No one wants their dog looking scrawny.
You will also agree that some dogs can be very picky eaters which makes feeding them a hustle.
If you have always wondered how to fatten up a dog, you are not alone.
Other dog lovers are searching for tips for weight gain in dogs like you.
Fortunately, your search ends with this article.
I am going to give you all the possible reasons why your dog is not touching his food.
Also, we will explore the ingredients in weight gain dog food recipes that will help your pooch fatten up.
Why is my dog not gaining weight?
There are several reasons why your dog is not gaining weight from the food he is eating.
We are going to explore the most common ones below.
Worms
Lack of weight gain in dogs can be a sign of worm infestation.
Common worms that affect your dog’s gut health include hookworm, tapeworm, roundworm, heartworm, and whipworm.
These worms leech on the nutrients your dog should be gaining, hence causing weight loss.
Vomiting and diarrhea
If your dog vomits and diarrhea a lot, he is bound to lose weight.
He is losing nutrients and water content in his body.
Dogs are known to induce vomiting by chewing on grass.
If your dog keeps inducing vomiting, there is an underlying problem that requires a vet to check.
Dental problems
Dental issues like a toothache can affect your dog’s ability to gain weight.
This is because he feels pain whenever he chews.
Also, a chipped tooth could make your dog feel awkward while chewing.
This can cause him to eat less and less out of the discomfort.
This is why you should never allow your dog to chew on rocks as it can cause tooth chipping.
Poor gut health
A dog with poor gut health will have a hard time digesting and absorbing nutrients in its body.
The small intestine is responsible for nutrient absorption in your dog.
If this organ is affected by any gastrointestinal issue, it affects your dog’s ability to gain weight as well.
A Picky eater
Believe it or not, some dogs can throw a fuss on what is on their menu.
If your dog knows there is a better delicacy out there than what is on his plate, he will not touch it.
This is especially true if you constantly feed your dog treats or feeding him some of your food.
If the latter is sweeter, he will always want that.
Now we can ask the next important question.
How can you facilitate rapid weight gain in dogs?
Some dietary and lifestyle changes are necessary to induce weight gain in dogs.
Here is what you can do to fatten your pooch up.
- Bland Diet — We recommend a bland diet if your dog is recovering from gastrointestinal issues. This diet comprises of soft foods that are loaded with nutrients and are gentle on your dog’s tummy. This helps your dog gain strength and energy lost before moving back to solid foods.
- Proteins — Protein should never lack in weight gain dog food recipes. Part of the weight gain process in dogs is building body muscle. A high protein diet is a rich source of amino acids required for muscle building. Your pooch also gains energy from digesting proteins.
- Healthy Fats — Fatty foods are fed to puppies to help them develop faster. We can use the same technique to help your dog gain weight. As you increase the proteins, you also have to increase high-fat foods in his diet. Introduce foods like salmon and herring into your dog’s diet.
These are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Chicken and pork are also great sources for omega-6 fatty acids.
Vegetable oils from flaxseed, soybean, canola, and sunflower seeds are rich in omega- 3 as well.
What if your dog already has enough proteins in his food?
Then do not add meat in his diet.
Instead, introduce other weight-gain foods such as sweet potato and pumpkin.
In fact, you can use sweet potato and pumpkin to whip up delicious weight gain dog snacks.
Sweet potato and pumpkin are a rich source of fiber as well.
This will help in improving digestion and promoting better gut health in dogs.
Finally home
We hope we have answered your question on how to fatten up a dog.
Weight gain in dogs is possible by following the tips we just gave you.
Introduce more fats and proteins in your dog’s food for rapid weight gain.
Also, consider adding fiber foods like sweet potato and pumpkin for improved digestion and gut health.
Accompany your dog’s improved diet with a workout plan.
This will help him absorb nutrients and grow muscle fast.
