How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight Safely

The truth is that yes, you really should be able to feel your dog’s ribs when you run your hand along his side. You should also notice their abdomen is tucked up neatly underneath (rather than rounded), and when you glimpse your pooch from behind, you should see a defined waist as it transitions from the rib cage to the hips.

Now, this is certainly a lean look that is obviously not going to be the case for all breeds or age groups – think of the bulky silhouette of an English bulldog or a plump little pup that is still growing. And with the ultra-slim profile of many sighthounds, while they may appear seriously underweight, that thin physique is simply part of the breed’s make-up.

But visually and physically checking out your dog is a good first step. And if you’re still sitting on the fence as to whether your pet is too thin, refer to the vet-recommended body condition score as a guideline.

What Causes a Dog to be Underweight?

If your dog has traditionally had a “fuller” silhouette and is suddenly lanky, you need to bring your veterinarian in on the discussion before you start bulking up their diet. That’s because a number of reasons could be causing your dog to lose weight, and they need to be ruled out (or included in the discussion) when planning to help them regain weight.

Those reasons include everything from gastrointestinal diseases such as pancreatitis to food allergies or sensitivities, chronic kidney or liver disease, diabetes, Addison’s disease or cancers. If he’s recovering from surgery or injury, that might also cause him to be “off” his regular volume of food. But there’s also a wealth of causes you may not have ever expected, which range from cognitive decline or even inadequate nutrition due to poor-quality food or a multi-pet household where competition results in your dog being underfed.

How to Safely Build Your Dog’s Weight Back Up

After you’ve met with your vet to determine the cause of weight loss, you then need to develop a plan of action. Unlike with humans, where simply adding fatty or carb-laden foods to your diet will net instant results, it’s not so with dogs. This isn’t how you safely increase their weight or improve their health.

Once you and your vet have identified the cause, the options to help your dog gain weight safely can be as complex as introducing medications or veterinarian-approved treatments or as simple as transitioning to a higher-calorie food or therapeutic formulation designed to help increase weight into his diet.

In some instances, simply increasing the amount of food offered or adding an extra meal period throughout the day can successfully help your dog gain weight.

Again, vet-recommended solutions are the way to go, and any changes to your pet’s food formulation should be made gradually, to avoid gastrointestinal upset. But it's important to understand if medications, supplements, or other forms of intervention are required before you undertake any dietary program, or you could compound the problem you’re trying to resolve.