Having an underweight dog sends bad vibes across. People might get the wrong message that you are ill-treating your dog. Worse, an underweight dog can succumb to many health issues. It can be as dangerous as to shorten the lifespan of your dog. As a dog owner, having a dog for a pet counts as having another family member. It is why losing weight should be alarming for you.
If your dog has been cutting g weight lately, it may be time to consult your vet and find the underlying cause. The truth about weight loss is that it could result from different reasons. Before you work on correcting the issues and fattening your dog, be sure you are certain of the underlying causes of weight loss. Once that is established, you can move on with different ways to fatten him. Whatever you do, make sure you choose healthy ways. Here are seven of the healthy weight gain tips you can consider:
1. Treat allergies
The one reason your dog could be having issues with weight is allergies when your dog is allergic to certain substances in foods, the body resists the intake of any nutrients. Besides, allergic reactions can be fatal in some dogs. In that case, make sure your vet is involved in the diet choices of your dog. This will help you come up with a food plan that will not trigger an allergic reaction to your dog.
2. High-Quality Dog Food
Since you decided to invite your pet to be part of your family, take the initiative to keep him well fed. Poor quality food can cause weight loss in dogs. This is so because no matter how much of the food a dog eats when it is poor quality, it lacks the necessary nutrients for a healthy body. Besides, even dogs do not enjoy eating low-quality foods. Consider the best dog food for Pitbulls to gain muscle, and watch how quickly your dog fattens.
3. Create a feeding schedule
In the busy nature of life, you might forget to feed your dog as often as you should. In that case, you will need a feeding schedule to help keep up with the eating patterns of your dog. A schedule will help you feed your dog smaller meals every 4-6 hours. This allows room for digestion and is a great fattening tip.
4. Include Supplements in Meal Choices
Dog supplements can go a long way to reinforce nutrient absorption in the body. Before you get any supplements, consult with a vet to get recommendations on whether or not to indulge in a supplement routine for your dog.
5. Exercise
The idea of getting your dog to add weight is not to make him overweight. You want a dog that has enough weight to be healthy, but also appropriate to allow for movement and playing. Exercising is a necessary activity for dogs to help them build muscles all while they keep fit.
6. Dental care
Your vet should already let you in on the importance of dental care for dogs. Poor dental care often results in underweight dogs. The oral infections that occur in dogs can lower their appetite and make eating difficult. Find out how best to keep up with your dog’s oral health from your vet. You can use chew toys, dental treats, and bully sticks, to mention a few.
7. Talk to a professional
When it comes to animals, vets are the best in handling them. However, you can also consult other professionals like dieticians to guide you on the best foods for your dog. Understand that a professional might do more for your dog than you ever can. Seek to understand if your dog has other underlying medical issues that could be causing weight loss.
