Although you may think overweight and obese dogs can be a very common occurrence, underweight dogs can be just as worrisome. There can be many reasons as to why your dog may be underweight such as they are a rescue and are getting adjusted to a new environment, medical issues, or simply your dog may be craving a new and different food for their meals.
It is very important that your pup gains weight in a healthy and sustainable way. In order for your dog to gain some healthy weight, you must ensure that they maintain a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Here are 5 tips to help your dog gain weight:
Keep a Health Journal
Creating a detailed health journal can be very beneficial for your dog’s health. In this journal, you track all of your dog’s activity. This includes their daily meals and treats (with the calories), exercise routine, weight, and their mood/behavior. With everything written down, you will easily be able to see what is and what is not working for your dog. For example, if you notice that your pup’s weight fluctuated, you can check back to your journal entries to determine what caused this weight gain or loss. This tool can help identify what the problem is and potentially find a solution.
Weigh Your Dog Often
Similar to humans, weekly weigh-ins are very important to see your progress. Weekly weigh-ins are a great tool to measure your dog’s weight because you can clearly see the effects in a one-week period. Anything longer or shorter than a week is not as efficient for determining what is truly working for your dog. It is important to remember that weight-gaining programs take time, so be patient with yourself and your dog.
Feed Your Dog High-Quality Dog Food
In order to help your dog gain some weight, you must create an eating plan that focuses on nutritional value rather than calorie intake. Rapidly increasing your dog’s calorie and fat intake can lead to digestive problems and even cause diarrhea or vomiting.
The best and most beneficial dog foods for your dog are made with natural ingredients like meats, vegetables, eggs, and fruits. You should avoid purchasing dog food that is heavily made with cereal grains and strictly made of meat.
Exercise
Incorporating exercise into your dog’s routine is very important for structure and maintaining a healthy balance. It may seem odd to recommend exercise to a dog that needs to gain weight, but exercise is beneficial because it will allow your dog to build some muscle mass. Not only will this help create a nice routine and add bulk up your pup, but it can also increase your dog’s appetite.
If your dog is already exercising regularly, ask your vet what the right amount of walking, running, etc. they recommend and if you should increase or decrease this time.
Talk to Your Veterinarian
If you are really struggling with your dog’s weight, it can be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian. Ask your vet to perform a complete physical on your pup to determine what the issue may be since there could be a variety of diseases or health issues that are causing your dog’s weight loss. Your vet can also provide a goal weight for your dog to reach to ensure that they remain happy and healthy.
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