Dry Dog Food for Weight Gain | Tips and Tricks for your Dog

Noticing that your dog has lost weight without any reasonable explanation can be concerning. If your dog has been eating less food, their appetite has decreased, or they are simply burning more calories than they are consuming, it may be time to switch up their diet. With any case of unexpected weight loss, it is always best to consult your vet to rule out any health issues; once you’ve ruled out any illnesses, changing your dog’s diet to dry dog food could be just what they need to start putting on weight. But how do you start?

Our comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about choosing dry dog food for weight gain, such as the best brands, amounts and nutrients to include. We will also discuss the benefits of choosing dry dog food for effective weight management, and how our dry dog food stock and tailored wellbeing consultations can help you and your dog.

What Dog Food is Best for Weight Gain?

There are various options out there for overweight dogs looking to lose a few pounds, but it can be hard to find the right food choices for dogs at the other end of the spectrum. There are some qualities in certain dry dog food brands that make them perfect for weight gain, with tasty flavours and adequate ingredient inclusion to ensure your dog looks a little bulkier. Traits to look out for include:

• Protein and Fat Content: dry dog food with high protein content can be the perfect choice for helping your dog put on weight. Protein helps build muscle, and will help your dog put on weight in a healthier way than feeding them food that isn’t all that nutritious. Nourish Rite’s high protein adult dog food, such as their chicken flavour, contains natural ingredients, 55% chicken and 14% crude oil and fats, making it an ideal choice.
• Palatability: if your dog has lost weight because they aren’t eating as much as they used to, it might be because they don’t like the taste of their current food. It is true that if a dog is hungry, they will eventually eat what they are given, but you want your dog to enjoy their meals just like we do. Innocent Hound presents a wide variety of tasty flavours, such as beef stew, with 70% beef and an inclusion of sweet potato, a vegetable great for helping your dog put on weight.
• Digestion: dog food that is digestible can help ensure your dog is absorbing all the relevant nutrients they need. DARF cold pressed dog food comes in a pellet form, making it much easier for your dog to digest, providing them with a healthy diet they deserve.
• Calorie intake: it is important to check the calories per 100 grams in the dry dog food that you buy, to ensure your dog is getting the right amount to put on weight. Dry dog food with fewer calories may do more harm than good.

Other ways to improve your dog’s weight is eliminating any possible causes of stress and making sure they are getting the right amount of exercise. If you are still struggling to help your dog put on weight, you can request a dog nutrition wellbeing consultation with our experts today.

How Much Should I Feed my Dog for Weight Gain?

The amount of food you give your dog is subjective to a number of factors, such as their size, age and their activity levels. For example, a working dog will need more food than a sedentary Jack Russell. You should ask your vet for their recommendations, but it is often advised that you can give an underweight dog around 10% to 20% more than their regular diet until they are at a healthy weight you are satisfied with.

Each of the dog food brands we stock come with their own feeding guidelines; browse our full collection of the best dog food here to see how much you should be feeding your dog, and how much extra you should be providing.

Want to help improve their weight between meals? Take a look at our tasty dog treats online.

What are the Key Nutrients to Look for When Choosing Dry Dog Food for Weight Gain?

When trying to put on or lose weight, there are various indicators dog owners should look for that can help you decide which dog food option is best for your dog. These include:

• Protein: as previously mentioned, dry dog food with a high protein count can be a good measure of how effective a dog food brand will be in helping your dog put on weight. However, protein shouldn’t make up all of your dog’s diet, and should be complemented with vegetables.
• Vegetables, such as sweet potato: sweet potato is a great option to pair with a protein source for weight gain, and is a tasty treat too.
• Vitamins and Minerals: filler dog food doesn’t usually contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals your dog needs to live a healthy life. Always check for benefits such as the inclusion of omega 3, fatty acids, and Vitamins A 15,000 IU and D3 2,000 IU

What are the Benefits of Feeding Dry Dog Food for Weight Gain?

Dry dog food is a great choice for weight management, and not just in terms of helping your dog with healthy weight gain. These include:

• Portion Control and Measurement: Dry dog food makes it easy to measure and control portions accurately. This helps ensure your dog receives the appropriate amount of food to gain weight without overfeeding, which can lead to obesity.
• Long Shelf Life : Dry dog food generally has a longer shelf life compared to wet food. This makes it convenient for storage and reduces the frequency of trips to the shops. Always make sure your dry food is stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
• Dental Health Benefits: The crunchy texture of dry dog food helps clean your dog's teeth as they chew, reducing plaque and tartar buildup and promoting better oral health. Canagan dental free dry dog food is the perfect choice if your dog also has dental issues.
• Variety of Formulations : There is a wide range of dry dog foods available specifically formulated for different needs, including weight control. These formulations often include added vitamins and minerals to support overall health.

At Fetch, we have a collection of meal toppers that can complement your dog’s diet, as well as a range of raw food and wet food to serve alongside your dog’s dry diet.

Putting on the Pounds with Dry Dog Food at Fetch

At Fetch, we have a wide collection of dry dog food options perfect for helping your dog put on a few pounds. With a range of brands tailored to specific ages and intolerances, you can choose the very best option that is best for your dog and their diet. All nutritional information and feeding guidelines are displayed clearly on each product page, allowing you to make an informed decision.

You can browse our full collection of dry dog food on our website here.

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