your dog.
– Supplement food with canned dog food – Some picky eaters will only eat dry kibble, so in this case, it may be necessary to add canned food to your dog’s diet. Canned food is higher in calories, and often dogs will eat canned food on its own.
– Use high-calorie treats – If your dog does not like to eat kibble or canned food, you can try using high calorie treats instead. Make sure that the treat doesn’t have a lot of fat though, as this can lead to pancreatitis.
– Increase meal size – Try increasing the size of your dog’s meal by an ounce. This may be enough to get your dog to eat more, which can help him gain weight.
– Encourage sniffing – When you open up a new bag of food, make sure you encourage your dog to smell it. If your dog smells the food, they’re more likely to eat it.
What is the best thing I can do to help my dog gain weight?
If you want your dog to gain weight, it’s important that they have a healthy lifestyle. There are some steps you can take which will make it easier for them to maintain a healthy weight:
– Exercise daily – Make sure that your dog gets enough exercise every day. If you don’t give your dog enough exercise, they may put on weight.
– Use high calorie treats – Using high calorie treats can help with weight gain in some dogs.
– Take them for regular walks – Taking your dog for regular walks will ensure that they are getting enough exercise.
– Monitor food intake – You need to monitor your dog’s calorie intake, otherwise they may gain weight over time.
Is it better for my dog to gain or lose weight?
Most dogs will benefit from gaining some weight. If your dog is already overweight, then you should speak with your vet about how to help him lose weight.
– If your dog is underweight, try increasing their calorie intake and encouraging them to eat more.
– If your dog is overweight or obese, you should speak with your vet about how to help your dog lose weight. You may need to make some lifestyle changes in order for this process to work. Monitor your dog’s calorie intake and ensure that they get enough exercise.
Home remedies to get my dog to gain weight:
There are some home remedies which may help you get your dog to gain weight. Before trying any of these remedies, it’s important to speak with your vet. Some helpful tips include:
– Feeding pumpkin – Feeding pumpkin can help increase a dog’s calorie intake.
– Adding flax seed oil – Flax seed oil can help with weight gain in some dogs.
– Adding coconut oil – Coconut oil can also be used to help a dog gain weight, but make sure it doesn’t have any fish products if your dog is allergic to fish.
– Add oatmeal – Oatmeal has a lot of fiber, which will make your dog feel fuller for longer.
– Add barley – Barley has a lot of fiber and protein, making it helpful for weight gain. As with oatmeal, make sure there’s no fish in your dog’s diet if they’re allergic to fish.
– Add pumpkin oil – Pumpkin oil is high in vitamins and can help increase a dog’s calorie intake.
– Add yogurt – Adding yogurt to your dog’s food can help with weight gain in some dogs.
– Feed a high calorie diet – Feeding a high calorie diet may be helpful if your dog doesn’t have any problems digesting it.
Feeding my dog cottage cheese for weight gain
A lot of people recommend feeding your dog cottage cheese to help them gain weight. Cottage cheese is not a high calorie food, so it’s not going to be helpful if your dog needs to gain weight. You should ask your vet for advice about what type of food you should feed your dog in order to get them to gain weight.
– Dogs can eat yogurt – Adding yogurt to your dog’s food can help with weight gain in some dogs.
– Dogs can eat cottage cheese – Cottage cheese is not a high calorie food, so it’s not going to be helpful if your dog needs to gain weight. You should ask your vet for advice about what type of food you should feed your dog in order to get them to gain weight.
– Dogs can eat pumpkin – Feeding pumpkin can help increase a dog’s calorie intake.
– Dogs can eat flax seed oil – Flax seed oil can help with weight gain in some dogs.
– Dogs can eat coconut oil – Coconut oil can also be used to help a dog gain weight, but make sure it doesn’t have any fish products if your dog is allergic to fish.
– Dogs can eat oatmeal – Oatmeal has a lot of fiber, which will make your dog feel fuller for longer.
– Dogs can eat barley – Barley has a lot of fiber and protein, making it helpful for weight gain.
How to get a skinny dog to gain weight
There are several things you can do if your dog is underweight and needs to gain weight. If your dog isn’t eating enough, try:
– Increasing their calorie intake – Feeding a high-calorie diet may be helpful if your dog doesn’t have any problems digesting it.
– Offering treats – You should offer low calorie treats, though.
– Feeding dinner with additional dry food – Dry food is generally higher in calorie than wet food.
If your dog is not eating enough, but is still losing weight, they may have problems digesting their food. You should speak with your vet about what the problem is and how to fix it.
When should my dog gain weight?
A healthy weight for a dog will vary depending on the breed. In general, though, you should see your dog’s ribs but not be able to see their spine or hip bones. You should also be able to feel their ribs without picking up fat around them. If you can’t do this, your dog needs to gain weight.
How to get a puppy to gain weight
If your puppy is underweight, it’s probably because they aren’t eating enough. You should try:
– Putting their food bowl down for a long time – Put their food bowl down for about 30 minutes and only take the food up when it’s been finished. This way, they’re forced to eat all of it.
– Adding food to their bowl – Add about a tablespoon of water and three tablespoons of dry dog food to your puppy’s regular meal. You can also add in some low calorie treats, like baby carrots.
– Offering them wet food – If you’re feeding dry food, it may be too hard for your puppy to chew. Feeding them wet food can help make their food easier to eat.
– Making them work for food – Make your puppy work for their food by playing with them or taking them on a walk before feeding them. This will make them hungrier and they’ll be more likely to eat more when it’s time to eat.
– Gaining weight slowly – Don’t try to make your puppy gain weight too quickly. You need to make sure their body is ready for the extra weight before adding more to their food.
– Adding flax seed oil – Flax seed oil can be added to your puppy’s food every day and will help them gain weight over time.
If your puppy is still underweight after following these steps, you should talk to your vet for advice. Sometimes puppies need more nutrients than dry food can provide.
How to help your dog gain weight Fast
Looking to help your dog gain weight as fast as possible? You should:
– Add cottage cheese – Cottage cheese is high in protein and fat and can help you reach your goal of getting your dog to reach a healthy weight.
– Add pumpkin – Pumpkin contains fiber, which will make your dog feel fuller for longer. This will help your dog limit the number of calories they eat.
– Add oatmeal – Oatmeal is high in fiber and will make your dog feel fuller for longer, which will prevent them from eating too many calories at meal time.
– Add barley – Barley has a lot of fiber and protein, making it helpful for weight gain. It’s also easier for dogs to digest.
– Add flax seed oil – Flax seed oil can be added to your dog’s food every day and will help them gain weight over time.
How to help diabetic dog gain weight
If your dog is diabetic, they may be underweight simply because their problem isn’t allowing them to eat enough calories. You should talk with your vet about ways to make sure they are eating more but still controlling their blood sugar.
How to help senior dog gain weight
Senior dogs may not be able to digest food as well anymore, making it harder for them to gain weight. You may need to switch your senior dog’s food to one that is easier to digest or add in supplements, like glucosamine chondroitin , which can ease digestion.
What are the best treats for helping my dog gain weight?
Small amounts of low calorie wet foods and treats are the best treats for helping your dog gain weight. You should avoid giving them human food to help them gain weight, since human food can be high in calories and fat.
What are some good foods to add to my dog’s diet?
– cottage cheese
– pumpkin
– oatmeal
– barley
– flax seed oil
How do I know if my dog is underweight?
If your dog can see their ribs when you look at them from the side, they are too thin. If you feel bones when petting them, they’re likely underweight. You should take your dog to the vet for advice if you think they are underweight.
How can I tell if my dog is overweight?
If your dog’s silhouette curves inward, they’re likely overweight. You should take them to the vet for advice on how to help them lose weight if you think they’re overweight.
What causes a dog to be underweight?
There are several reasons why a dog may not gain weight. Diets that don’t have enough calories or fat, parasites, and food allergies can all cause a pet to be underweight. If your dog is sick or has another medical issue, it could also be causing them to lose weight.
Does my dog need to gain weight?
If your dog is very thin and you’re unable to see their ribs when looking at them from the side, they may be too thin and should gain some weight.
Is it okay for a puppy to be underweight?
Yes, as long as they’re gaining weight and growing normally. Puppies are usually very busy growing and don’t need to gain too much weight before they’re done with their growth spurt. Once it’s over, your pup may pack on some pounds.
Dog not gaining weight but eating more
If your dog eats the same amount of food but isn’t gaining weight, they may have parasites or another medical issue that is causing them to lose weight. You should take them to the vet for advice on how to help your pup gain weight.
Purina weight gain dog food
Purina has several weight gainer dog foods that can help your pup gain weight. These are some of their top picks:
– Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management
– Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Fiber Balance
– Purina One SmartBlend True Instinct Dog Food – Tender Chicken/Rice
– Purina Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Low Residue
-Purina ONE® +Plus Healthy Weight High-Protein Formula Dry Dog Food

If your dog is not gaining weight, you should take them to the vet for advice on what to do. If they’re diabetic, giving them extra food may make their condition worse and they may need insulin.
How long does it take for a malnourished dog to gain weight?
Once you’ve started giving your dog extra food and they’re not gaining weight, it can take a week or two for them to start putting on some pounds. You shouldn’t rush into switching their food but instead should slowly add in the new one with their usual food. Your vet may also recommend giving your pup supplements if they’re underweight.
What is the best food to gain weight fast?
Cottage cheese and canned pumpkin can both help your dog gain weight quickly. You should talk to your vet before adding in any supplements or other foods, though, since they may interfere with medications.
Weight gain snacks for dogs
To help your dog gain weight, you should avoid giving them any human food. You can give them fruit and veggies as snacks, such as carrots or green beans. Below are some snacks that you can find on Amazon that you can get for your dog to gain weight;
- Milkbone Dog Treats 24 C
- Pup-Peroni Original 20 oz.
- Nylabone Nutri Dent Complete Dental Chews for Dogs, Bacon and Chicken Flavor, Large (3 Pack)
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com