A new puppy is the perfect addition to your family but just as a newborn needs watching, so does your dog. Proper nutrients and exercise are a given when providing for your dog, but sometimes, over time, something just seems to go wrong. Some dogs just don’t put on weigh well. You may not notice this until even year of age or more, but one day you will have an epiphany and realize, something isn’t right.

Our puppy was taking forever to empty her bladder, and she was pooping 4-6 times a day. We didn’t know any better so we shrugged it off. Then she turned one and we realized how skinny she looked. The vet told us we could run blood work and $700 worth of testing, but instead we asked what would happen with the worst case results. He told us that some dogs need help digesting their food (even high quality food). So instead of doing the testing (which you can do, I am not stopping you!), we opted to treat her as if the results came back positive for lacking the proper enzymes for food absorption.

Whether your dog has this issue or not, you can utilize these options to hep beef him up! Working with your veterinarian is always suggested, but make sure that you are heard and you follow your gut with your furbaby.

How to Fatten Up Your Dog

Dear Canine recommends utilizing this 3 step check to determine if your dog is underweight:

Rib Check: Run your fingers down the dog’s spine and ribs. If you feel bones protruding with no fat covering them your dog in underweight.

Profile Check: As a rule, a dog's abdomen should be higher up than its ribcage, so that from their front legs their underside gradually inclines up toward their rear. The best way to check your dog's profile is to lower yourself so that you are level with your dog and view it from the side.

Overhead Check: As you stand over her and look down, your dog needs to have a visibly tucked-in waist, but her hipbones shouldn’t protrude too severely. If your dog looks like a barrel, a sausage, or a small beach ball with legs, she’s probably overweight. If her hips protrude sharply, she’s probably underweight.

Tricks To Try:

Use Puppy Food

Puppy food tends to be more expensive and most families stop using it before a year of age. But if your dog is not gaining well, choose a high-quality puppy food to keep your dog on until he has reached a healthy weight.

Feed Smaller Meals More Often

Use the puppy food in smaller portions but offer it more often. Instead of two bowls a day offer 3 or 4 smaller bowl fulls that add up to a larger amount.

Offer an Extra Meal

You can also use add an entire extra meal if your dog will eat it! This will add in plenty of extra calories.

Offer Snacks Such As:

• Cottage Cheese
• Chicken Liver
• Tuna
• Pumpkin
• Sweet Potatoes
• Salmon Oil
• Cheese
• Peanut Butter

Give Supplements

Supplements are an effective way to correct dietary deficiencies. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are especially important. Dogs don’t produce these essential fatty acids naturally, and they rely on their diets to supply what they need. Supplementation will provide extra calories to your dog, which will help in gaining weight.