How do you fatten up a dog....apart from obviously feeding him...is there any suppliments i can give him?

Question

We've just bought a Dogue De Bordeaux (same as the dog from the Turner & Hooch film) & he's a little on the skinny side.
Now we've been feeding him his correct daily amounts, but i was wondering if there was any suppliments i could give him to boost his weight & make him look a little healthier.
I know he will slowley gain weight in time....but hey...i'm a woman & i'm impatient....lol.....

Answer 1

Talk to your vet. Many times we think dogs should be fatter then they are- your dog may be at a perfect weight.

I thought my dog was too skinny when I got him- the vet told me he was the perfect weight. When dogs are overweight they have alot of health problems. Studies have also shown that dogs live much longer when they are slightly underfed then slightly overfed.

Answer 2

You should check with your vet first to make sure your dog is healthy. If he says it is underweight feed it complete puppy food and meat mixed together 3 times a day and still take it out for excercise. We did this with our rescue puppy as he was skinny when we got him, now 2 months later he is a good weight, very healthy looking with a shiny coat, our vet was thrilled! Also if he is underweight he should gain weight slowly, do not feed him too many treats or supplements to speed the process up, he will just get fat and unhealthy like a human would.

Answer 3

Just remember...gaining weight quickly is bad just like for humans so you want it to be somewhat gradual.

With my boxer, I just increased the amount of food I was giving him and also added gravy or some canned food to make it more tasty. You can also add some chicken broth or cooked chicken....the more meat/ protein the better.

Also its important that you are still giving your dog exercise, so the weight will turn into lean muscle and not fat.

Another thing you could consider (a friend with a 120lb american bulldog does this) is the raw meat diet, also referred to as BARF. There are many mixed opinions on this so it's up to you, but her bulldog is all muscle and she's never had any problems.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

If he is gaining weight slowly on the program you are using, then there is really no need to change it. Feed a very high quality dry food (Innova, California or Candidae). If you switch foods, do it slowly to avoid digestive upset. If you want to add a little wet food of the same brand to boost him up a bit, that's the best way to go.

Answer 5

Theres no need to fatten him up, he's probably just naturally a thin dog, as long as he's eating the right amount of food for his size then he'll be fine.

Answer 6

In any given situation, focus on what you do want your dog to do instead of on whatever he’s doing wrong. Learn how to train your dog https://tr.im/zkYaQ

For example, suppose that on many evenings, your young dog gets busy looking for trouble just as you’re digesting your dinner. He grabs a boot from the mat by the front door and gallops through the house with it. You yell at him and take it away. He grabs its mate. You yell and take it away. He heads for the kitchen and starts checking out the counters in case something tasty’s been left behind. You chase him away. And on and on, until you’ve lost your temper and torn out clumps of hair you can ill afford to lose.

Answer 7

He will gain weight on his own. No need to add substances to his diet - he'll pay for it in later life. Try using the spell checker or maybe use a dictionary.

Answer 8

I think first of the dog needs a quick check with the vet to see theres no medical reason he is not puttin on.. also u can add a meal supplament its a powder you add to meals u can get it from pet shop or vets,

Answer 9

He will put on weight as he grows-you don't need to give him anything.He is a dog not a prize winning marrow.

Answer 10

serisouly they mature when they are roughly 2yrs old and gain the weight they should by then....i had a border collie that when bathed looked like a greyhound. Also having them spayed helps he bulked up after that also.