What can I give my dog so he will gain weight faster?

Question

I had just adopted a 52 lbs, 2 year old Lab/ Bassett Hound mix named Orville and he is underweight (needing to gain like 15 pounds at least) I got him some Purina High-pro that is high in protein and fat for active dogs... Im trying to feed him 3 times a day until he reaches the right weight.. Is there anything else other than tablescraps (I know some healthy choices like chicken and hamburger and rice) but is there anything else I can give him so that he will gain weight faster?? Like vitamin supplement? ? Thank you in advanced from me and Orville!!!

And just an FYI, Im not feeding him table scraps I know personally what human food can do to a dog and his arteries as well as his digestive track... so I'm trying to find out other ways that are especially for dogs that would be good for him to gain weight with... Thank you again!!

Answer 1

There are products that you can buy at almost any pet stores or from your vet called NutriCal and NutriStat. They are both in a toothpaste type tube and they have lots of calories in it to help them put on weight. Also, I would put him on puppy food.

Answer 2

Dog Weight Gain

Answer 3

Oh my god!! Gaining weight fast is NOT the answer!!!!

I've adopted several mal nourished dogs over the years and will consistant feedings, they will get to the weight they need to be!

Also, you need to realize that 1 lb on a dog, is like 10 lbs on a human? Are you sure this is what the vet recommends?? You must have a pretty tall basset hound.

Never, EVER, feed a dog table scraps! Especially regular white rice! And get him off of that Purina crap! Buy Nutro Ultra (or an equivilent) from a pet food store, if you do, he won't need a vitamin supplement.

Gaining weight quickly is terrible for you organs and bones, animals under weight should put it on slowly.

Answer 4

First of all, get him off the purina junk. That's low quality food, mostly corn stuff that he can't use, so it'll pass right through him. Nutro has a High protien formula for active dogs. Royal Cannin is a good food. Essentually, if you can find the food in a grocery store, it's junk. (there could be exceptions depending on where you live I suppose)

Look at the ingredients of the food. If there is Corn, Corn by-products or corn meal early on in the list, skip it. Watch our for Chicken (beef, lamb...meat) by-products as well. Those are left over ground up parts that couldn't be used anywhere else.

Chicken (or whatever meat) meal is okay. That's real meat that was ground up.

If you do switch his food, mix the new in with the old for a couple days, increasing it until it's all new food so it doesn't shock him or upset his tummy (my dog never had a problem switching foods, but some are very sensitive to it)

Hope that helps

Answer 5

When I had this problem the thing that really did the trick was buying him a milkshake every afternoon.

I also gave him a bowl of milk at morning tea time. Even if a dog has had enough to eat and isn't hungry, they will generally drink milk.

You should be careful though, as your dog is part Lab, they are very prone to obesity and you could find that once you start him gaining weight it is difficult to stop it. A slow and steady gain is best. Remember a healthy dog is quite thin. You should be able to feel his ribs when you run your hand down his side, but not see them.

Answer 6

Congratulations on your newest member to your family.

I too have hard time keeping weight on my Collie, we add table scrapes in the am feeding and the pm feeding we add cottage cheese or puppy can dog food, we like Pedigree or Science Diet.
This works for us and Pepper. I have also changed her dry dog food to Diamond Lamb and Rice she enjoys the dry food much more than what we were feeding which was Purina dog chow.
I would watch the way your dog eats his dry dog food he may not like that food of choice.
A vitamin supplement may help but I would check with your vet before experiencing too many new things and I would also find out what type of dog food the shelter was feeding him, if the shelter had to change food all the time it maybe were your dog is just tried of the different kinds of foods he was put on and always having an up set stomach.
I wish you all the luck

Answer 7

Table scraps are only table scraps when they are the remnants of YOUR meal. You can give your dog pasta, you can even add sauce. No onions please. Pasta is high in carbs and I have seen it put weight on in no time. Careful though, don't go too far or too fast. A year is not an unreasonable length of time.
I'm a groomer and a trainer and would never recommend anything I hadn't checked out with a vet or seen work for myself.

Answer 8

For starters feed Him raw meat every now and then. I usually put a raw egg in it with chopped garlic. Maybe once every two weeks. See if he'll eat a few raw eggs. Stay away from table food even though you can put some weight on him that way. I try to stay away from rice. Alittle milk wouldn't hurt but to much can be bad. Try putting some greasy type gravy on his food. Be smart and creative... This is a easy fix...

Answer 9

Continue to feed him as you are. It's best to put weight on at a safe pace. Otherwise the joints will become overwhelmed and could cause strain on him. Don't use canned food or human food as this will only encourage picky behavior when you do get him to his ideal wieght. Soft food also softens the hard food leaving noting to scrape away the tartar and plaque build-ups. Continue what you are doing and if he doesn't seem to be gaining wieght feed him twice or even once a day and that will slow down his metabolism.

Answer 10

Canned dog food, or put some of the doggy gravy on his dry food (it gives some dogs upset tummies so give it to him once and see how he handles it before making it a semi-regular thing). And now might be a good time to work on training so you have an excuse to give him calorie-rich treats.