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Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup

Written by

Elaine Navajo

Reviewed by

Updated on:

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Best Dog Food For Weight Gain

We all want our furry friends to be in great shape – not overweight or skinny. Normally, a dog’s body weight is a good indicator of the dog’s health, particularly in underweight dogs.

Surely, a dog’s diet has a lot to do with achieving a healthy weight. Many skinny dogs don’t get enough protein and nutrition from their diet, which is why they have low body weight. However, if a dog is swiftly losing weight, a serious health condition could be the cause.    

In this article, we'll talk about skinny dogs and how we can help a malnourished dog safely gain weight. We will also discuss a dog’s food role in bulking up an underweight dog as well as the best dog food for weight gain.

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Best Dog Food For Weight Gain

Top Dry Dog Food Brands

1. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 1

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Chicken, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Cracked Pearled Barley

Protein: 32.0% min

Fat: 25.0% min

Fiber: 4.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

We start the best dog foods for weight gain list with high-performance dog food – Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete. Although meant for working dogs, this high protein diet is also suitable as a weight gain dog food. Loaded with 32% minimum protein, this dry food offers 25% minimum fat content, which is among the highest among dry dog foods.

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Made with high-quality chicken meal and real chicken meat, the kibble also features more calories than the average dog food, with 4107 kcal/kg. Chicken fat is the source of the essential fat in this recipe.

Proudly made in the USA, and without any cheap fillers or artificial additives, this dog food is rich in essential nutrients sourced from superfoods like blueberries, pumpkin, oranges, coconut, and spinach among others.

It also has omega fatty acids and probiotics for digestive health. What’s even greater news for pet owners is that this great product is easy on the pocketbook. 

Online reviews have been very positive, with many customers mentioning the amazing weight gain as well as favorable effects on the dogs’ muscles. Some also mentioned improved coats in their pups. 

A few reviewers however noted that this product is crumbly, while some said their food-sensitive dogs experienced gastrointestinal issues.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • High caloric content
  • Protein and Fat contents are high
  • Superfood fruits and veggies for more nutrients
  • Made without corn, wheat, artificial flavors or colors

Cons

  • Reports of being crumbly

2. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 2

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Herring Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Wheat

Protein: 30.0% min

Fat: 25.0% min

Fiber: 3.5% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Another high-performance dry dog food that can help your skinny dog gain weight is Inukshuk Professional dry dog food, which boasts 30-25 protein-fat percentages that are suitable to promote weight gain. 

This formula is also created to sustain working and sporting dogs. But skinny dogs can also profit from the great qualities of this kibble, which is also a high-calorie dog food (4125 kcal/kg). It’s also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals and is extra generous in omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.

This dual-protein recipe is packed with flavor from both chicken meal and herring meal. Its rich and savory flavor is further enhanced by chicken liver, chicken fat, and herring oil. This professional formula also includes kelp meal which is rich in iodine which supports dogs’ thyroid function.

We found over 50 online reviews for this diet and all but one were very encouraging. Most pet parents said their pooches’ low body weight improved with this food, and with mentions about seeing shinier coats. Some said their pups got more energetic. The lone naysayer had a fussy pup that turned her nose up on the kibble.

Pros

  • Specifically designed for working dogs
  • Rich in prebiotics and chelated minerals 
  • Rich in nutrients, especially omega fatty acids and iodine

Cons

  • May not be suitable for dogs sensitive to corn/ wheat
  • Kibbles are slightly smaller than some buyers expected

3. Bully Max 30/20 High-Performance Dog Food

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 3

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Ground Grain Sorghum

Protein: 30.0% min

Fat: 20.0% min

Fiber: 3.8% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

We can’t talk about canine weight gain without including the weight gain specialist – Bully Max. This is a brand that has built its name synonymous with weight gain in dogs. Its products are all about bulking up dogs – weight gain dog food, weight gain treats, and weight gain supplements. 

The Bully Max 30/20 kibble is the staple dog food that’s formulated for active and working dogs.

This high-calorie dog food offers more calories than most premium brands, with 535 kcal per cup, and ample protein (30%) and fat (20%) levels too. Bully Max 30/20 also boasts 100% natural and human-grade ingredients, without any cheap fillers. 

This weight gain formula suits dogs of all breeds and life stages. Chicken meal is the first ingredient and main protein source. Ocean fish meal in the form of menhaden fish meal is also part of the recipe, which supplies even more highly digestible and flavorful meat protein. 

A little goes a long way with this formula. Each cup of this meal contains 535 calories to help your pup bulk up.  The high-quality protein sources help dogs gain lean and healthy muscle mass.

This food is also enriched with vitamins and minerals, and probiotics for gut health. Bully Max truly has a growing fan base with thousands of excellent reviews online.

Most dog parents are loving the results in their pups, with some even saying their dogs’ skin and coat got better. There were very few negative reviews, with claims of seeing no changes in their dog’s body weight.

A few also found that their dogs had loose stools with this food. This could also be caused by the switch to a higher fat % formula.

Pros

  • All natural ingredients
  • No corn, no wheat, no soy
  • High in protein, fat, and caloric contents
  • Suitable for all life stages from 4 weeks of age

Cons

  • Caused loose stools in a few sensitive dogs
  • Recent price hike was quite a jump from its previous price

4. Dr. Tim's Active Dog Pursuit Formula

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 4

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Oat Groats, Dried Plain Beet Pulp

Protein: 30.0% min

Fat: 20.0% min

Fiber: 3.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

If you’re looking for another terrific option that’s easy on the budget, you can consider Dr. Tim’s Active Dog Pursuit. This high-performance formula also features a 30/20 protein-fat ratio to sustain active and working adult dogs’ healthy lifestyle. 

86% of the protein load is derived from animal protein sources in this meal namely chicken meal and ocean fish meal from herring, plus catfish meal and salmon meal.

It’s also supplemented with a generous supply of essential vitamins and minerals for overall health. And, it includes probiotics for digestive support. This brand is one of the highly recommended kibbles by dog owners. 

From dozens of reviews, customers hail the vast improvements in their pup’s coat and energy. Many have said also that their dogs really love this kibble. However, there were some reports of loose stools with this dog’s food.

Pros

  • Rich in vital nutrients
  • Helps to boost endurance
  • 30/20 protein-fat content
  • Metabolically balanced kibble
  • 86% from animal protein sources
  • Features patented BC30 probiotic and a unique fiber blend

Cons

  • Reports of loose stools with this diet

5. VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 5

First 5 ingredients:

Beef Meal, Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Pork Meal, Chicken Meal

Protein: 30.0% min

Fat: 20.0% min

Fiber: 3.8% max

Moisture: 9.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, Small – Medium Breeds

Here’s another affordable choice to bulk up your underweight dog – Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus. Formulated for active adult dogs, this dog food boasts 88% meat protein from beef meal, chicken meal, and pork meal to attain a 30% minimum crude protein load.

It is free from sub-par protein sources such as unnamed meat meals or corn gluten meal. This recipe has a 20% minimum crude fat load and 3815 kcal/kg, which can help your pet gain weight. 

Suitable for all life stages, this dog food can also serve as puppy food for puppies over 6 months old, or even for pregnant dogs. Moreover, this recipe is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, plus probiotics, to support a healthy pooch. 

This weight gain recipe received encouraging online reviews from pet owners, many of whom said their pups started gaining weight. There were also some mentions of skin and coat progress as well as suitability with sensitive stomachs.

Affordability is also one trait that made this brand quite popular. Among the critical reviews, there were reports of too much flatulence as well as hard poops after trying this kibble.

Pros

  • Palatable
  • No artificial ingredients
  • Made from gluten-free grains
  • Ideal for all life stages, including growing puppies, pregnant and lactating females

Cons

  • Few reports of hard stool and flatulence

6. A Better Treat Raw You Can See Chicken Recipe

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 6

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oat, Pea Protein

Protein: 35.0% min

Fat: 19.0% min

Fiber: 10.0% max

Moisture: 4.0% max

Food Type: Dry, Freeze-Dried

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Starting to make a mark among the premium brands is A Better Treat company. This family-owned dog food is proud of its freeze-dried raw nutrition process, which is believed to have enhanced the palatability of the kibble. 

Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients and with none of the artificial additives or cheap fillers, this high-calorie dog food also has a 35/19 protein-fat load to help skinny puppies and dogs gain weight. Also remarkable is its complete and balanced nutrition, plus probiotics, to promote overall health. 

The online reviews for this food have been largely supportive, with several mentions of weight gain in underweight dogs. The only common criticisms are that the kibble has little to none raw content and its steep price.

Pros

  • No artificial ingredients
  • Promotes healthy skin and a lustrous coat
  • Nutritionally complete and balanced recipe
  • Slow-cooking makes the food more palatable

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Minimal freeze dried raw ingredients

7. Wellness CORE RawRev Puppy Recipe

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 7

First 5 ingredients:

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Lentils

Protein: 37.0% min

Fat: 16.0% min

Fiber: 5.5% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry, Freeze-Dried

Best for: Puppy, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

When it comes to high-quality ingredients, Wellness Core is one of the heavyweights in dog foods. Its RawRev grain-free puppy food with a freeze-dried turkey recipe is surely a must-try for your underweight pup. 

Made with real chicken as the first ingredient, this grain-free dog food has an outstanding array of food ingredients that include turkey hearts, salmon oil, flaxseed, bananas, spinach, broccoli, and sweet potato to name a few. And yes, it includes freeze-dried turkey bites for the extra flavor and nutrition. 

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The protein content is a remarkable 38%, which is superb for gaining weight and also lean muscle mass. The fat load is 17.5%, which is slightly below our recommended 20% but certainly higher than most maintenance pet foods. But this recipe packs extra calories, with 3839 kcal/kg. 

The grain-free recipe is teeming with healthy omegas, antioxidants, and probiotics, apart from the basic nutrients required by growing puppies. 

Like with most brands in this article, this puppy food also received rave reviews online, which came as no surprise given the excellent quality of the food components.

Dog owners said this grain-free dry dog food helped their underweight dogs gain weight. Also, they said their pups licked the bowls empty with this chow. Some customers however wished there were more freeze-dried bits in the bag.

Pros

  • High-quality ingredients
  • With freeze-dried turkey bites
  • Specially formulated with DHA & Taurine
  • Does not contain any fillers, wheat, corn or soy

Cons

  • Bag contains a very small amount of raw turkey bits

8. Team Dog Salmon Meal & Herring Meal 30/25

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 8

First 5 ingredients:

Salmon Meal, Whole Oats, Salmon Oil, Red Lentils, Herring Meal

Protein: 30.0% min

Fat: 25.0% min

Fiber: 3.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Fairly new brand Team Dog presents a high-protein and high-fat formula that’s suitable for adult pups of all breeds and sizes. Its 30/25 Elite Blend Premium formula is perfect for dogs who need to gain weight, but also require a chicken-free diet.

This grain-inclusive recipe features salmon meal as the main source of protein. The protein and fat levels are 30% and 25% minimum respectively, which is just about right to promote weight gain in underweight pups, as well as sustain the high energy requirements of active dogs. Instead of cheap fillers, the carb and fiber sources of this meal are wholesome grains such as whole oats and whole millet.

While this product is quite new, it has been gaining a lot of support, especially from pet parents of working dogs. According to feedback, their picky pups loved the highly palatable fish-rich kibbles. Most of the positive reviews state that they have seen significant improvement in the quality of their dogs’ skin and coats. 

Aside from the healthier coats and higher energy levels, the dogs are also gaining more muscle mass with this 30/25 formula. Digestion has also improved for many dogs.  The only negative comment was from an owner of two German Shepherds who had loose stools after eating this recipe.

Pros

  • Great for sensitive dogs
  • High-quality animal protein sources
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA
  • Has given many dogs superb skin and coat condition

Cons

  • Very high fat content may not be suitable for sensitive tummies

9. Go! Solutions Carnivore Chicken, Turkey + Duck Senior Recipe

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 9

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, De-Boned Chicken, De-Boned Turkey

Protein: 32.0% min

Fat: 14.0% min

Fiber: 4.5% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: Senior, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

As for our older four-legged loves, we recommend a high-protein dry dog food that’s not too high in fat content.

But more importantly, a high-quality dog food that can satisfy our aging pooches. We find the best senior dog food for weight gain to be this grain-free kibble from Go! for its overall qualities. 

First of all it is made with 11 real animal ingredients, chicken meal and turkey meal are the first two ingredients that mostly provide the high 32% protein load. The fat content is still ample at 14%, which is just right for senior dogs. The caloric content is good at 3756 kcal/kg. 

The ingredient list is astonishing too, which lists New Zealand green mussels, salmon meal, deboned chicken, deboned trout, deboned duck, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, and blackberries among others.

This grain-free formula is also abundant in essential vitamins and minerals, plus probiotics. It is free from sub-par protein sources such as unnamed meat meals or corn gluten meal.

This product got several favorable reviews, with many dog parents saying their senior pups love this tasty kibble.

Some claim they see renewed energy in their old dogs, and others found their dogs also gaining weight. Some naysayers say that since the recipe change, their pups developed allergies.

Pros

  • Grain free formula
  • Made by a team of pet nutritionists
  • Crafted from 11 protein sources
  • With L-Carnitine that helps burn fat

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Notable recipe change

Top Wet Dog Food Brands

1. Tiki Dog Meaty High Protein Diet Chicken with Egg Recipe 

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 10

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Lactate

Protein: 14.0% min

Fat: 2.0% min

Fiber: 1.0% max

Moisture: 80.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Shredded

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

As for wet dog food, we find Tiki Dog Meaty as a top contender for weight gain because of its protein level of 10% which is quite high for wet food.

But that’s not all. This grain-free dog food is also made with amazing ingredients that are ethically sourced, led by cage-free chicken, making it highly recommended for picky pups.

No artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives are included in this delicious meal. It is also free from carrageenan, which is a thickener commonly found in wet pet food. 

This tasty food has mostly positive feedback from pet parents. Highly palatable, buyers noted that their dogs come running whenever this pate is served at dinner. With naturally flavorful and fatty chicken, this sure serves up a meal that guarantees a clean bowl.

This product has also received positive reviews from pet parents looking to help their dogs gain weight. Its high caloric content at 889 ME kcal/can is key in helping pups put on the pounds.

Pros

  • Features real chicken first
  • Made with real chicken broth
  • Ethically sourced and high-quality ingredients
  • Completely free from grains, artificial colors and preservatives

Cons

  • Too “soupy” for some

2. Nature's Logic Canine  Rabbit Feast

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 11

First 5 ingredients:

Rabbit, Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork Liver, Dried Egg Product, Montmorillonite Clay

Protein: 12.0% min

Fat: 7.0% min

Fiber: 3.0% max

Moisture: 72.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Pâté

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

Not to be outdone is another great wet dog food with high-protein and high-fat contents – Nature’s Logic Canine Rabbit feast grain-free dog food.

This all-natural pate has 12% minimum crude protein, 7% minimum crude fat levels, and more calories, which are perfect for your underweight pet. 

Check out the incredible ingredients – real rabbit, pork liver, dried egg, apricot, dried artichoke, Blueberry, broccoli and others. Dried kelp and pumpkin are great for restoring a good balance of intestinal flora in dogs. It is a natural way to improve gut health.

This grain-free formula promises to be a darling to your adult dog or younger pup.It can be served as a topper to kibble or as a supplemental meal.

The recipe is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. This means that it cannot be your dog’s sole source of nourishment. 

Except for a few reviews, most online comments have been friendly, majority of which were about the excellent palatability. There were two complaints about the texture, which the customer described as mushy and the strong odor.

Pros

  • Budget friendly
  • Grain-free, gluten-free 
  • Low in carbohydrates
  • Contains fruits and vegetables
  • Perfect for pets who are sensitive to legumes

Cons

  • Strong odor
  • Not formulated to be a complete meal

3. Essence Limited Ingredient Recipe Ranch Recipe

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 12

First 5 ingredients:

Lamb, Lamb Broth, Pork, Pork Liver, Natural Lamb Flavor

Protein: 11.0% min

Fat: 7.5% min

Fiber: 1.5% max

Moisture: 78.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Pâté

Best for: All Lifestages, Large Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

For pups with sensitive tummies and food allergies, the one of the best dog food for weight gain is Essence Limited Ingredient Ranch Recipe as it has none of the more common food allergens. Real lamb is the first ingredient in this high-protein pate, along with bounteous essential vitamins and minerals. 

This pate is nutritionally complete and balanced. It is suitable as a complete meal for dogs of all breeds, sizes, and life stages, making it perfect for a household with multiple pets.

It’s loaded with 11% minimum protein and 7.5% minimum fat levels that are appropriate for your underweight dog. This recipe is free from beef, poultry, fish, legumes, and gluten. It also does not contain artificial enhancers or carrageenan.

So far, the few online reviews have been all friendly, saying their furry friends love this pate. Dogs look forward to being served this extra meaty pate.

It is quite gentle on sensitive tummies, too. While a bit pricier than the average wet food, pet parents find great value in this highly-nutritious and meat-rich pate. 

Pros

  • Great for sensitive stomachs
  • High in protein and gluten-free
  • Made with wholesome ingredients
  • 100% natural ingredients led by real lamb

Cons

  • A bit pricey

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 13

Bonus: The Best Toppers, Treats and Supplements for Weight Gain

1. Stella & Chewy's Dandy Lamb Meal Mixers

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 14

First 5 ingredients:

Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney

Protein: 38.0% min

Fat: 38.0% min

Fiber: 5.0% max

Moisture: 5.0% max

Food Type: Treats, Freeze-Dried, Food Topping

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

To help your underweight dog gain weight, add some tasty food toppers to regular dog food. Food toppers add to the palatability of the food and also some extra calories, protein, and fat contents. And when it comes to toppers, it’s hard to equal the greatness of Stella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Meal. 

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Made with high-quality real lamb and lamb organs, this grain-free topper offers protein and fat levels of 38% each, which are remarkable in countering your dog’s weight loss. It also has other commendable ingredients like all-organic cranberries, spinach, and squash. It has vital nutrients and probiotics too. 

There were close to 200 online reviews for this topper, 96% of which have been highly supportive. Most dog owners found it easy to serve this topper to their dogs that loved it.

There are a few critical comments, mostly about their pooches not being big fans and some about the high price tag.

Pros

  • Help entice a picky eater
  • Perfect for sensitive dogs
  • Great ingredients with real lamb and lamb organs
  • With 100% organic-certified fruits and vegetables
  • Zero grains, gluten, fillers, artificial preservatives

Cons

  • Steep price

2. Jinx Beef Crumbles

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 15

First 5 ingredients:

Beef, Pea Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid

Protein: 20.0% min

Fat: 8.0% min

Fiber: 2.0% max

Moisture: 14.0% max

Food Type: Food Topping

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Meet Jinx Beef Crumbles, the high-protein topper that’s ready to steal the spotlight! Crafted by the fresh-faced (yet fierce!) newcomer, Jinx, this beefy blend is here to shake up your pup’s dinner routine.

Packed with real beef and no unnecessary fillers, these crumbles bring a savory, protein-rich boost that’ll leave tails wagging and bowls empty.

This treat boasts a 98% approval rating in online reviews, with most pet parents praising its delicious taste, which they say has boosted their pups' appetites.

Perfect for picky eaters and nutrition-conscious pups alike, Jinx proves that being the new dog on the block has its perks—like delivering a gourmet boost for every meal!

Pros

  • Real beef is top ingredient
  • Dehydrated and slow-smoked
  • Rich in vitamins and fiber
  • Zero grain, corn, wheat, soy, or animal byproducts

Cons

  • Too little inside the pack

3. Stewart Pro-Treat Wild Salmon 

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 16

Only ingredient:

100% Wild Salmon

Protein: 65.0% min

Fat: 7.0% min

Fiber: 2.0% max

Moisture: 5.0% max

Food Type: Treats

Best for: Adult, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

After getting your pet the best food give her high-protein treats for good measure. One of our top choices is Stewart Pro-Treat freeze-dried treats, especially the Wild Salmon.

Made with 100% wild salmon, these savory treats offer 80% protein and 13% fat loads to help your skinny dog gain weight. 

Salmon is also naturally rich in essential omegas that present bountiful health benefits including skin and coat enhancement. This treat is also a single ingredient protein and grain-free to prevent food sensitivities. 

This treat received a 95% acceptance rating in online reviews, with most respondents liking the appetizing taste that they claim to have improved the appetites of their pups.

Some also love the fact that it’s generally safe for food-sensitive dogs. Most of the negative reviews were about the high cost, with a few mentions of the texture being too hard.

Pros

  • Aromatic & full of flavor
  • Single-ingredient – real wild salmon
  • High-protein, highly digestible
  • Great for pets with allergies or food sensitivities

Cons

  • Container is not full
  • Can be hard to eat for some dogs

4. Bully Max Supplement for Weight Gain

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 17

First 5 ingredients:

Omega Fish Oil, Canola Oil, Purified Water, Dextrose, Whey Protein

Food Type: Liquid Supplement

Best for: All Lifestages, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

One splendid weight gain supplement is Bully Max Liquid Weight Gainer 2-in-1, which is made by weight gain specialist Bully Max. 

It has 100% natural ingredients that are known to help your dog achieve a healthy weight gain, and fast. It’s also easy to apply via syringe with a simple drop to food or water.

It has 150 calories per ounce and 50% crude fat. It is oozing with vitamins and minerals, especially L-carnitine to help your dog burn fats more efficiently. 

Several online reviewers have said that this weight gain supplement worked well in helping a pet gain weight in a short period of time. There were very few critical comments, with just a few saying they hardly see any difference after half the bottle is used up.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • All-natural ingredients
  • High in fat and caloric levels
  • Helps your dog gain weight safely & effectively

Cons

  • Only comes in 1 size

How to Choose the Right Food?

The best dog foods can certainly help your underweight dog in gaining weight. High-fat, high-calorie dog food should do the trick.

But there are some qualities that cannot be ignored. Don’t be surprised if some vets recommend puppy food for your underweight adult dog. Puppy food is normally high in protein and healthy fats that can help your pup gain weight. 

They may also prescribe high-performance dog food, which is usually formulated for working dogs. This type of dog food is also typically high in protein, fat, and caloric contents. To help you in buying dog food for weight gain, we listed the main qualities to look for in weight gain dog food.

High in Protein

Whether or not your dog needs to gain weight, she needs protein to be strong, active, and healthy. But a high-protein diet is especially critical for underweight dogs. Protein is vital for a healthy muscle mass in dogs among other health benefits.

As the protein load works on a lean muscle mass, the dog also starts to gain weight. As a rule of thumb, the ideal protein load in dry dog food must be at least 30% and at least 10% for wet dog food.

High in Fat

Normally, we wouldn’t recommend high-fat levels in dog food. Healthy fats in a dog’s diet are helpful for a dog’s health. But for a healthy dog, just the right amount of fats is needed.

For skinny dogs, however, the extra fat load can help largely in bulking them up. For dry food, we recommend a fat content of about 18% to 25%. For wet dog food, a minimum fat content of 6% is sufficient.

It is also important to choose foods with high-quality fat sources such as chicken fat, fish oil, coconut oil, and others instead of unnamed sources such as animal fat preserved or poultry fat.

High in Calories

Dog foods with a high caloric content can certainly help in canine weight gain. High-calorie dog food is recommended by vets to induce a healthy weight gain in dogs that need to add a few pounds. The ideal caloric content for dry food is at least 3800 kcal per kilogram. And for wet dog food, the minimum is somewhere around 900 kcal per kilogram.

Highly Palatable

Your pooch may be a picky eater. This is why palatability is so important in a dog’s diet. Even the best dog foods won’t matter if the dogs don’t eat them. Find out your pup’s preferences by buying dog food in small packages of two to three choices. 

Complete and Balanced Nutrition

Apart from the protein, fat, and caloric contents, dogs also need essential nutrients to be healthy. Dog foods with essential vitamins and minerals are necessary to prevent health issues.

Choose dog foods that comply with AAFCO nutrition standards. Moreover, if gastrointestinal issues are causing weight loss, probiotics in dog food can help support healthy digestion.

All-Natural Ingredients

Nothing beats dog food with all-natural components. The best dog foods for weight gain only use natural ingredients from the high-quality animal and plant-based sources. Avoid diets with artificial ingredients, typically found in cheap commercial pet foods.

Fresh Food Options

Aside from the best dog foods for weight gain presented in this article, you may also opt to try some of the homemade-fresh recipes available online that offer all-natural and freshly-made food.

One great option is Ollie Foods, which offers human-grade and minimally-processed recipes that your skinny pups can benefit from. 

Ollie has four recipes to choose from, three of which have a sufficient 7% crude fat load – Beef with sweet potato and peas, Turkey with carrots and blueberries, and Lamb with butternut squash and kale.

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 18

About Underweight Dogs

In this part of the article, we’ll try to shed light on why some dogs lose weight and what dog parents can do to prevent further weight loss and start bulking up their dogs. 

Why Dogs Lose Weight

There are many possible causes of weight loss. While it can be alarming, the weight loss doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a serious health problem, unless, of course, your dog is rapidly losing weight.

In many cases, dogs can just be too choosy with their food that they don’t eat enough. Sadly, many pet parents don’t care to see if their pets are eating enough, thinking that they may just not be hungry enough. So the first question to ask is “Does your dog eat well?”

To summarize, the most common causes of weight loss in dogs are:

  • Picky Eaters
  • Health Issues
  • Stress
  • Diet Change
  • Other pets

Picky Eaters

Like humans, dogs need to like their food to eat it. Of course, they’re forced to eat when they get hungry. But picky eaters don’t usually eat enough.

Some dogs develop a certain preference in taste later on in life. Many senior dogs are especially fussy with food, which can be a challenge for dog owners. Sometimes, it takes several trials and errors to determine the right dog food.

Health Issues

Sickness or pain can quickly make a dog lose its weight and appetite. There are several canine health disorders that cause a dog to lose appetite and energy.

If your dog is normally a hefty eater that suddenly refuses to eat, this may be because of pain or illness, in which case, a visit to the vet is the best move. 

This is especially more evident when other symptoms can be seen in your underweight dog such as vomiting, diarrhea, increased gas, and lethargy. More serious disorders can cause dogs to quickly lose weight even when the appetite is normal.

Here are some of the more common health issues that may cause your dog to shed weight:

  • Food sensitivities and allergies
  • Dental problems
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Cancer
  • Kidney disease
  • Advanced heart disease
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Metabolic disorders

Many commercial pet foods contain ingredients that cause food allergies and sensitivities to some dogs, the most common of which are beef, chicken, dairy products, eggs, and some grains. An allergic reaction could result in skin irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting among others.

If your dog is in pain, especially in the mouth due to dental issues or injuries, she tends not to eat as the eating experience becomes unpleasant. Dogs with teeth and gum disease, mostly senior dogs, will have difficulty chewing on hard food like kibble.

Dogs with little or no teeth don’t get to eat enough because they’re unable to. Dental issues should not be taken for granted as oral bacteria can spread throughout the body and cause other more serious illnesses.

Cancer can cause dogs to suddenly and rapidly lose weight. Older dogs are especially more prone to malignant canine cancers like lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma, which are known to induce weight loss.

The tumors could cause weight loss due to their metabolic needs. Or these could be causing the dog some pain, which results in appetite loss.

Kidney and heart issues may not immediately cause weight loss in dogs. Normally, this happens in more advanced stages of the condition. So if these issues cause weight loss, it’s probably because the dog has had them for a while.

Metabolic disorders such as diabetes can also cause rapid weight loss in dogs. Gastrointestinal problems are also common causes for weight loss in dogs as the food is not digested and absorbed well.

But the more serious issues in the digestive system are the usual culprits, which gradually cause the dog to lose weight. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of GI problems. If these occur more frequently, weight loss is inevitable.

Stress

Like humans, dogs also lose the desire to eat when stressed or anxious. There are so many reasons that can stress a dog out or cause anxiety and depression.

A change of environment, a new pet, a loss of another pet, separation anxiety (when you’re not around), fireworks, or maltreatment are common stress factors. Chronic stress can lead to other health problems too. Keeping them happy is a great way to keep them healthy and live longer.

Diet Change

A change of diet could also trigger the loss of appetite as the dog is unfamiliar with the new dog food. This is why a gradual change, over a period of about two weeks, is recommended. Or, the new diet may have fewer calories and lesser protein and fats than the old food, which could explain the weight loss.

Other Pets

If you have multiple dogs or pets, your skinny dog could be bullied by the more dominant ones. She may then leave her food bowl for the bullies to take.

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 19

How You Can Help Your Underweight Dog Gain Weight

There are some measures that you can do as a dog parent to help your underweight dog gain weight, especially if her weight loss is not caused by a serious illness.

Favorites

Most dogs can’t resist their favorite diet and treats. But it can be a challenge finding out their preferences, especially if you have picky dogs.

You can dry buying small packages of different options just to see which ones they prefer. They may prefer a particular dog food, animal protein, or recipe. 

The same goes for fresh foods and treats. You can also try to add some toppers, or fresh foods like eggs, tuna, or some olive oil to make the diet more appetizing.

Sweet Potato & Pumpkin

Pumpkin and sweet potato are known to help add a few pounds to your dog’s weight. You can serve as treats or toppers to regular dog foods. You can have this home-cooked (without any spices), or select canned or dehydrated products that are meant for pets.

Peanut Butter

Most dogs love peanut butter on their treats or fresh fruits or veggies like carrots. Peanut butter adds extra calories to the treats. But make sure to use all-natural peanut butter or one made for pets. Artificial additives in some peanut butter products are unhealthy for dogs.

Playtime and Exercise

Your dogs need lots of exercise even when they’re skinny. It’s part of keeping strong muscles and joints. So make sure you provide them with at least half an hour of exercise daily.

Better yet, play with them or walk them around the neighborhood. This stimulates them and also battles stress. And of course, they tend to eat more after exercise.

Hand-Feeding

Sometimes dogs are encouraged to eat when you hand-feed them, just like when you feed your 2-year old child.

Ad Libitum Feeding Strategy

For really picky eaters, the ad libitum feeding strategy may be worth the try. This is having no fixed meal time but having food available all the time instead. But this strategy is not ideal for multiple pets with some hefty eaters.

Even if she won’t eat, always have clean food and water available for when she gets hungry. Dogs can sometimes become moody and may not eat during regular mealtime. But they will likely feel the urge to eat later on.

Best Dog Food for Weight Gain: Bulking Up Your Underweight Pup 20

In a nutshell

It’s your responsibility as a dog owner to ensure that your pup is in a healthy weight – not underweight or overweight. Some dog breeds have naturally large or slim body frames. But when a dog’s ribs are too prominent, she’s probably malnourished.

There are several possible causes for your dog’s weight loss, from simply being a picky eater to having a serious illness. If the best dog food for weight gain doesn’t make a difference, or if the weight loss is unexpected, it’s best to consult the veterinarian immediately.

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