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(Last Updated On: )Having a specific dog food for weight gain is essential if your dog cannot put on weight from standard food. A dog that is underweight may have an illness, which should be rectified before purchasing the best weight gainer food for dogs. Consult with your veterinarian to see if your dog has any underlying issues before starting on dog food for weight gain.
Once you have determined through your vet that your pet would benefit from a weight gain dog food, we have some suggestions for you.
The best weight gainer food for dogs is the Formula Mass Weight Gainer with added vitamins added for overall health.
It is important to understand that helping your pet gain an optimum weight should not be accomplished by overfeeding with standard food, but should be done by feeding your dog high-calorie dog food.
Table of Contents
Best Dog Food Weight Gainer & Supplements For Skinny Dogs
Dog Weight Gainer | Type | Our Rating |
---|---|---|
Formula Mass | Supplement | 4.9 |
Purina Pro Plan Focus | Food | 4.8 |
Merrick Grain Free | Food | 4.9 |
Earthborn Holistic | Food | 4.7 |
Dyne High Calorie | Supplement | 4.6 |
Muscle Bully Gains | Supplement | 4.8 |
For your dog to put weight on safely, they need to eat high-calorie dog food for weight gain that won’t upset their stomach. There are various high calorie canned and dry dog food as well as weight gain supplements that are great for dogs.
High-calorie dog foods for muscle and weight gain are readily available online with many including wide-ranging nutrients. Some weight gainers are specific to certain breeds, certain ages (i.e. puppies) and there are some that are for all breeds or ages.
Regular feedings throughout the day, matched with a high-quality calorific dog food filled with protein is the best method of helping your pet to gain weight. Below is a list of the best high-calorie dog food for weight gain that will work with a range of breeds and ages.
Formula Mass Weight Gainer
Formula Mass Weight Gainer by MVP K9 is high-calorie dog food for all breeds that will assist with helping your dog gain weight. The American made weight gainer contains 26% protein and 56% good fats for adding healthy mass to your dog’s body.
The Formula Mass Weight Gainer works well with all dog breeds, including puppies and nursing mothers that need the vital ingredients. By using this dog food formula, you will see your dog’s size, energy, and muscle increase.
The Formula Mass Weight Gainer for Dogs is a weight gain supplement for dogs that you simply add to your dog’s regular food. It binds to the food on contact and provides vast amounts of protein and healthy fats alongside the 18 + Bearded Collie Club of America (BCCA) for overall support.
If you have a thin dog that needs a high calorie and healthy dog food to increase their weight, the Formula Mass formula is the best weight gainer for dogs. The easily digested fats and protein mixed with the 18 + BCCA’s will aid the healthy weight gain.
Purina Pro Plan Focus
The Purina Pro Plan Focus is a high-quality dog food for large breeds and is made with large amounts of protein, real chicken, and natural prebiotic fiber. There are designated formulas for small, medium, and large dog breeds for the perfect healthy diet.
The ingredients include high-quality protein from real chicken and plenty of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Glucosamine has been added to help support healthy joints. Often dog joint supplements are an additive to dog food but the Purina Pro Focus has this included in its food, which is a real benefit.
There is 26% crude protein and 12% crude fat. This is ideal for a dog that needs to gain mass and muscle. We strongly recommend this dog food for a dog that is only slightly underweight in order to maintain a balanced diet but high protein intake.
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Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
The Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a grain-free, 70% protein formula high in omega 3 and 6. The protein within the weight gain dog food comes via deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal.
Per serving there is 38% protein, which is a huge amount of protein for dog food. The protein comes from a mixture of meat and fish that promote muscle gain with the addition of omega 3 and 6 for healthy skin and coat.
In terms of flavor, your dog will be very happy with a variety of flavors to choose from and various kibble sizes. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, this formula is also grain-free and contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.
For the best healthy weight gain, feeding your dog Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food and using the Formula Mass Weight Gainer additive will see fast and noticeable results.
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Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast
Earthborn is high-quality grain-free dog food made with a lean red meat bison meal that contains high amounts of protein. The price of the Earthborn Holistic is slightly higher when compared to Purina but this is due to the quality ingredients.
The mixture of lean red meat proteins and egg proteins are the highest in terms of gaining muscle. The Earthborn Holistic formula is completely grain-free with no fillers for dogs with sensitive stomachs that need to gain weight.
Mixing this food with either of the additives listed within this article will result in your dog gaining weight quickly. High-quality dog food for muscle growth with weight gainer formulas is the best way for a dog to gain weight.
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Dyne High-Calorie Dog Supplement
Dyne by Lambert Kay is a liquid form of high-calorie intake for a dog that is struggling to keep weight on. For each ounce of Dyne liquid, there are 150 calories and 1.9% of crude protein, and 48.3% crude fat.
The main benefit of the high-calorie liquid supplement is to be able to provide more calories easily to your dog’s food. Simply add the correct serving amount to your dog’s food and the steady weight gain will be noticeable.
It is a very popular form of weight gain supplement for dogs as you do not have to change your dog’s current food. Dogs love the taste, which makes it a great option.
The additive also contains healthy nutrients for your dog’s diet, which is a big plus. It is will see your dog gaining weight quickly without the need for additional food.
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Muscle Bully Gains for Bullies
Muscle Bully is the best weight gainer dog food for all bulldog breeds. It has a crude protein of 26% and crude fat of 50% that will add weight to your underweight dog.
There are various different types of Muscle Bully Gains but for the best results, the Gains, Vitamins, and Protein package is the ultimate weight gainer for dogs.
This dog food is veterinarian approved and has over 17 amino acids per serving. This weight gainer supplement comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If your bull breed dog is thin and your vet has recommended a supplement to add healthy weight to their body mass, Muscle Bully Gains for Bullies is the best buy.
The high-quality ingredients also aid with muscle recovery and healthy skin as well as being tested thoroughly and following Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.
How To Help Your Dog Gain Weight
As always, if you believe that your dog has an issue gaining weight or keeping weight on, consult with your veterinarian and take your bulldog in for a checkup.
If the vet clears your pooch and suggests a weight gain program is in order, we have some tips for you below.
However, if you are following the above tips with no luck, you may want to speak with a vet. Your dog may have an illness or disease that requires attention before beginning a new diet on weight gaining dog food.
What is Causing Weight Loss?
There can be a few reasons for weight loss in a dog, such as parasites or worms. Again, the first step in determining why your dog is not gaining weight or is underweight is to take them to your vet.
There is no substitute for the expert advice and the testing that a qualified veterinarian can give.
It might be tempting to go online to diagnose your pet and look for remedies. Be aware that online diagnosis and remedies could do more harm than good.
You love your pet and want the best for them, so It is always best to consult with a professional.
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Underweight
There are some breeds of dogs that are naturally slender. Whippets, greyhounds, and Afghan hounds are among the breeds that are slim.
If your dog is not one of those breeds that are slender, do some research to find out what your dog should weigh. Try to find out what the mother and father weighed. This will give you a rough idea of what your pooch should weigh.
When you have your puppy at the vet’s for their shots, ask your vet what the approximate weight your pup should attain.
If you see that your dog’s bones are pronounced, it may be that they are underweight. If it is not just a growth spurt, make sure you seek expert advice so that you can get your pooch on the mend quickly.
Weight Gainer For Dogs Buyers Guide
Depending on the dog’s level of activity, they should usually consume between 1600 and 2200 calories per day (depending on breed). If your dog is not achieving this amount of calories, they may start to lose weight.
High-calorie dog food should contain at least 30% of protein within the ingredients. This helps build muscle and maintain a healthy diet as opposed to consuming all fatty dog food.
Canned food often has more calories and can be easier for a dog to eat. However, sticking to dry food and pouring hot water to make the food moister can make it easier for the dog to eat, and thus they may eat more.
Unlike our article about weight loss food for dogs, the weight gaining food will contain a variety of ingredients. These ingredients can include more nutrients such as omega 3 and 6 and other nutritious elements.
A popular weight gaining food is for the bull breed where owners prefer more bulk on their dogs. It’s important that you check whether the dog weight gain food is for your dog’s breed. However, the majority of dog foods are designed for all breeds.
Some owners will include supplements such as tablets, powder, and other additives to further enhance the calorie intake. This is a good method of boosting calories. However, be sure to not overdo it because this can cause adverse effects. Make sure your vet knows what you are feeding your pet.
Conclusion
Our recommendation for a dog to gain weight quickly is to use the Formula Mass Weight additive with Merrick grain-free dog food. This match of weight gainers includes a large amount of protein for muscle growth as well as healthy fats.
By switching from your dog’s regular food, following our tips, and ensuring your dog is healthy can see great results.
It is not wise to overfeed your pet in an effort to help them gain weight. If your pet needs to gain weight, it is better to use one of the dog foods designed to put on weight.
Ian is an avid outdoorsman and dog lover. He lives in Central Florida with his wife Heather, and their 2 dogs – Panda (Purebread Rough Collie X English Golden Retriever) & Kuma (Blue Merl Purebread Rough Collie)