Is your dog losing weight for no apparent reason? If so, don’t ignore the fact that something might not be okay. Obesity in dogs is often the primary health concern while the lack of healthy weight remains a neglected issue.
A great example is this study by AVMA that shows that a larger percentage of pets have been overweight in the past years, while not much attention was given to the issue of dogs being underweight.
If you want your dog to be happy and healthy, you shouldn’t ignore any signs of illnesses or changes in behavior. Instead, take action right now and start looking for a solution! Keep reading to learn how to identify the problem and make your dog gain weight fast.
Recognize the Problem
The first step towards the solution is to recognize the problem, that is, identify the reason why your dog has lost weight. One of the most common causes of uncontrolled weight loss is diseases. Pay attention to see whether your dog displays any other symptoms that might that he is ill.
If you’re not sure what the cause of the weight loss could be, consult a veterinarian and get your pet checked medically. In some cases, dogs lose weight fast because they don’t take in enough calories during the day.
Therefore, if your dog has lost lots of weight, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he is ill. The problem might be in the dog’s diet, as it probably does not contain the necessary amounts of healthy fats and proteins.
Even if the food you’re giving your dog is nutritious and healthy, the animal might simply get bored of it and refuse to eat it, which would eventually lead to the loss of weight. There are many factors that could influence this change and the only way to be 100% certain of what is going on is to visit a vet.
How to Start Changing Your Dog’s Nutrition
Once you’ve discovered the reason why your dog has lost weight, you can start planning the recovery process. In case your dog was diagnosed with an illness, the vet will give you some pointers in terms of the diet and foods you should be giving to your dog.
In most cases, dogs who need to gain weight require larger amounts of protein to build muscle. Therefore, in order to make your dog gain weight fast, you must provide him with foods that are rich in calories, fats, and proteins.
The goal is to give your dog better quality food, rather than stuff him with larger amounts of lower quality products. But first and foremost, you must determine the ideal weight, which depends on the breed of the dog. It is important to start off slow, as sudden consumption of large amounts of food could lead to negative effects.
Aim to increase the dog’s calorie intake by finding foods that have more calories than those that your dog used to eat. Make sure to boost the calorie intake for 10% per week, allowing the dog to transition to the new diet slowly.
It is very important to monitor the whole process and pay attention to the dog’s behavior. Make sure you weigh the dog before starting with the new diet plan so that you can compare results after some time.
If your dog starts showing unusual symptoms or starts rejecting the food, replace the product immediately and look for more natural and organic solutions. Besides high-calorie intake, make sure to aim for dog foods that have more than 20% of protein content.
In case you’re not sure where to start from, take a look at the list below. We’ve found the top three foods that will fatten your dog so that you don’t have to spend hours researching on your own!
Foods That Fatten Your Dog
Our first choice is the Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Dog Food which is recommended by many veterinarians as the go-to option for helping dogs gain healthy weight. This US-made food provides concentrated nutrition and contains crucial amino acids that nourish the dog’s muscles and help maintain muscle mass. On top of that, this kind of Purina dog food also contains important omega-3 fatty acids, as well as glucosamine. Both of these ingredients are known to boost overall health and strengthen the dog’s joints and bones.
If your dog doesn’t like the taste of the chicken and rice combo, here is another option you can choose from the same manufacturer – the Purina Beautiful Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food. This dog food is made of farm-raised chicken and a variety of healthy ingredients, including carrots, green beans, and apples. Besides helping the dog gain healthy weight fast, this food offers a great taste along with natural protein for balanced nutrition.
Last but not least, you can mix up the dog’s diet by including a variety of other healthy products, such as the Blue Buffalo Live Protection Formula Natural Healthy Weight Gain for Dogs. This Blue Buffalo formula contains real, deboned chicken meat that is a natural source of healthy proteins. The food helps build and maintain strong muscles and includes a variety of other ingredients, such as garden veggies, whole grains, and fruit. Most importantly, as one of the healthiest dog food choices, this dog food doesn’t contain any by-products whatsoever.
Wrap Up
It is very important to make your dog gain weight fast after you notice that their physical condition has changed. Whether it is due to disliking certain foods or serious illnesses, weight loss can have numerous negative effects on the overall health and well-being of the animal.
Therefore, make sure to remember the following list of steps that will make it easier for you to stay organized during the whole process:
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Identify the problem
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Consult a veterinarian
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Figure out the goal weight
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Give your dog foods rich in calories and protein
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Opt for one of the recommended choices of foods that fatten your dog
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Monitor and observe the dog’s behavior throughout the whole process
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Consult the veterinarian again if no change is noticeable after a month
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your dog suddenly losing weight, please leave us a comment below. Feel free to share any of your past experiences with these kinds of issues and let us know how your dog managed to overcome them!