High Calorie Dog Food: 10 Best Brands To Help Your Dog Gain Weight

Dog lovers don’t usually need to search for high calorie dog food brands since they are so easy to find. Most of these holistic foods are very calorie dense. And trust me when I say that most of us are feeding our dogs more calories than they really need.

However, some dogs do require more calories and proteins than others. That typically applies to highly active dogs or canines who have jobs like hunting or shepherding.

The case might also be that your doggo struggles to gain and maintain a healthy weight. There can be several reasons for that, including pickiness, dental issues, or a sensitive stomach.

If your dog lives a highly active lifestyle or struggles with weight gain, it requires an adequate diet.

Enter the high-protein dog food.

However, as with any other type of dog food, there are numerous products to choose from. That makes picking the best choice for your pet a daunting task.

To ensure you provide your dog with essential nutrients, I've decided to list some of the best high-calorie dog foods.

Our Top Picks for High-Calorie Dog Foods

 

1. The Farmer's Dog (Beef & Lentils)

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Sweet Potato, Lentils, Carrots, Beef liver

Rating: 5/5

Those of you who read my Farmer's Dog Foor Review know how much my dogs loved it. In terms of quality of ingredients, not many dog food brands can match Farmer's Dog.

All of their recipes are prepared in the USDA kitchens and gently cooked at low temperatures according to the USDA facility standards. Once cooked, the food is quickly frozen to ensure freshness and safe shipping to their clients.

What's more, all the ingredients are human-grade and sourced from reputable food suppliers that meet USDA standards. Feed-grade ingredients are never used.

Their recipes are formulated to be 100% complete and balanced, adhering to the AAFCO guidelines. Since the meals are prepared and shipped fresh, preservatives are not needed. Just keep them frozen and thaw them before feeding your dog.

Each recipe centers around a single protein source and offers plenty of whole fruits and veggies plus balanced carbs, leaving your dog full and energized all day.

Key takeaways

If you're looking for high-quality dog food, you won't find a better option than Farmer's Dog. For me, they're the best choice for dog owners ready to go the extra mile for their pupils.

The thing I love about the brand is that they adjust your pet's diet depending on the information you provide them with. Whether your dog requires a low or high-calorie diet, they will help you determine the recommended high-calorie food and the right meal plan.

Best for: Highly active adult dogs or dogs struggling to gain and maintain a healthy weight.

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2. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Yellowtail Flounder, Whole Eggs, Whole Atlantic Mackerel

Rating: 5/5

Designed to nourish dogs at any stage of life, this grain-free dog food is brimming with fresh and raw whole-animal ingredients, including free-run chicken and turkey, cage-free eggs, herring, and flounder.

Together, these ingredients provide a varied, meat-rich diet that nourishes dogs according to their evolutionary and biological needs–just as nature intended.

It's a fantastic choice for both active and underweight dogs, providing your furry friend with tons of nutrients. My dogs loved it, and you know that I don't feed my babies with just anything.

Key Takeaways

Orijen is one of the best and most high-quality dog food brands on the market. The Orijen Original sums that perfectly, providing active dogs with all the nutrients they need to keep them energized and support their healthy weight.

It comes only with 100% natural and high-quality ingredients. I especially love the fact that it's a grain-free food. Such dog foods contain more protein than those with grain, so you can rest assured they will meet all your active or underweight dog's nutritional needs.

Best for: Dogs in all stages of life.

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3. Bully Max Pro 2X High Calorie Chicken

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Rice Flour, Egg Product, White Fish Meal

Rating: 4.5/5

This premium formula is carefully crafted to deliver exceptional results, packing an impressive 600 calories per cup to support your dog's energy needs.

Its rich, savory taste is sure to appeal even to the pickiest eaters. At the heart of this recipe is real chicken meal—an ultra-concentrated source of high-quality protein that supplies essential amino acids for muscle growth, maintenance, and overall health.

In my opinion, this recipe is by far one of the best high-performance dog food brand around. It contains only fresh and top-quality ingredients, has 25% crude fat and comes with Omega fatty acids to support your dog's energy and weight gain.

Thanks to its high-calorie density, this food allows you to feed up to 60% less while still providing optimal nutrition. This reduced portion size helps minimize the risk of bloating, fatigue, and digestive discomfort that can result from overeating.

Beyond its nutritional benefits, this formula is free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, as well as poultry by-product meals, fillers, corn, wheat, and soy—giving you peace of mind that you're feeding your canine companion only the best.

The one con I might mention is that it's not a grain-free food. It comes with dried-plain beet pulp and ground grain sorghum, so if your dog has a grain allergy, this recipe is a no-go.

Key Takeaways

Overall, this recipe is great if you want to support your puppy's muscle growth or have a young active dog who requires a lot of calories to function. It's one of the best dog food you can get for a young dog, with tons of pet owners recommending it (including yours truly).

What my dogs seemed to love the most about it was the natural flavor. It comes from their style of cooking, which enhances the ingredients' flavor, creating a dog food your pup won't be able to resist.

So yes, if you're looking for high-calorie dog food to support your young dog's weight gain and energy levels, this formula is an excellent choice.

Best for: Active puppies, young dogs or adults that require a higher calorie intake.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Sport Chicken & Rice Formula

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat, Poultry By-Product Meal

My Rating: 4.25/5

As the name suggests, this formula was developed to support your dog's endurance during exercise. If you have a competitive dog who participates in various types of sports, this recipe will ensure it has all the energy it needs to compete at the highest level.

The primary protein source here is chicken. It's supported by amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, ensuring balanced nutrition for a younger dog. What I like about this food is that it comes with antioxidants that support the immune system.

While its main purpose is to provide active dogs with energy, this formula will also help an underweight dog gain weight in a healthier and balanced way.

On the other hand, the ProPlan Sport Formula does come with several unnamed animal ingredients. These can make it potentially unsuitable for dogs with digestive sensitivities. It also contains corn gluten, making it unsuitable for dogs with allergies.

Key Takeaways

If you're looking for high-calorie dog food for the most active canines, this Purina recipe is the perfect food to support your dog's diet.

It's dedicated to high-performance and competition dogs, but it will also support your puppy or underweight pup to gain and maintain a healthy weight. And while I'm not a fan of the unnamed animal ingredients in this formula, it comes with glucosamine that supports your active dog's joint health.

Best for: Active dogs in all stages of life and puppies requiring a healthy weight gain.

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5. Kinetic Performance Power 30K Formula

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Brewers Rice, Ground Sorghum

My Rating: 4/5

This food is designed for performance dogs, small or medium breed puppies, and dogs that have trouble maintaining their weight.

This is nutrient-dense food with 20 percent crude protein. No corn, no wheat, no soy. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It's 100% natural. For me, it's the best recommendation there is.

The fact that it doesn't contain any artificial flavors and grains means that this formula is great for dogs with food sensitivities, helping your dog maintain a healthy digestive system.

The one thing that bothers me is the chicken by-product meal on the list of ingredients. With by-products, you’re getting beaks, claws, and eyes ground up together. It's a great source of protein but not a great choice for dog owners who value 100% organic foods.

Key Takeaways

Although it may not be the best high-calorie dog food on this list, it's still a decent choice for active or underweight pups. Coming with natural and quality ingredients, this formula has everything your pup needs to gain and maintain a healthy weight.

The only thing I don't like is the addition of the chicken by-product meal. While it's high in proteins, it's not organic. If you value that in your dog's food, this Kinetic formula may not be the best choice here.

Best for: Small or medium-breed dogs of all ages requiring a higher calorie intake.

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6. Nature's Logic Canine Chicken Meal Feast

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Millet, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pumpkin Seed, Yeast Culture

My Rating: 4.75/5

This kibble offers dogs a caloric content of as much as 417.95 per cup. It’s a nutrient-dense dish that’s made up primarily of meat with concentrates of premium fruits and vegetables as natural sources of vitamins and minerals.

This meal is free from MSG, hydrolyzed proteins, wheat, corn, rice, or soy. What I also love is that to keep the recipe’s sugar content low, it uses millet instead of potatoes. There are also probiotics and digestive enzymes added for our pups’ proper digestive health.

While the caloric content may be high, the crude fat is at a nice 15% only. It’s enough to provide energy and insulation but not too much to cause any health issues.

Surprisingly, I've read numerous comments from many dog owners who claim that their dogs refuse to eat this food. My dogs loved it.

Key Takeaways

If you're looking for 100% organic high-calorie dog food, this meal is a fantastic choice. It has everything your dog needs to maintain a healthy life and appropriate weight.

What I especially like about this recipe is the low crude fat content. It ensures your dog gets the energy and insulation without you risking any health issues or uncontrolled weight gain.

Best for: Young and adult dogs that require more proteins and more controlled weight gain.

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7. Crave White Fish & Salmon Formula

First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, Chicken Meal, Chickpeas, Split Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)

My Rating: 4.5/5

Crave’s high-calorie recipe is based on meals wild wolf ancestors of modern dogs may have eaten. At least, that's what they say. What I do know for certain is that they're considered one of the best high-calorie dog food brands around. This White Fish and Salmon Meal formula seems to prove that.

The recipe is protein-rich (34%), with salmon as the first ingredient, followed by the white fish meal. It’s a grain-free formulation that’s designed for all breeds and for pups that may be food sensitive.

Each cup of this meal offers up a nice caloric content of 443 kcal with a crude fat content of 17% minimum. It has all the nutrients dogs need to grow and maintain a healthy body and strong immune system courtesy of the added vitamin supplements.

The formulation doesn’t contain any soy, corn, chicken by-product meal, or wheat. There are also no artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.

Key Takeaways

While it's not the best recipe for my dogs, they seemed to like it a few times they tried it. In general, it's a great option for medium and large-breed dogs, as it's very protein and calorie-rich dog food.

It's also a fantastic option for allergic dogs, as it's a fully grain-free food that contains only 100% natural ingredients. What's more, the added vitamins should help improve your dog's immune and digestive systems and help it maintain healthy skin.

Best for: Medium and large dogs that require more proteins and can't eat grains.

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8. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed

First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley

My Rating: 4.5/5

Blue Buffalo’s high-caloric recipe is intended for small dogs with an active life. Its recipe starts off with real meat, followed by healthy whole grains, fruit and veggies, and the brand’s own LifeSource Bits, which is a blend of nutrients that have been enhanced with antioxidant-rich ingredients.

Made with real meat and supported by brown rice, this formulation offers enough protein and carbohydrates to keep adventurous little dogs happily active and full of energy. It has a minimum crude protein of 26%, crude fat of 15%, and a caloric content of 397 per cup.

The recipe uses no wheat, soy, corn, or poultry by-product meals. What it does have are plenty of Omega fatty acids for the skin and coat and glucosamine for mobility and healthy joints.

Key Takeaways

This recipe is perfect for keeping small dogs healthy and energized. My babies have eaten it several times, and it is yet to disappoint me, although it's fair to say that it may not be the best choice for medium to larger breeds.

That makes it a bit less versatile than some other formulas on this list. Nevertheless, if your small dog is full of energy, this recipe should provide it with enough nutrients and proteins for it to stay active and maintain a healthy weight.

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9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Dried Peas, Soybean Meal

My Rating: 4.75/5

Puppies require food specifically designed for their growing bodies. And if you're dealing with an exceptionally active pup, this Rachel Ray recipe will provide it with all the necessary calories and proteins for it to grow happily and healthily.

Slow-roasted chicken is the first ingredient in this puppy recipe. The slow cooking keeps all the moisture out while locking in all the taste inside. Following the chicken comes wholesome foods that provide the energy and antioxidants that every pup needs. 

Each bit of kibble contains DHA for healthy brain development and omega fatty acids for beautiful skin and coat. The crude fat content is set at 16%, while the caloric content is pegged at 390 kcal per cup.

What I love about this recipe is that it contains no poultry by-product meals or artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Key Takeaways

If you're looking for high-calorie dog food for your growing puppy, this food is one of the best choices around. It has everything an active and growing pup needs, providing your little friend with the protein, vitamins, and minerals it needs to live a healthy lifestyle.

Be careful, though. While it contains top-quality and natural ingredients, it's not grain-free. If your puppy has grain allergies, you might be forced to look for an alternative recipe.

Best for: Active and growing puppies.

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10. Wellness Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley

First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice

My Rating: 4.5/5

Crafted specifically for senior dogs, this recipe is made lovingly to meet the nutrition needs of aging pets.

A nutritious yet tasty deboned chicken tops the list of ingredients to keep our senior dog's protein intake high. Then there are grains to provide the carbohydrates that they need to keep them going through every day's unique adventures.

Because it’s made for older pets, the formulation contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support aging joints, taurine to keep the heart healthy, and green tea for fighting free radicals. The caloric content is fixed at 416 kcal per cup, and the minimum crude fat content is at 10% minimum.

There are no soy, wheat, corn, or meat by-products anywhere on the list. It’s also free from artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors. Long story short, if you're looking for the perfect food for your senior dog, this recipe is an excellent choice.

Key Takeaways

In my opinion, there aren't many better senior dog food recipes than this one, especially with such a high-calorie content. This formula is loaded with proteins and nutrients your aging dog needs to live its best life.

It's also a great choice if your older dog is underweight. It will help it gain and maintain the correct weight, ensuring your dog's digestive system stays healthy. I also love the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are necessary to support joining health, which is so crucial for aging dogs.

Best for: Senior dogs struggling to maintain a healthy weight.

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Does your dog need a high calorie dog food?

The question you need to ask yourself is whether your dog really requires a high-calorie diet. If not, you risk it gaining too much weight and becoming obese.

That's probably something you wish to avoid, both for your dog's and your wallet's sake. So does your dog really need a higher calorie intake? Yes, if:

• your dog requires more energy;
• your pup needs to gain some weight;
• you want to ensure your puppy grows healthy.

The first thing applies to dogs that have more active lifestyles. Like humans, such dogs burn much more calories and need more high-protein foods to support that.

As for the dogs who require weight gain, they need more calories for that. High-calorie dog food can then help increase muscle mass and provide your dog with more energy.

Last but not least, high-protein foods are crucial for healthy puppy growth. Puppies are much more active than older dogs, and they tend to burn more energy. Losing too many calories can lead to extensive weight loss, which you can prevent by ensuring your pup gets enough calories and protein.

Buyer's Guide to High-Calorie Dog Food

Although the brands I've mentioned in this guide provide by far the best high-calorie dog food recipes, they come with distinct specifications and formulas that may not be applicable to all dogs.

So what to look for in high-calorie dog food? From my experience, two things – high-protein content and quality ingredients.

Let's start with the protein content. The first thing I want you to remember is that dogs are omnivores. They depend on top-quality protein from animal sources. Animal protein should be the core of your dog's diet.

Generally, most dog foods are based on animal protein. It provides the essential amino acids necessary for your dog to grow muscle mass. If your dog is more active or underweight, that protein intake should be higher.

My advice here would be to look for recipes containing meat as the primary ingredient.

Now to the quality ingredients. What your dog eats will have a massive impact on its overall well-being. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be.

Personally, I try not to feed my dogs food containing non-organic ingredients or by-products. While some of them may have high-calorie content, they have a much lower nutritional value compared to organic foods.

For protein content, always choose dog foods with real meat supported by whole foods, such as whole vegetables and fruits.

Final Word

And that's a wrap on my guide to the best high-calorie dog food. The recipes and brands I've mentioned today should be more than enough to fulfill your dog's daily calorie intake, be it for it to gain weight or stay energized throughout the day full of activities.

Personally, I recommend going for The Farmer's Dog recipes. They are costly, but they're the best option if you require more control over your dog's diet.

I found (or should I say my dogs) the Orijen pretty great too. It's full of nutrients and proteins that should keep both young and adult dogs healthy and energized.

Adirondack, on the other hand, is a more affordable option. It doesn't mean it lacks quality, though, and I can truly recommend it if you're tight on the budget.

Other recipes will also work as a treat whenever your pup needs more calories.