At Mersey Raw, we understand how alarming it can be to notice significant weight loss in your dog. But rest assured, there are steps you can take to increase weight gain. Whether it's down to recent illness or poor diet, managing your dog's weight is important. To learn more about helping your underweight dog find the best raw dog food for weight gain, read on.
Why Do Some Dogs Require Weight Gain?
Dogs require weight gain for many different reasons:
- Stress: Similar to humans, too much stress or anxiety can alter eating habits, and this could also apply to dogs.
- Hyperactivity: Highly active dogs burn more calories, which can lead to weight loss.
- Recovery: If your dog has recently recovered from an illness or injury, it may have taken them some time to get back to normal eating habits, resulting in weight loss.
- Decreased appetite: Some dogs experience a decrease in appetite, which can potentially be due to changes in environment, teething issues, or simply being fussy eaters, but this isn’t always the case.
- Poor diet: If your dog's diet lacks healthy ingredients, essential nutrients, and vitamins, they’ll likely become underweight.
- Underlying conditions: If you're unsure why your dog is losing weight, it may be due to an underlying health issue. Consult your vet to identify the cause.
The Importance of Maintaining Your Dog at a Healthy Weight
Maintaining your dog at a healthy weight is important, leading to a more beneficial future:
- Improved mood
- Longer lifespan
- More energy
- Increased mobility
- Less chance of digestive issues
- Reduced risk of illness
- Better quality of life
- Supported immune function
Your dog's physical and mental state can often be impacted by their weight and overall well-being. To avoid potentially harmful consequences, you should find the reason for your dog's weight loss and manage it accordingly by assessing their diet or speaking with a vet.
Signs Your Dog is Underweight
Spotting the signs that your dog may be underweight isn’t as easy as it seems. Some dogs show visible signs of weight loss, whereas others show less obvious signs. Common signs of weight loss in dogs include:
- Poor eating habits
- Prominent bones
- Depression or low mood
- Constant tiredness
- Slimmer waistline
- Lack of muscle
- Dry skin and coat
While these signs are relatively easy to spot, the most efficient way to confirm weight loss is by weighing your dog weekly. It’s not uncommon for dogs to fluctuate in weight, but when the scales show consistent signs of weight loss, you should take action.
How to Make Your Dog Put on Weight: 5 Top Tips
We understand it can be frustrating not knowing how to help your dog gain weight, but not to worry! We’re here to help with five top tips.
Tip 1 - Increase Calories
To ensure your dog gains weight, you must feed them more calories than the amount they burn. Increasing their caloric intake by providing more food should help your dog get to a healthy weight.
Tip 2 - Assess Food Ingredients
Is your dog's food lacking essential nutrients and vitamins? If so, you may need to adjust their diet. Poor-quality food won't do any favours for your dog or its weight. If your dog is missing out on the benefits of a protein-rich diet containing healthy fats and key nutrients, they may potentially struggle to gain weight.
Tip 3 - Feed Smaller Meals Frequently
If your dog’s a fussy eater or gets overwhelmed at meal time, we recommend spreading their meals across the day by feeding smaller portions more frequently. Feeding smaller meals more frequently can be potentially beneficial, especially if your dog struggles to eat big portions at once.
Tip 4 - Monitor Weight
The easiest way to know whether or not your dog has started to gain weight is by weighing them. It’s important to monitor your dog's weight, more so if you’ve made changes to their diet. If your dog continues to lose weight despite making changes, follow our next step.
Tip 5 - Consult a Vet
While weight loss in dogs is often related to their diet, there could be an underlying health condition that needs addressing. If your dog’s been showing signs of weight loss and continues avoiding their food despite taking steps to encourage them, you should consult a vet.
Can a Raw Diet for Dogs Help Them Gain Weight?
Yes, a raw diet for dogs could potentially help them gain weight! Unlike ultra-processed dog food on the market today, raw dog food is protein-dense, rich in vitamins, and packed with essential nutrients - all of which are helpful for a dog to maintain a healthy weight. If you want to make the switch to a raw diet today to see if it works for your dog, Mersey Raw can help - follow our guide to get started.
Exploring the Best Raw Dog Food for Weight Gain
The best raw dog food for weight gain in dogs should contain:
- High-calorie proteins (such as lamb, beef, and pork)
- Offal to support muscle development
- Bones
Please note: Keeping your dog on a high-calorie diet long term could result in them becoming overweight. If your dog does put on weight, we advise switching up the raw proteins in their diet to leaner meats, such as turkey, chicken, rabbit, or fish.
Key Takeaways
- Dogs could potentially require weight gain due to illness, decreased appetite, stress, poor diet, hyperactivity, or underlying conditions
- Raw diets for dogs can potentially help them gain weight
- The best raw dog food for weight gain should ideally contain high-calorie protein, offal, bones, and other healthy fats
Does Your Dog Need to Gain Weight?
At Mersey Raw, we provide quality raw dog food for dogs in the UK. We aim to help dogs across the country lead healthier and happier lives. Our raw food is protein-packed, rich in essential nutrients, making it the best raw dog food for weight gain.
With various proteins to choose from, including healthy, fatty meats such as lamb, beef, and pork, we can work together to help your dog gain weight.
Shop our full selection of raw minces today, or get in touch if you have any questions!