Helping your dog maintain a good weight is a vital aspect of being a caring parent. Even healthy dogs could be underweight or overweight, so you must be more concerned if your dog has lost weight due to illness or injury. After a visit to the vet to sort out the underlying issues, many underweight dogs will gain weight by changing their lifestyle and diet. Some of the tips that can help your dog gain weight safely are:
Upgrade to Better Food Quality
Cheap food contains a lot of fiber and are difficult to digest. Make sure you change their food gradually over 7-10 days to prevent digestive distress. Frequent changes in food can also cause digestive issues. Stick with any new diet for at least a few weeks before you try another new one.
New Feeding Schedule
Dogs metabolize and digest food in various ways than people, but the principle can be somewhat similar. Humans who eat less than a few hours before bed, for instance, are more likely to gain weight. Our physicians advise us not to eat before bed, so our body can retain the nutrients as fat. Using this logic contrary, you might potentially help your dog get some required pounds.
Smaller Portions Of Meals
If your dog eats twice a day, as most do, try feeding him a smaller portion of food in the morning and a larger portion in the night. This will cause his body to accumulate fat while sleeping rather than burning energy. This approach also means that your dog would not burn the calories they needed when exercising all day. Another weight gain strategy is to eat small meals regularly. By dividing your dog’s daily food over three or four meals, you’ll provide them with nutrients during the day. This new routine is expected to help your dog gain weight.
Supplement Meals With Snacks
Try adding any additional food made from meat sources, such as bison, which is high in fat and protein. These foods, usually frozen, would only be labeled as supplementary foods. They’re not meant to substitute a healthy formula for your dog. You may also want to speak to your vet about adding vitamins or other nutrients to help keep your pet healthy.
Increase Your Dog’s Exercise Level
While it might sound counter-productive to owners wanting to put weight on their dog, increasing the amount of your dog’s exercise can help them gain muscle. Be sure to discuss with your vet before increasing your dog’s exercise level, as illnesses such as arthritis and certain metabolic disorders can indicate that your dog requires special care to increase its weight without injury. Gradually increasing the duration of regular walks is the perfect way to increase your dog’s activity level, as well as low-impact activities such as swimming or playing hide and seek.
The Takeaway
The right mix of food and feeding methods will help your dog to gain weight safely. At that point, reduce the amount of food prescribed for maintenance. You can keep feeding high-protein dog food for weight gain after your dog has reached a healthy weight, as long as your dog is active and has a lot of exercise. Continue to track your dog’s weight on a regular basis, and see your veterinarian if weight loss remains.
And if your dog is losing weight due to a disease like heartworm, that causes a drastic weight loss, then you must keep in hand a rapid test kit known as Vetscan Flex4 that would help the disease diagnose at its early stage.
