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Your dog can be underweight for a variety of reasons. It can because of poor feeding or an underlying condition. In either case, you have to consult your veterinarian to ensure your canine is healthy and doesn’t need treatment care of any kind. In this post, I’m going to show you some of the best dog food to gain weight and muscle in 2023. But before we get to that, let’s look at the key aspects you ought to consider for optimal efficacy of this process.
Which Foods Should I Focus On?
The right food for your skinny dog depends on the cause of the condition. If it’s intestinal parasites, your pooch likely will appear underweight even after you feed her well. As such, you have to provide the needed medications first to get rid of the worms. Then, you get to focus on the diet. In case your dog is too skinny, you need to develop a weight-gain program that will help establish the gain gradually without stressing his body systems.
The gradual gain will also facilitate excellent development of more muscle mass and ensure they remain active.
When pushing to pack on a few pounds on their pets, most people often focus on the standard dog food, which isn’t enough for the job. What your underweight/ skinny Beagle or Shiba Inu needs is a high-calorie diet with high-quality proteins and fat count. The two are yummy and very easy for your dog to digest, even when undergoing a recovery process. However, you have to avoid meals with excess fat as it can lead to life-threatening conditions like Pancreatitis.
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To keep your dog fully energized, the diet you include should have compounds like Sweet Potato, and or pumpkin. The two have a high amount of carbs and also dietary fiber which will hold in the stomach for longer, whilst still promoting fast digestion. This will even ensure your dog remains active enough to boost his muscle-growing process. You can as well consider a recipe with whole grain in case your dog has no problem with the ingredient.
Remember to Increase Your Dog’s Appetite
In almost every case of underweight from weight loss, the dog tends to have reduced interest in eating. This can either be because of digestive problems or simply she doesn’t like the food. For the latter, see what your dog prefers or incorporate snacks in her diet to make it palatable.
Other simple tricks that will help improve the palatability or your dog’s appetite include:
- Warm up the food before giving so as to release tantalizing aromas. You can do this by pouring hot water or bone broth over the meal.
- Include foods with potent aromas, such as canned fish juice, into your dog’s meal.
- You can also use CBD oil, which will help speed up your dog’s metabolism and make her hungry more often.
Don’t Forget To Exercise Your Dog
To ensure your canine is not just gaining the weight, provide her with plentiful exercise to help build muscle mass as well. Whether your pooch is the “tough” breed like the German Shepherd or the small breed like the Toy Maltese, boost her health with toned muscles. Take her for a jog or mountain hiking or swimming or even pulling weights.
Although some people tend to ignore exercising small dog breeds, healthy muscles prevent conditions like luxating patella. While it can get any dog breed, this condition is very common in little dogs like Chihuahua and the Toy Maltese.
Apart from building muscles, exercising your dog regularly will help improve her appetite and restore her weight very fast.
Best Dog Food to Gain Weight and Muscle
Here is the 10 best dog food to gain weight and muscle reviews. Please see these ten products, which one is most sweet for your dogs.
#1. Taste of the Wild High Protein Dry Dog Food w/Smoked Salmon
Taste of the Wild High Protein Dry Dog Food w/Smoked Salmon is one of the top-best diets which will build your pet’s weight and muscles remarkably. The dog meal contains top-notch ingredients, with real salmon as the first ingredient and the main source of protein. This will provide your pet with a high amount of amino acid to promote muscle growth and reduce exercise fatigue.
Other food compounds in this Taste of the Wild’s recipe include Ocean Fish Meal, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Canola Oil. Both the fish and oil will help supplement the essential fatty acids to ensure your pet has a healthy, neat skin and coat. The fruits, on the other hand, will work alongside the included vegetables to provide antioxidants for a robust immune system.
Taste of the Wild High Protein Dry Dog Food is sweet-tasting and highly digestible for both small and large dog breed. Dry dog food contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors. Thus, an excellent meal even for a dog with a sensitive stomach. One of the best dog food to gain weight and muscle on the list. Read more about Taste of the wild dog food reviews.
Pros
- A complete, balanced diet
- Rich in dietary protein and fat
- Contains no grain, hence, good for a dog sensitive to wheat or corn
- Sweet-tasting and highly digestible
- Has proprietary probiotics to keep your dog’s gastrointestinal tract healthy.
Cons
- Can cause obesity if not controlled
#2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula w/ Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe
With this dog meal in the feeding bowl, you’ll not have to follow up or push your pooch to eat. The diet features Real meat as the primary ingredient and the source of protein. The used meat comes from farm-raised lamb, hence, very tasty and very supportive in building your dog’s weight and muscle mass.
For optimal energy, Blue Buffalo Lamb & Brown Rice Life Protection Formula has wholesome whole grains like Barley and Oatmeal. The dog food formula also contains sweet potatoes, which are rich in both carbohydrates and dietary fiber for speeding up digestion. Furthermore, with this Blue Buffalo’s recipe, you don’t have to worry about your dog’s wellness since it has very hardworking antioxidants from cranberries and Blueberries.
Blue Buffalo Lamb & Brown Rice Life Protection Formula is a natural dry dog food with no artificial additives like flavors or preservatives. However, the recipe does have Omega -3 and -6 fatty acids which give your pet a shiny coat and healthy skin. Our 2nd best dog food to gain weight and muscle.
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Pros
- Highly nutritious and rich in protein
- Contains the exclusive LIFESOURCE BITS to promote your pooch’s overall growth and health.
- Features Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
- Has no artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
- Ideal for adult dogs
- Unfit for a dog which is sensitive to grains
#3. Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
If you’re looking for a meal to restore your dog’s appetite and weight, this recipe by Merrick manufacturers should be in your top-list. The dry dog food features deboned chicken as the first ingredient and it provides the needed nutrients to boost the building of weight and muscles. The dog meal also has a turkey meal, salmon meal, and Chicken meal which supplement additional protein to fasten the process.
Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food has no grain but it will keep your dog fully energized with the Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Chicken Fat present. Apart from fueling your pet, the chicken fat will work alongside the Flaxseed and Salmon oil to provide your Beagle or Bully with Omega fatty acids. This will help ensure your dog don’t just gain weight and muscles but has a neat and presentable coat as well.
Instead of artificial preservatives, Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe has mixed tocopherols and rosemary Extract to maintain freshness. The canine’s diet also has blueberries and apples which are great sources of natural antioxidants. I prefer the best dog food to gain weight and muscle in these reviews.
Pros
- Rich in protein to build weight and muscle mass
- Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin for healthy hip and joint
- Has no grain, hence, excellent for a sensitive stomach
- Rich in Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Contains proprietary probiotics for a healthy digestive tract
Cons
- Unfit for a dog allergic to poultry
#4. Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Veggies Premium Dry Dog Food
Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Veggies Premium Dry Dog Food is a natural diet which focuses on helping your canine in need. The dog food comprises of farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient and the source of protein. It’s lean and highly-digestible, hence, will boost your dog’s weight and muscles fast and impressively.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Veggies Premium Dry Dog Food also includes peas, which have excellent amounts of vitamins and minerals to support healthy digestion. The diet formula has brown rice too as a source of carbs and wholesome fiber to keep your pet fully charged while exercising.
If your dog is recovering from worm infestation, this Rachael Ray Nutrish’s recipe will ensure she is clean on both the inside and outside. The dry dog food contains chicken fat which provides the essential omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to “cleanse” the dull coat. For the inside, on the other hand, this diet has superb carotenoids (from carrots) and vitamins & minerals to promote a healthy immune system. Number four best dog food to gain weight and muscle.
Pros
- Nutrient-rich and high protein
- Excellent vitamins and minerals for overall wellness
- Rich in natural Prebiotics (Beet Pulp) to enhance a healthy digestion
- Has no artificial preservatives or flavors
- Has Omega fatty acids
Cons
- Ideal for adult dogs
- Unfit for a dog allergic to grains
#5. Purina One Smartblend Salmon & Tuna Dry Dog Food
Fish is one best food compound to gain weight and build muscles following its high amount of amino acid and fat content. This bag of Purina One Smartblend has a real salmon as the first ingredient and it also contains tuna. Therefore, both your Chihuahua and German Shepherd are guaranteed to add a couple of pounds effectively and in no time.
Purina One Smartblend Salmon & Tuna Dry Dog Food is an all-nutrients diet which includes even rice flour and Corn Gluten Meal. As such, you don’t need another bag of meal to fuel your dog’s active lifestyle. In fact, you don’t have to worry about your dog’s safety as well while exercising as this diet even has sources of Glucosamine and calcium. The two nutrients are great supplements for healthy bones and joints, hence, reducing the risk of the luxating patella and bone fractures.
Purina One Smartblend Salmon & Tuna Dry Dog Food have got Fish oil which provides your pooch with essential fatty acids. Thereby, ensuring she has a healthy skin and lustrous coat.
Pros
- Great-testing and highly nutritious
- Rich in Protein and amino acids to build muscles
- A high amount of antioxidants for a healthy immune system
- Contains Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
- Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
- Unfit for a dog sensitive to wheat or corn or soy
- Recommended for adult dogs
#6. MVP K9 Supplements Formula Mass Weight Gainer
In case your dog is too skinny to build muscles, get MVP K9 Supplements Formula Mass Weight Gainer for him. This formula is packed with plentiful of fats for weight-gaining nutrients and whey protein to facilitate muscle building. Additionally, the formula includes 18+ BCCA’s (amino acids) for advanced health support. This includes the three essential amino acids and Glycine which provides very powerful antioxidant properties.
MVP K9 Supplements Formula Mass Weight Gainer is fit for all dog breeds, including the Labrador retrievers, Bulldogs, Terriers, and Beagles. It has no sugars or fillers except the key ingredients that your dog needs to gain weight and build muscles. The dog’s supplement contains even Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which ensures your sweet pet has a healthy skin and shiny coat.
MVP K9 Supplements Formula Mass Weight Gainer comprises of human-grade ingredients. Thus, safe for all dog breeds.
Pros
- Rich in healthy fats (50%) and protein
- Palatable and highly digestible
- Contains omega fatty acids
- Has antioxidant properties
- Fit for all dog breeds and size
Cons
- Can cause obesity if not controlled
#7. Purina Pro Plan Real Chicken Dry Dog Food f/ Large Breed
Purina Pro Plan Real Chicken Dry Dog Food is a high-protein diet which features a real chicken as the first ingredient. This (alongside the included fish meal) provides your canine with an excellent amount of amino acids that she needs to gain mass and build strong, lean muscles.
As a diet for active dog breeds, this Purina Pro Plan’s recipe contains a high amount of carbohydrates from Whole Grain Wheat, Brewer’s Rice, and Barley. Thereby, keeping your German Shepherd well-fueled throughout the day while exercising. The dry dog food even has fish oil and animal fat to ensure the coat of your dog is neat and appealing, whilst building weight and muscles.
On top of building mass, Purina Pro Plan Real Chicken Dry Dog Food has glucosamine and calcium to support joint health and strong bones. The sweet-tasting recipe has natural prebiotic fiber as well. Thereby, ensuring your dog has a healthy digestive tract. Better option to know about Purina Pro Plan Real Chicken Dry Dog Food.
Pros
- High-quality protein and carbs
- Incorporates natural glucosamine to promote healthy joints
- Has omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
- Contains prebiotic fiber to promote healthy digestion
Cons
- Recommended for adult dogs
- Unfit for a dog sensitive to corn or wheat or gluten
#8. Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food f/ All Life Stages, The Best Dog Food to Gain Weight and Muscle
Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food is an all breeds diet which features real meat as the first ingredient. The meat ensures your canines craving of fresh is optimally satisfied, whilst providing the essential amino acids to build weight and muscle mass. The dietary nutrients are provided by the contained chicken meal and Menhaden fish, constituting up to 30% protein and 20% fat.
The Bully Max dog food formula has no wheat or corn or soy. It, however, contains Brown Rice, Ground Grain Sorghum, and Pearled Barley which supplements your dog with the energy she needs while pulling the weighted sleigh. The premium dog food also has Whole Ground Flaxseed and Menhaden fish oil which have Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food is an all-natural recipe, hence, has no artificial additives like flavors, preservatives or colors. It’s only focused on maintaining your pet’s health and helping build his weight and muscles. Best of the best dog food to gain weight and muscle. You might interest: Bully Max vs Gorilla Max
Pros
- Rich in protein and fat
- Sweet-tasting and easy to digest
- Contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
- Has no artificial flavors or preservatives
- Features prebiotic fiber (Beet pulp) for a healthy digestive tract
Cons
- Can cause obesity if not controlled
#9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super-premium Turkey & Venison Recipe
Rachael Ray Nutrish Super-premium Turkey & Venison Recipe features high-quality and easy to digest compounds which your dog needs to build weight and muscles. The dry dog food features lean, farm-raised turkey as the main ingredient, alongside tasty venison which has a high amount of protein. Other than the meat, this diet also contains Brown Rice, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Cranberries, Chicken Fat, and Vitamins & Minerals.
All the ingredients in the Rachael Ray Nutrish Super-premium Turkey & Venison Recipe are from natural sources. So, you don’t need to have any doubt while pouring it in your dog’s feeding bowl. All carbs used have a high amount of fiber to promote gentle digestion and provide your pet with consistent energy throughout the day. In the dog meal, you’ll also find abundant antioxidant properties which help your dog’s cells fight bacteria and combat damage caused by free radicals.
With this Rachael Ray Nutrish’s recipe, you don’t have to worry about dull or shedding coat as it has got plentiful of omega fatty acids.
Pros
- A complete, balanced diet
- Rich in lean and easy-to-digest protein
- Has hard-working antioxidants
- Contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
Cons
- Ideal for adult dogs
- Unfit for a dog with sensitivity to corn or soy
#10. Tuffy’s Pet Food Nutrisource Dry Dog Food w/ Chicken & Rice Formula
Tuffy’s Pet Food Nutrisource Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food is a high-quality diet designed to support your dog with top-notch protein to maintain muscle mass. The food nutrient is provided by a variety of sources, including real chicken, chicken meal, and fish meal. Additionally, dry dog food has brown rice, oatmeal, and corn gluten meal, which are great sources of fuel for your dog’s active lifestyle.
With Tuffy’s Pet Food Nutrisource Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food, you never have to worry about your pooch’s health since it has natural antioxidants. The dog meal also has beet pulp which will help ensure your lovely pet has a fine digestive tract. With the help of the omega fatty acids from the flaxseeds and fish oil, your dog has a guarantee of a healthy, attractive coat. The present Calcium, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin, on the other hand, will help ensure your Beagle or Rottweiler has strong, healthy bones and joints.
Tuffy’s Pet Food Nutrisource Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food is a diet fit for all dog breeds, both the adult and puppy.
Pros
- Highly nutritious and rich in protein
- Contains natural preservatives (mixed tocopherols)
- Has excellent antioxidants
- Features Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
- Contains natural prebiotics for a healthy digestive tract
Cons
- Can cause obesity if uncontrolled
- Unfit for a dog sensitive to grain
Conclusion
While you might find various dog food on the market, the above are the top-best recipes to help your pooch gain weight whilst building muscles. My list includes the most rated products on Amazon and they all have a high amount of calories. As such, all you need to choose one or two that suits your dog’s age and you’re good to go.
Before you choose any of the diets, though, you have to consult your veterinarian first to determine the real cause of skinniness/ underweight.
Also, on top of the meal, ensure your dog always has enough water to complete digestion and prevent additional health problems.
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