Generally, it has been observed that dog owners are concerned about their furry friends putting on excessive weight. Seriously, we all know that obesity in dogs in a major problem in USA. But there are certain dogs that deal with just the opposite of this problem. They are too skinny for their own good. If you are one of the dog owners who have a skinny pal then you have hit the right button as this write-up will provide you the essential tips to assist in gaining healthy weight in your furry friend.
But before we proceed further and look at the different tips let us focus our attention on the reasons due to which dogs become underweight. The most prevalent reason is a health condition that needs immediate attention from your veterinarian. Some of the other reasons include:
- Very high metabolism
- Intestinal parasites (This can be treated with the help of treatments like Drontal and Endogard)
- Recent illness
It is important to understand that a skinny doggie is as unhealthy as an overweight dog and hence, as a dog owner, you need to ensure that your furry friend reaches their ideal weight so that he remains healthy and fit for their entire lifespan. If the ribs of your furry friend are visible quite clearly then it is a sign that your doggie is going through malnutrition. A healthy dog has a good amount of muscle and fat on his body and so if you do not find it then it is an area of concern.
Why dogs lose abnormal weight?
There are certain health reasons due to which dogs lose abnormal weight and so if your furry friend has lost weight suddenly then you he might be suffering from:
- Digestive disorders
- Intestinal worms
- Intestinal impediment
- Kidney failure amongst others
The best thing to do in such a situation would be to take him to your veterinarian without any further delay. Bear in mind, your veterinarian is the best person to gauge the reason for the excessive weight loss. He/she will perform a complete diagnosis, including physical examination of your tyke to determine whether any disease or health issue has affected the weight loss along with the appetite of the doggie.
How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight
Before commencing the weight gain program, it is important to rule out the possibility of disease. If he is suffering from an ailment, it is important to get him treated immediately. Then ask your veterinarian for determining a weight goal for your pal.
Let us now look at some of the tips that can assist you in devising a perfect weight gain plan for your skinny dog:
Keep a record of the minutest details of your furry friend
The best piece of advice that you can ever get while commencing a perfect weight gain plan is to create a journal to keep a record of the daily meals, the number of times you provide meals, the exercise regime of your furry friend and his current weight. When you record even the minutest of details it makes your task that much easier when the weight of your pal changes. You can then go back to the record and see the changes in his weight during the period. This is quite useful in the long term.
Selection of quality dog food
It is important that you select food that increases the nutrition of your doggie rather than simply adding up the calories. If the diet that you provide to your furry friend contains excessive calories; then it can upset the digestive system of your tyke resulting in vomiting and/or diarrhea.
If the diet contains too much fat, then it can result in inflammation of the pancreas. Hence, it is very important to provide a well-balanced and nutritious diet with a balanced proportion of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. You can even give him vegetables, eggs, and fruits.
Note: Never serve by-products, meat meals, or cereal grains to your doggie as it can be dangerous for his health.
Feed small quantity of meals several times a day
For healthy weight gain it is important that you provide smaller meals 3 to 4 times in a day instead of one or two large meals. This will assist your furry friend to easily digest the food and metabolize the nutrition from the food. When you are transitioning from larger meals to smaller meals ensure that you divide one large meal into smaller meals. This will help you keep a track on the quantity of meal that you are serving to your doggie.
With time you can increase the quantity of the meal that you serve, but do so gradually by adding a tiny bit in smaller meals. It is advised to serve four smaller meals in a day, but ensure that there is never a gap of more than 6 years between the smaller meals.
Provide supplements for weight gain
It has been observed that food supplements that are available online have all the requisite vitamins and minerals that can assist in increasing the appetite of your skinny pal and encourage him to eat more. It is also advised to let your veterinarian conduct some blood tests that will help them to know whether your furry friend has a deficiency of any substance. If you find that your doggie has a deficiency of vitamins, you can give Fidos Calcium Gluconate to meet all the vitamin requirements of your doggie.
Feed canned food to your furry friend
If your doggie has been eating dry kibble on a daily basis, it is time to transition from dry to canned food. But make sure that the change needs to be gradual because if done very quickly it can result in digestive problems in dogs.
Serve puppy food to your dog
We understand that puppy food is especially for puppies, but since it contains higher calories than adult food which assists puppies to grow faster it is the best thing possible for your skinny pal. The increased calorie in the diet can aid your furry friend to put on healthy weight.
Regular exercise regime is a must
It seems to be a bit contradictory, but regular exercise regime also assists in gaining healthy weight in dogs. With the aid of regular exercising your furry friend will be able to build muscles that will add bulk to their skinny bodies. In addition to this, with regular activity your pooch will demand more food to meet their nutritional needs.
Always ensure that you increase the exercise duration slowly and gradually when your furry friend starts eating more. Never overdo the exercise activity as it can result in sore muscles which will inflict pain in your furry friend. If you are unsure about the duration of the exercise regime, consult with your veterinarian and then set a routine.
Make your own treat for your beloved pal
The final thing that dog owners usually do to increase the weight of their furry friends is by preparing a treat on their own. Select something that your furry friend enjoys eating. It can be as simple as salmon oil or natural beef stew. Integrate it in the dog food. This will encourage your furry friend to eat more.
You can even add wet food in conjunction with dry food to give the best of both the worlds to your doggie. Get ingredients that are rich in fat, and then serve them as a snack to your furry friend. But ensure that you serve only three snacks in a day, because excessive fat is also not good for health.
When you make these requisite changes in the diet of your doggie along with the integration of a regular exercise regime, it will assist your furry friend to gain healthy weight in due course of time. Have your veterinarian see the records that you are keeping about your furry pal on a regular basis, so that they can gauge the progress that your pal has made in the weight gain program that you have set for him.
So, how did you manage to gain weight of your skinny pal? Let us know your personal experience and we would be glad to know different things that you tried to increase healthy weight of your doggie. We might even post a blog on the basis of your personal experience and give you due credit for it. So what are you waiting for? Post your comments today, and make your doggie famous…..