What can I give my dog to gain weight?

Helping your furry friend maintain a healthy weight is key to their happiness and well-being. So if your dog is underweight, it’s important to figure out the underlying causes and address them appropriately. That’s why we’re answering the question “What can I give my dog to gain weight?” so you can get your four-pawed pal’s health back on track in no time.

Understanding the need for weight gain

An underweight dog doesn’t have the extra reserves of energy needed to keep healthy. Repair, growth, and replacement of cells in the body all happen on a daily basis, and if your furry friend doesn’t have the energy to meet these demands, then they start to lose weight and their overall health suffers. 

What is the ideal healthy weight of a dog?

When considering how to put weight on a dog, the first step is figuring out their ideal weight. Every breed has a suggested weight range, and your vet can assess your pup’s body condition score to see if they’re underweight. From there, you can adjust their diet – for example, your vet may suggest adding some high-calorie food for dogs or extra supplements as needed.

Why won’t my dog gain weight?

Here are some of the most common reasons a dog is underweight: 

• Stress
• Illness such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancers 
• Diet-related reasons
• Dental pain
• Parasitism 
• Pregnancy 

Consulting a veterinarian

Always consult a veterinarian to confirm that your furry friend is underweight and rule out any underlying health issues such as dental disease, pregnancy, or digestive problems that might be causing the weight loss. Vets can run blood tests, ultrasounds, and X-rays to get to the bottom of why your dog is underweight. Plus, they can assess your pup’s current weight status with a body condition score. From there, they’ll be able to give you tailored information on how to get a dog to gain weight and create a special weight gain plan for your dog filled with high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods.

What can I give my dog to gain weight?

If you’ve had the all-clear from the veterinarian, it’s time to look at “How to make my dog gain weight safely”.

High-calorie dog foods

Consider high-calorie dog foods specifically designed to help increase your dog’s weight. These foods are formulated to provide the necessary nutrients and energy needed for weight gain in dogs. A common veterinary recommendation for weight gain is puppy food, as the calorie content is higher than that of food made for adults or seniors.

Homemade food for dogs to gain weight

There are some ways to increase your dog's calorie intake at home, but remember that foods rich in protein and fat, often used to make dogs gain weight fast, can cause tummy upsets and diarrhoea. Always check in with your veterinarian for advice on homemade recipes for your dog.

Healthy snacks and treats

Your vet might advise adding in some healthy snacks that are high in calories and rich in nutrients to help your four-pawed pal gain weight. Just remember to keep treats balanced and don’t overfeed your furry friend.

Some human foods can be safely added to your pooch pal’s diet to increase their calorie intake. Options include:

• Peanut butter: A high-calorie treat filled with healthy fats that most pups love, just be sure it doesn’t contain xylitol. Peanut butter is the perfect high-calorie dog food for senior dogs in particular. 
• Fish oil: Fish oils such as salmon oils can be added to meals to increase calorie count and promote a healthy coat.
• Sweet potato: This high-calorie food for dogs is packed with amino acids for muscle mass and fiber for good gastrointestinal health.

Additional ways to help your dog gain weight

Still scratching your head over “how to get my dog to gain weight”? All dogs have unique personalities, and simply feeding them more doesn't always work. It's important to investigate a little further and consider other factors when trying to help your dog gain weight.

Encourage your dog to eat

Our pooch pals can be picky eaters or may need encouragement to eat, especially if they’ve just recovered from illness, or are older or more anxious in nature.

This can be done by:

• Offering smaller, more frequent meals
• Adding tasty toppers to their food
• Choosing a high-quality dog food
• Warming the food or meal toppers to increase the smell, making it a more enticing meal for your furry friend

Increase activity

Helping your dog gain weight is only part of the equation – building muscle is just as important! Regular exercise paired with a balanced diet can help your pup get stronger, but be sure to take it slow and steady in the beginning to avoid injuries or soreness. Start by adding an extra 10 minutes to your furry friend’s daily walk for the first week, then steadily increase it by another 10 minutes the next week.

Monitoring progress

Healthy weight gain happens over time, so keep an eye on your dog’s weight and body condition score and monitor their progress in the coming weeks. Adjust their diet (if needed), and take them to the vet every 4-6 weeks to check their weight and body condition score.

Helping your dog gain weight takes patience, love, and a bit of planning, but what happens if you need to head out of town? That’s where your in-home pet sitter comes in! Our loving, verified sitters help keep your furry family member’s routine on track while you’re away, ensuring they have everything they need, whenever they need it. Find out more about how house and pet sitting works below.

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.