How to make a dog gain weight??

Question

I have two dogs, both are 1 year old. They are both very active, and both have good appetites and eat well.

One of the dogs, however, is not as bulky as I'd expect -- her ribs show, as well as all muscles etc. She also has short hair and is easily susceptible to cold weather and rain. I'm thinking she needs a little fat on her body to help her out.

So my question is, will dogs bulk up by feeding them cheap foods like potatoes mixed with canola oil, or don't their bodies absorb carbs like humans (do they simply pass through)? I don't want to spend a fortune on dog food to do this. My dog food bill is already 60$/month for 2 dogs.

Answer 1

First, I would suggest taking your dog to your vet to be checked out, just to make sure there is nothing medically wrong with her that would cause her not to gain weight. Is she vomiting at all? Does she ever have diarrhea? Some things that come to mind include intestinal parasite, irritable/inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

If she checks out ok, I would suggest boiling chicken and/or hamburger (yes, boil it - fried is too greasy), and adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of it to each of her feedings. You could also try adding canned Eukanuba MaxCal (maximum calorie) to her dry food. This food is extremely calorie dense. You need to purchase it through a vet.

Answer 2

1st if you are feeding them both the same, & 1 dog is large, & 1 sounds too thin, i would talk w/ their vet. Make sure that the thinner dog is healthy, no underlying health problems. Then when you are there check w/ the vet in what you can do to bulk it up. You dont mention what type of dog you have. For instance you can google the type of dog you have. Find sites about them, & you will there find what types of dog foods are best for them. I actually have a best friend who is a dog trainer, & they feed there dogs something cheap. Says it is good food, not bad cuz its cheep. Like puppy chow. I feed my dog Eukanuba, she could be a little more active, shes putting un some unwanted pounds. But check w/ vet, if healthy, check online. youll find the info.

Answer 3

The biggest question is what kind of dogs? Are they the same breed? Some dogs gain weight faster than others. I raise Shepherds and some of them you can actually see their ribs until they are about 2. The vet has checked and said they are perfectly healthy. I assume you have asked your vet?

Answer 4

Research has shown that dogs that are lean have a healthier and longer life. Your dog is still young and will fill out in time. My Boxer took nearly 5 years to fill out but I was never worried. It is best that you allow your dog to develop naturally and at her own pace. Trying to fill her with bulky foods could cause problems. From your description of her I would say she was a nice lean weight. Perfect.

Answer 5

What are you feeding them?
The higher the fat containt the better for weight gain anything over 20% fat.
Try increasing the food and remember the cheap food will cost you more because they eat more and poop more so it will be harder to gain weight if they poop it all out. With a good food you feed less and they poop less so not only cheaper but better for them and better weight gain

Answer 6

You need to stick with puppy formula dog food. One of high quality. It is not so much a carb thing as a crude fat product. Mix in some wet food with the dry it tends to have more crude fat in it. Also, take her to the vet and make sure there is no medical reason that she is underweight. She may be dehydrated or sick. Do not feed your dog human food it will only make her sick and lazy. Their diet is very important.

Answer 7

There are a few questions to go with your question! is she unhealthy underweight? what breed? feeding a dog people food (oils etc) can cause loose stools,bad teeth etc. I breed shar-pei and my one males is very lean,can see ribs and he is extremly healthy (according to my vet) i tried to beef him up as i thought at the time he was too skinny but he still looks the same and vet says thats just the way his body typing is. did your vet say he was under weight? because unless the vet says he/she is then they probally arent. we fed canned (innova,and occasionally canned trippet) to help with his weight. but now we realize thats just the way his body is made and supose to be..

Answer 8

see local vet and they can give a weight gain dog foodand u can give him/her a lot of treats

Answer 9

i would stick with dog food for the dog - i know some people give homemade meals to their pets, but the advantage of dog food is that it's formulated to fit a dog's dietary needs. giving fatty "human food" can give the dog pancreatitis - there are dog diets out there to "bulk up" on a dog, ask your vet, he'll provide you with information that you need.

Answer 10

Potatoes mixed with canola oil is not balanced nutrition. What does your vet say? He may suggest a good quality puppy food instead. Puppy food has more fat and protein.