Dog Food For Weight Gain: Healthy Way to Bulk up Your Pet
Dogs get overweight once they stop exercising – just like us humans. Unfortunately, some pet owners who have obese dogs do not have proper knowledge about healthy weight loss and healthy weight gain.
Unhealthy weight gain and weight loss are serious concerns, as they affect your dog’s health. In just a short period of time, obesity or too much weight loss can cause illness and eventually, death.
A pet owner or someone who wants to adopt dogs must do their research about the healthy diet and lifestyle that are suitable for the pooch that they want to adopt. It is crucial to match your dog’s routine to the diet and lifestyle that are right for them so that they stay healthy and active.
Keep in mind that an ideal body type is important to support your dog’s health. The right exercise and proper diet are the key to an animal’s healthy, long life. While some pets need to lose body fat to achieve a healthy weight, other dogs need to gain weight to be well-conditioned.
What causes weight loss and unhealthy weight gain?
Unexpected weight loss and unhealthy weight gain can be a sign that your dog needs medical assistance. Make sure to consult your vet about the issue once you notice the changes in your dog so as to make sure you keep them healthy.
According to The Dog People, weight loss happens when the animal’s caloric intake is lower than their regular caloric burn. Weight gain functions similarly; if your dog eats most of the time, much more than they move, this can lead to obesity.
On the other hand, a dog can be underweight or overweight for different reasons. They may be recovering from a disease, injury or they are simply picky eaters.
Here are the other reasons why your dog may be experiencing unhealthy weight loss and unhealthy weight gain:
- Inadequate or low-quality diet
- Inappropriate diet routine
- Increase in stress, resulting in sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Poor digestion
Note: A 10% loss of body weight is considered medically significant. However, any changes in your dog’s food habits or body condition should be immediately addressed to avoid a more dangerous health issue. If you talk to your vet about the changes in your dog’s eating habits as soon as possible, they can determine the underlying cause of the issue as well as the right course of treatment for it.
With special care and nutrition, and with your patience and effort, your dog can get back to a healthy weight. Though it may take time for them to recover from their unhealthy weight condition, helping your dog in their journey can be a big thing, especially if they are an adopted or rejected pup. Aside from the right nutrition that your vet will prescribe to them, your love, care, and attention can also be helpful to encourage them to be healthy.
How to help the underweight dog gain weight healthily?
As a pet owner, you should always remember that before you make any changes to your dog’s eating routine, it is advisable to consult your vet or have your furry pal checked out by an expert so you will have an idea about your pet’s body condition.
If your vet can determine the underlying cause of your dog’s weight gain or weight loss, they will also be able to tell you the do’s and don’ts that you should follow. The treatment will be based on your dog’s body condition.
Most dogs nowadays are underweight due to different reasons, but you don’t have to worry, because there are ways to help them gain weight healthily.
Track your dog’s weight. It is important to weigh your dog and have a weight journal so that you can record their progress. It is advisable to weigh your dog once a week.
Improve the quality of your dog’s diet plan. Start feeding your pooch higher-calorie dog food for weight gain. Improving the quality of your pet’s diet can help them improve their digestibility and nutrient absorption.
Feed your dog small meals every day. Just like in a human diet plan, it is advisable to feed your dog several small meals regularly instead of larger meals twice or thrice a day.
Be active. Encourage your dog to exercise regularly. Though there are dogs that cannot do long walks and runs, letting them play around or taking them for a short walk in the park can be helpful. Exercise will help them build muscle and strength while also increasing their appetite.
Keep in mind that you can make changes to your dog’s diet plan along the way, based on their progress. Do not rush things, because achieving a healthy weight takes time. Helping them gain weight healthily involves more than simply increasing the amount of food you feed them. Your dog’s diet still needs to be balanced and formulated to help them bulk up instead of just gain fat.
What is the best dog food for weight gain on the market?
There are many dog foods for weight gain on the market that claim to be effective. However, as a pet owner, you should keep in mind that not all of these claims are true. There are some food supplements in some dog food products that are not suitable for your pet or are not enough to help them be healthier.
So, how would you know if you are buying the best dog food for weight gain?
I compiled five dog foods for weight gain that have been reviewed by professionals and proved to be effective in helping dogs to get fit and healthy.
1. Bully Max High-Performance Super Premium Dog Food
It is full of protein-rich food and vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. If you are looking to not just bulk up your dog, but to also build up their stamina, then this dog food product is exactly what you are looking for.
Bully Max is ideal for a long-term diet plan because its ingredients help your dog to gain both healthy weight and muscle.
This brand of dog food for weight gain is one of the most popular dry products that can help your pooch bulk up. The recipe for this dog food product is a bit different from other brands, as it contains seafood such as salmon as its main ingredient.
3. Blue Buffalo BGrain-Free Wilderness Salmon Recipe
Blue Buffalo is every owner’s budget-friendly dog food product. It does not only allow you to save money, but it also ensures that your dog gains weight healthily. It contains all of the most important nutrients and proteins that your dog needs to gain weight the right way. In addition, this dog food brand does not have preservatives or artificial flavor additives in it, which means your dog eats naturally sourced ingredients.
According to The Goody Pet, Taste of Wilderness is full of antioxidants and has no filler products. It has no artificial flavors in it and every ingredient comes from a reliable source. This food is also perfect for those dogs that have a sensitive stomach.
Purina’s product is a dry food type of product that can help your dog gain weight healthily. This is good for all types of pooches, especially those that participate in different contests or are more active.
Other dog food products for healthy weight gain
There are many dog foods for weight gain on the market. Aside from what I listed above, here are the other products that you can buy:
- Eukanuba’s dog food product that is good for adult dogs.
- Nutro’s product, perfect for owners who want to bulk up their puppies.
- Ziwi Peak is loaded with healthy fats, protein, and moisture.
- Solid Gold’s Barking at the Moon is made with natural ingredients.
- Earthborn Holistic’s Coastal Catch has holistic natural ingredients.
Conclusion
Dogs need to gain weight to be healthy; however, keep in mind that simply giving them any dog food you see on market shelves will not help them bulk up healthily. You should remember that there are different products on the market that claim to be effective but in reality, they only give your dog false supplements and fewer nutrients. So, be careful when choosing food for your adult dogs, and especially for your puppies.
As a pet owner, you must research the best and most suitable dog food for your pooch. Giving them the right food can help them be healthier and more active. It will bulk them up in a healthy way.
Healthy dog food for weight gain does not have to be expensive. What you need to do to know if the product that you are buying really is good is to simply look at the ingredients carefully and read the reviews posted online by pet owners and experts.
Just like us, humans, dogs are also prone to obesity if their food intake is not managed carefully. Dogs need to gain weight in a proper way to keep them healthy. So, do not just give them what you think is right for them, do your research and be more health-conscious.
101 - 101Shares