Is my dog too thin?
Many healthy dogs look thin to their owners, because so many dogs today carry extra weight. A lean dog has a clear waist, and you can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer. That is the healthy shape. It does not need bulking up.
A dog is too thin when you can see the ribs, the spine or the hip bones, and you feel no fat over them. Long fur hides a lot, so trust your hands over your eyes.
How much to feed to gain weight
Feed the amount that keeps a dog at its healthy weight, not at today's weight. Raise the food to it over a few days, so the stomach can adjust. Weigh your dog every week. A good pace is about 1% of body weight a week. If there is no gain after 2 weeks, add about 10% more.
Food a day = 70 × (healthy weight in kg)0.75 × activity
Each step below the healthy shape is about 10% under the healthy weight. The calculator uses that to find the goal.
Stop at lean
Once you can feel the ribs easily but not see them, go back to the normal amount for that weight. If you keep the extra food going, a thin dog becomes an overweight dog, and that is harder to undo. The dog food calculator gives the normal amount.
Foods that help a dog gain weight
- A richer food. Look for more calories per cup on the bag, such as a performance or puppy food.
- One more meal a day. Three smaller meals are easier to eat than two big ones.
- A spoon of wet food on the dry food, to make it tastier.
- Plain cooked egg, or plain cooked chicken, as a small part of the meal.
Avoid fatty scraps like bacon, skin or grease. A sudden fatty meal can cause pancreatitis, a painful illness.
Questions
Why won't my dog gain weight?
The most common reasons are too little food for the dog's activity, a food low in calories, worms, bad teeth, or an illness. If your dog eats the full amount and still does not gain in a few weeks, see your vet.
Should I use a weight gain supplement?
Usually a richer food or an extra meal is enough. If your vet suggests a supplement, follow their dose.
My puppy looks skinny. Is that normal?
Growing puppies often look lanky. Feel the ribs and watch the weight each week. The puppy food calculator shows how much to feed.
My older dog is losing weight. What should I do?
See your vet. Weight loss in an older dog is often a sign of a health problem, such as kidney disease, thyroid problems or bad teeth.