Managing a dog’s weight is so important, just like it is for us humans. If they start gaining a lot of weight, it can lead to all sorts of health problems, so it’s important that you keep an eye on it.
This is one of the things you should watch out for as your dog gets older because they are much more prone to weight changes. If you do notice weight gain, it’s important that you put them on a strict diet and increase their exercise, so the problem doesn’t get worse. But what do you do if your dog is losing too much weight?
This is a less common problem, but it’s definitely something that you should worry about, especially in younger dogs that are still growing. If your dog is struggling to gain weight and you are worried about their health, here are a few simple things you can try.
Dog Losing Weight? Here are some tips…
First of all, know that dogs and weight loss are atypical. Don’t wait to take your pet to the vet. This can indicate severe adrenal, thyroid, or kidney diseases. However, if the vet chalks it up to old age, here are the tips that can help you coax your dog into eating.
1 – Get Food Specific To The Breed
A good quality dog food should have the right balance of protein and carbs that a dog needs and all of the essential nutrients will be added as well. However, this is usually a general formula that covers all dogs, which can be a problem. All dogs have their own nutritional needs, so the best way to make sure that they maintain a healthy weight is to get food specific to the breed and consider the age as well.
For example, if you have a Shiba Inu that is ten years old, you need to look for Shiba dog food for senior dogs. But if you have a terrier puppy, the nutritional needs will be entirely different because older dogs tend to put weight on more easily than younger more active dogs. And they are different sized dogs as well, so the food will need to be adjusted accordingly. If you buy food specific to their size and age, you will find that they gain weight more easily because they have the right balance of nutrients.
2 – Feed Little And Often
The quality of the food is important, but you should also think about how much you feed them. A lot of people assume that the best way to help their dog gain weight is to fill the bowl up with more food, but that isn’t always the case. It’s actually better to feed your dog smaller meals but give them 3 or 4 meals throughout the day. Eating small meals more often means that your dog can metabolize the food more efficiently, and they will extract more nutrients from it.
3 – Don’t Stop Exercising
Another mistake that people make is cutting back on the walks. They assume that exercise burns calories so it must be counterproductive to weight gain, but it isn’t quite that simple.
Exercise does burn calories and if you are trying to help your dog lose weight, it is important. But it also builds muscle, so it helps your dog to gain weight as well. When you are trying to increase your dog’s weight, it’s important that you do it in a healthy way by building muscle. If you stop exercising them and start feeding them more, they will just gain fat and that isn’t healthy.
The Bottom Line on Helping Your Dog Gain Weight
Weight loss may indicate a serious problem in your pet. However, aging dogs may instinctively also eat less as their metabolism slows. A visit to the vet is a top priority–they can give you the expert guidance you need to help your dog gain weight.
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Natural Health from a fully-accredited program and is a Certified Herbologist. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
