Weight Gain Puppy Food Recipes
If you ask anyone in rescue what they use to put fast weight on the emaciated dogs, you will likely hear the reply, “Satin Balls”.
Satin Balls contain a good amount of fat to help add weight to a dog and can be used as a supplement to a regular diet.
Here is a recipe for a small batch to try:
Mix it all together and make them in meatball-like shapes. You feed these raw. You can substitute flaxseed oil for any oil on hand, but the most beneficial oils for your puppy will be flaxseed oil, coconut oil, fish oil or sunflower oil.
Other foods you can add to your puppy’s day to help them gain weight include:
If your puppy is a fussy eater, be sure to read our post: Puppy Won’t Eat All Their Food.
Nutro ULTRA Puppy Dry Kibble
Nutro ULTRA provides one of the best weight gain puppy foods on the canine market today due to its trio of protein foods including chicken, lamb, and salmon. With chicken being the number #1 ingredient, this dry dog food is specially formulated for larger breed puppies. This super puppy food for weight gain contains the highest available nutrients using real, recognizable ingredients.
Nutro dog food is designed and crafted to promote healthy bones, teeth, good digestion, growth, and brain development. Containing zinc, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, vitamin E, and crude fiber and protein, the Nutro adds in an additional blend of 15 vibrant superfoods including kale, chia, and coconut.
Puppy food for weight gain can’t get any better than this. Rich in flavor and containing no GMO ingredients, the Nutro Ultra brand is tailored for any life stage of development and can be purchased as dry or wet food. Furthermore, the wholesome ingredients provide more shine and luster to your dog’s coats. According to users, puppies born with allergies have benefited greatly and conditions have improved with this puppy food. Made in the US, it’s no question that Nutro makes some of the best puppy food for weight gain.
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This puppy food for weight gain by Bully Max provides a wonderful recipe to gain lean muscle mass for underweight puppies. With 30% protein and 20% fat, this high-performance dog food provides that nutritious kick to keep your dogs growing steadily and gaining weight. Bully Max is the only 5-star rated performance dog food on the market. It is the only meat-based formula in its class with real meat being its prime ingredient. Ideal for all life stages, the Bully Max weight gain puppy food contains no corn, no wheat, and no soy.
This dog food provides more calories than other formulas of its kind averaging a whopping 535 per cup. With all-natural ingredients, this premium dog food is designed to enhance performance and provide maximum energy. Suitable for ages four weeks or older and crafted in the US, this 30/20 formula definitely deserves the 5-star rating from Dog Food Advisor. It has been known to relieve diarrhea in dogs, however, some users complain about the price jump.
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The BLUE Wilderness pup food for weight gain is not advertised as puppy food but nevertheless, it is high in protein and it’s a grain-free kibble. This makes it better than many puppy foods on the market.
This particular puppy food for weight gain features real meat as its main ingredient and its high-quality protein comes from deboned salmon, fish meal, and chicken meal. The L-carnitine added to it helps with the development and maintenance of lean muscles. Containing wholesome fruits and vegetables, the Blue Wilderness is specially formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin for better bone health.
This is a natural dog food that is enhanced with beneficial vitamins and minerals for a healthy oxidative balance. It provides immunity, healthier bones, and skin, as well as supports a healthy heart. This dog food is made with the salmon that dogs really love for added flavor, and with the right balance of carbohydrates and calories, a steady weight increase in your puppies is assured. BLUE Wilderness is a trusted brand in the canine market, just watch for sensitive stomachs as some dogs have gotten sick due to reviews.
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Ideal Weight Test
Run your finger across the back of your hand, below your knuckles. Notice how if you use light pressure, you can feel the bones in your hand without too much effort.
If your puppy’s ribs feel like this, they are likely at a healthy weight, and they’re doing fine!
TRAINER NOTE:
While doing body checks, make sure to take the opportunity to help condition your dog to enjoy this, even if you think he already does.
This is a skill that will benefit your puppy throughout their life! I use a lick mat, but you can also use the lid of a Tupperware container. Spread something like peanut butter, canned dog food or yogurt on it. Let your dog engage with it as you lightly run your hands over your puppy’s sides and spine. Softly praise throughout the body check and keep it quick at first.
What to feed your puppies to make them gain weight
An ideal body condition is essential in supporting your dog’s health. While it’s more common for dogs to need to lose pounds to achieve a healthy weight, some dogs need to add a few.
A dog could be underweight for a variety of reasons. They may be recovering from an illness or injury, a recently adopted former stray or maybe they’re simply not food-motivated.
If you’re wondering how to get a dog to gain weight, don’t worry; with special care and nutrition, like dog food for weight gain, underweight dogs can get back to a healthy weight.