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Homemade Weight Gainer For Dogs (Recipe For A Better Doggie Body)

Key Takeaways

  • If your dog is losing weight significantly, make sure that it is not a medical condition by seeking the advice of your vet.
  • Common causes of dog weight loss: change in diet, social and environmental problems, food causing pain, medical issues, and parasitic infections.
  • To make a homemade weight gainer for dogs, add extra carbohydrates and protein to her diet—simply feeding fatty foods will cause certain complications.

A good homemade weight-gainer for dogs include 8oz cream cheese, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2lb ground beef; 1 cup ground kibble. Just combine all the ingredients, knead into a dough consistency, cut into slices, and top on your dog food.

Dog ownership comes with many worries about the wellbeing of canine companions. It’s typically normal when I see my dog gain weight during periods of inactivity. I just get them them moving and I soon see the changes that I want. However, a scary time for pet parents like me is when my pup is struggling to maintain a healthy weight. If your dog is losing weight your vet will help you to make sure she is not suffering from a dangerous medical condition. It is difficult to help Fido gain weight and keep him healthy without adding too much fat to his diet. Preparing the right healthy homemade weight gainer for dogs will help your pet.

Have You Changed Your Dog’s Food?

Switching to a high-calorie diet should come after consulting your vet. A common problem for pet parents is a change in dog food. Picky eaters will not cope with any change in the food you offer. Dogs fed a commercial kibble can stop eating because of changes made by the manufacturer. You can stick to a feeding routine and see your dog stop eating because of changes made to the recipe of the manufacturer. It’s possible to see your dog return to a healthy diet once they become used to the changes in their food. A lot of times, high-quality human food ingredients make up for a healthy meal that helps dogs achieve the ideal weight. Wet food is well loved by many dogs too. If you want customized meals to help your pup gain weight, the best fresh dog food brands and the best dog food delivery service companies today are a great choice.

Social and Environmental Problems

Dog lying. | The Pampered Pup

While trying a homemade weight gainer for dogs, you can look for social and environmental problems. Any changes to your home life can result in your pup losing weight. The arrival of a new person or dog in your home can upset the equilibrium of your dog. Social changes, such as an aggressive dog will limit the amount of food your pup is willing to eat. Your dog can become submissive to a person or dog and fear eating their daily kibble.

Food Causing Pain

There are more problems to consider about your dog’s food than whether they like the taste. A change in recipe or manufacturer can lead to pain issues for your pup. Your dog may need to gain weight but you need to address any pain issues caused by her food. The problem of changing food can include abdomen pain. Stomach cramps, vomiting, and excessive panting are signs of pain caused by food.

Medical Issues

There are plenty of medical issues to consider that can cause extreme weight loss [1]. Seek medical help to explore why your pup is losing weight, especially if the dog eats normally. Blood tests and routine exams will give your vet a guide to the reasons behind her weight loss or even for a dog’s weight gain that seems so sudden. The vet will provide dog owners the knowledge to determine what a healthy weight is for a dog and explain why it is losing weight. Your vet will discuss any environmental and dog food changes before looking for medical reasons.

Diabetes is a common problem among dogs who suffer extreme weight loss. The symptoms of diabetes mellitus include:

Dog with cataract. | The Pampered Pup
  • Aversion to food
  • Frequent urination
  • Consistent hunger
  • Cataracts

The other medical conditions known to cause weight loss in canines include forms of cancer. A cancer diagnosis can be scary for dog owners. Knowing the symptoms of cancer helps you identify them in your pup. Symptoms of cancer include:

  • Bad odors
  • Open sores
  • Coughing
  • Exhaustion
  • Changes in defecation

Parasitic Infections

Before you begin to look for homemade dog food recipes for your underweight dog you should consult your veterinarian. A healthy body weight will be impossible to achieve if your best friend is affected by worms or parasites. Your vet will conduct several tests to identify parasites and worms in your dog’s system. If a parasitic infection is the cause of her weight loss, your dog will return to a normal weight after elimination. 

Weight Gain in a Healthy Way

Helping your dog gain weight is important when done in the right way. If your dog is being fed the recommended amount of food and struggles to gain weight you need to take a new approach. Adding more kibble to your dog’s diet will not lead to a healthy weight gain. Adding extra carbohydrates and protein to her diet will allow her to gain weight safely. Extra fats will lead to weight gain, with extra stress placed on her heart and kidneys. A homemade weight gainer for dogs made of fresh food aims to keep your dog healthy as she returns to good health. 

A Weight Gain Recipe

A high-calorie dog food diet does not provide all the nutrients to keep your dog happy and healthy. Add high-calorie treats to her meal using lean proteins and carbs to stimulate her diet. Puppies and pregnant dogs tend to need veterinarian help to improve their weight if there’s any problem with their natural weight gain. This is especially true of puppies from high-energy, medium-to-large breeds like Labrador Retriever puppies. For dogs given the all-clear by a vet, you can add this dog food recipe for treats. Adding one slice of the recipe to her meals for every 20 pounds of weight will help her to gain weight.

A homemade weight gainer for dogs includes:

Homemade Weight Gainer For Dogs | The Pampered Pup
  • 8oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2lb ground beef
  • 1 cup ground kibble

This easy dog food recipe requires you to combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Knead the homemade dog food until it forms a dough consistency. The ingredients need to be shaped into a log and stored using wax paper. Cut slices and placed them on top of the regular dog food your pup enjoys. The leftovers can be refrigerated for up to five days. Serve the slices as a treat over a few days and you should start to notice weight gain.

Related article: Homemade Dog Food for Weight Loss

FAQs

1. What can I give my dog to gain weight at home?

Adding more kibble is not the best way of helping her gain weight. The high-fat content of kibble makes it an unhealthy way of gaining weight. Make protein-rich and high-calorie fresh foods to help them return to a healthy weight.

2. What is the fastest way to put weight on a dog?

A homemade weight gainer for dogs is a speedy and efficient way of helping your pup gain weight. The fastest way of gaining weight is not always the safest. The homemade dog food recipe above will help her gain weight efficiently.

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