Best Dog Food To Gain Weight And Muscle 2024 – Buyer’s Guide
Table of Contents
- 1 How to Choose the Best Dog Food Weight and Muscle Gain
- 2 What Causes Dogs to Lose Weight?
- 3 What Are Things to Consider in Dog Food for Weight Gain?
- 4 10 Best Dog Food to Gain Weight and Muscles In 2024
- 4.1 Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food
- 4.2 Purina Beyond Wild Grain Free
- 4.3 Victor Dog Food Grain-Free Active Dog
- 4.4 Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free
- 4.5 Purina Pro Plan SPORTS Formula Dry Dog Food
- 4.6 Nulo Freestyle Limited Plus Grain-Free
- 4.7 Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- 4.8 Eukanuba Premium Performance
- 4.9 Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food with Protein
- 4.10 Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
- 5 How Much Should I Feed My Dog to Gain Weight and Muscles
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions
- 7 Final Remarks
If you have a dog that is struggling to gain weight and develop lean muscles then it is high time to change the type of food he is feeding on.
Your furry friend needs a specific diet to gain healthy weight. Well, is he feeding on food with high proteins and fats? Or does the food contain unnecessary fillers and artificial flavours?
However, you need to be extra careful when feeding your pooch since obesity is another monster awaiting you.
According to a study, about 50% of Americans and their pets are obese. Unhealthy weight gain is also something you need not ignore.
But you can consult your veterinarian about the best dog food to gain weight and muscle. This will help you make the decision wisely when picking the food for your canine friend.
With that out of the way, let us dive into the main topic. We have compiled some of the best dog food to gain weight and muscle in the market right now for various type of reasons.
Be sure to go through the frequently asked questions we have spent weeks putting together before making the final decision!
How to Choose the Best Dog Food Weight and Muscle Gain
Transitioning your pooch from being underweight to healthy weight gain is a process that takes time and you need to be very cautious.
If you happen to make the process faster, your dog will develop fats instead of lean muscles and this is not healthy at all.
Providing your pooch with unhealthy foods will automatically make them obese and this will result in another nightmare of dealing with obesity.
Therefore, be slow and steady so that your canine friend can gain weight as well as lean muscles. Provide him or her with food rich in proteins.
Consider dog food that contains animal proteins from poultry, fish, and meat. These canine food ingredients are highly digestible.
Also, include foods that contain about 5-20% fat and ensure all these fats come from animal sources. You can also use foods that contain canola and flaxseed oil to help balance both omega 3 and omega 6.
Lastly, consider foods that also contain carbohydrates for energy and dietary fibres. So, these two powerful ingredients can be obtained from vegetables and fruits.
Let’s see why dogs tend to lose weight before we find out the best dog food to gain weight and muscle later in the article.
What Causes Dogs to Lose Weight?
There are quite a good number of reasons why dogs tend to lose weight. But we recommend you take your pooch for diagnosis first.
However, here are some of the possible reasons why canines tend to lose weight. The causes include:
Malnourishment
It occurs when your pooch gets insufficient food and ends up losing about 10% of bodyweight. Here, you will notice your furry friend’s bones around the ribs and shoulders are visible. Also, the dog will experience low energy levels and gastrointestinal issues.
Diabetes
This is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to absorb sugar from the blood due to low insulin level. However, your canine friend will still experience high appetite despite losing a couple of pounds.
You should note that furry friends with obesity are highly susceptible to diabetes although research shows that the condition has some genetic origin.
Parasites
Canines need to be dewormed like humans. These four-legged animals are highly susceptible to tapeworms and other internal parasites.
Dogs with parasites tend to lose weight rapidly due to lack of sufficient nutrients which are being consumed by the parasites in their body.
Anxiety and Stress
Did you know stress and anxiety can rob your furry friend appetite? Ensure your dog feel safe so that he can eat food. Take away anything that makes your four-legged friend feel unsafe from the surrounding.
Mouth Lesion
Pooch with dental issues also experience lots of weight loss since the mouth tend to be so painful when they chew food. Consult your vet once you have detected the issue immediately.
Pregnancy
This is the problem that mostly affects female canines. During the early period, the dog might experience nausea which later triggers loss of appetite. You will be required to consider other alternatives to ensure the well-being of your pooch.
What Are Things to Consider in Dog Food for Weight Gain?
There are some dogs that are naturally skinny. However, you need to assess your canine friend carefully and spot any signs of being underweight.
Here are things to consider when shopping food for your underweight canine friend. They include:
Healthy Fats
Fats play an essential role in triggering weight gain and lean muscle development. Therefore, consider a food formula with about 15-20% fats. Ensure these fats come from animal sources and partly from plant oils to balance omega fatty acids.
High-Density Calories
If your pooch is quite active then be sure it tends to burn out about 30 calories per pound of body weight in a single day.
Therefore, ensure your pooch take more calories to increase weight. Go for foods that contain about 400 and 500 calories in a single cup.
High-Quality Proteins
According to research, proteins are essential in promoting lean muscle development and also weight gain in underweight canines.
Consider dog foods that contain more animal proteins and it should contain about 30% proteins.
Healthy Supplements
Like humans, canines need a diet that is well-balanced and highly nutritious. Fresh vegetables and fruits will help to provide probiotics, vitamins and minerals. This will help to curb any chances of obesity from occurring.
10 Best Dog Food to Gain Weight and Muscles In 2024
| Food Brands | Features | Ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food | Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Menhaden Fish Oil, Chicken Fats, Fruits, And Vegetables. | 5 Star | Check Price |
| Purina Beyond Wild Grain Free | Chicken Heart, Beef, Beef Broth, Chicken, Liver, Lamb, Chicken Liver, And Vitamins. | 4.8 Star | Check Price |
| Victor Dog Food Grain-Free Active Dog | Pork Meal, Beef Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat, Carrot Powder, Tomato Pomace, Beans And Salt. | 4.9 Star | Check Price |
| Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal, Fish Oil, Dried Tomato Pomace, And Chicken Fat. | 5 Star | Check Price |
| Purina Pro Plan SPORTS Formula Dry Dog Food | Chicken, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewer’s Rice, Animal Fat Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Fish Meal, And Poultry By-products. | 5 Star | Check Price |
| Nulo Freestyle Limited Plus Grain-Free | Salmon, Turkey, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil, And Turkey Meal. | 4.6 Star | Check Price |
| Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Dry Dog Food | Deboned Beef, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Natural Flavor, Pork Meal, Pork Fat, Potato Protein, Lamb, Rabbit, And Pea Protein. | 4.7 Star | Check Price |
| Eukanuba Premium Performance | Chicken, Chicken By-product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Fat, Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product, And Fish Oil. | 4.9 Star | Check Price |
| Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food with Protein | Salmon, Chicken Meal, Chickpeas, Split Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Potatoes, Chicken Fat, And Lamb Meal. | 5 Star | Check Price |
| Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food | Herring, Salmon Meal, Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Duck, Lamb, Turkey, And Chicken. | 5 Star | Check Price |
Here is the deal:
Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food
The super-premium dog food is offered by bully max. The canine food formula contains high-quality proteins from animal sources which is ideal for helping your dog gain weight.
The most interesting thing about the food formula is that it is quite ideal for all breeds of dogs regardless of their ages.
Besides that, the food contains a high amount of calories when compared to other foods found in this category. That means, your pooch will gain weight after a couple of few months and also maintain.
The good news is that the food lack corn, wheat, soy and artificial flavours or preservatives that can cause stomach upset or allergies to your pooch.
The main sources of nutrition come from chicken meal, brown rice, barley, menhaden fish oil, chicken fats, fruits, and vegetables.
Purina Beyond Wild Grain Free
If you have a pooch that is struggling with weight gain and lean muscle development then you can’t go wrong with Purina beyond dog food.
The canned canine food has high-quality proteins and fats that are quite essential for building lean muscles as well as increasing weight.
Besides that, the food formula is quite ideal for those dogs with digestive diseases. The ingredients are highly digestible.
The most wonderful thing about the pooch food is that it does contain corn, wheat, soy and other artificial preservatives or flavours that can trigger an allergic reaction to your dog.
The only big issue with the canned canine food is that the price tends to be outrageous but it is worth the value of your money and well-being of your canine.
Some of the main ingredients in the food formula are chicken heart, beef, beef broth, chicken, liver, lamb, chicken liver, and vitamins among many others.
Victor Dog Food Grain-Free Active Dog
Canine food offered by Victor Super Premium Pet Food Company is quite ideal for active puppies and adult dogs.
The food formula does not contain any grains that are likely to trigger skin allergies and stomach upsets in the canines.
Besides that, the food is rich in high-quality proteins that help to facilitate lean muscle buildup and high calories for weight gain.
The most fantastic thing about the super-premium dog food is that it contains fortified vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids. These nutrients foster the well-being of your pooch.
If you own a nursing or pregnant dog then victor food formula is an excellent choice. It contains all the nutritional value that your furry friend needs.
Some of the popular ingredients found in the dog food are pork meal, beef meal, peas, chicken fat, carrot powder, tomato pomace, beans and salt among many others.
The wilderness high protein food is offered by Blue Buffalo Company. The company has lots of reputation in producing premium dog foods. The blue buffalo wilderness canine food is specifically formulated for lean muscle development among senior dogs due to the high amount of quality proteins. Besides that, the ingredients behind the production of the food help also to facilitate healthy joints among senior dogs and healthy weight gain. Boost lots of praises from dog forums and Facebook groups. The food formula contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help to improve the immune system of the canine friend. Furthermore, the canine food is made by use of deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, menhaden fish meal, fish oil, dried tomato pomace, and chicken fat among many other vital ingredients. This is another great canine food formula that is quite ideal for dogs that are naturally sporty and great athletes. The food formula contains high-quality fats and proteins that help to improve endurance as well as increase the active dog metabolisms. The presence of high protein level helps to facilitate lean muscle development and the fats ensure the pooch gain healthy weight. The most beautiful thing about dog food is that it lacks a lot of carbs that can trigger excess weight gain to your pooch. Also, the food is grain-free and this implies that it is suitable for sensitive as well as allergic canines. The main ingredients used in the manufacture of the food are chicken, corn gluten meal, brewer’s rice, animal fat preserved with mixed tocopherols, fish meal, and poultry by-products and dried egg product. This canine food formula is quite ideal for both puppies and adult dogs. The ingredients used in the production are of high quality. The bags of food come in different sizes so that the dog parent can choose according to the tastes and preferences. The most wonderful thing about the food formula is that it lacks wheat, corn, soy, eggs, tapioca, white potatoes and peas which are commonly known for causing an allergic reaction. However, the food formula contains probiotic properties that help to facilitate proper digestion process and the omega 3 fatty acids for enhancing smooth and shiny skin coat. Here are some of the ingredients used in the manufacture of the food formula: salmon, turkey, salmon meal, canola oil, and turkey meal. Merrick Backcountry is an excellent canine food formula that provides your furry friend with a high nutritional diet. The ingredients have an excellent performance to your pooch general health and well-being. The high-quality protein-rich food help to support growth, development and increase energy level among very active canines. The present of fats and amino acids, on the other hand, fosters development of healthy skin and shiny coat of your dog. The probiotic properties facilitate proper digestion process and also help to inhibit gastrointestinal issues in dogs. If your pooch has been experiencing underweight issues then you should consider this premium pack food formula. Some of the ingredients used in the manufacture of the food are deboned beef, lamb meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, natural flavor, pork meal, pork fat, potato protein, lamb, rabbit, and pea protein. If you have a pooch struggling with weight gain then it is worth to consider Eukanuba premium performance dog food. The food formula has high-quality ingredients that help skinny dogs to gain some weight and also facilitate lean muscle buildup. This dog food formula has the highest level of quality proteins and fats. These two components are ideal for lean muscle development and also increase in energy level respectively. The presence of calcium mineral in the food helps to foster strong bones for peak performance especially after gaining some healthy weight. Here the ingredients used in the manufacture of the food are chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, brewer’s rice, chicken fat, fish meal, dried egg product, and fish oil. There is a lot of dog food in the market right now with high-quality protein but they tend to be quite expensive. If you have a pooch that looks skinny then you need to consider crave grain-free canine food since it has ingredients that will help to improve its weight and also foster lean muscle development. The food formula is made from salmon as the main ingredient and it is known to contain a high level of proteins as well as fats. The quality proteins help to enhance lean muscle buildup and also the well-being of your pooch in terms of weight gain. The fatty acids promote healthy skin and shiny coat while the fat content from the salmon foster high energy level. Here are some of the main ingredients found in the food formula: salmon, chicken meal, chickpeas, split peas, menhaden fish meal, dried potatoes, chicken fat, and lamb meal. Earthborn Holistic is a company with great reputation of providing unique and quality canine food formula. The dry dog food helps those underweight canines to pile up a few pounds immediately after being feed for some couple of weeks. The most wonderful thing about the earthborn holistic formula is that it is a grain-free diet that helps to enhance the well-being of your pooch and also maintain her or his shape. Besides that, it has high rated ingredients and nutritional value to any breed of dog regardless of their age. Boost lots of praises from dog forums and Facebook groups. The formula contains omega 3 and omega 6 that promote healthy skin and coat. The holistic formula features herring, salmon meal, fresh fruits, vegetables, duck, lamb, turkey, and chicken among many other ingredients. Picking the right dog food for weight gain and lean muscle development is the first thing. But knowing how much to feed your dog is quite important. Do not feed your pooch too much food so that they can gain weight fast. This process should be slow and steadily. Too much food will result in excess weight gain that will cause joint problems and other weight gain related issues. Develop the habit of feeding your furry friend small portions of meals on a daily basis. This will help him or her gain healthy weight and also develop lean muscles instead of fats. Always have the tendency of reading recommendations on the food package and learn how much to feed your dog during the transitioning process. However, it is advisable to take the ideal body weight of your pooch so that you can easily determine how much to feed him or her. Does my dog really need dog food for weight gain? If you own a dog that is hyperactive then you need to increase the portion of daily food so that they can maintain good body weight. Consider dog foods with higher calories and fats to help underweight canines to gain weight. However, there are special foods for weight gain and this will be appropriate for your pooch. Does high protein dog food cause weight gain? Not really. Though foods with high-quality proteins are quite essential for your pooch. Things to do with weight gain is associated with high-calorie content. Proteins help in the development of lean muscles and if you want her to gain weight then consider the food that contains calories as well as fats. How can you tell if your dog is too skinny? There are some dogs that are natural skin and weighing will not tell if your pooch is underweight in most cases. The best score to check is to look your dog from sideways. Dogs that have visible bones of the ribs and shoulders tend to be skinny. Is a high-calorie puppy food ideal for my giant breed puppy? According to research, large dog breeds tend to grow faster than small breed dogs. Feeding these dogs with high-calorie food will accelerate their growth and it can lead to overweight. The best thing to do is to consult your veterinarian for information about high-calorie food for giant puppies. Choosing the best dog food to gain weight and muscle can be a daunting experience if you are a new parent. However, you need to observe the dietary and nutritional value before buying any food for your canine. You can opt to pick one of the food formula listed in our guide but remember you give your dog adequate exercise to inhibit excess weight gain. Exercise will also help your pooch develop strong and bulky muscles. Read through our reviews and pick the best food that will suit your canine friend.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free
Purina Pro Plan SPORTS Formula Dry Dog Food
Nulo Freestyle Limited Plus Grain-Free
Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Eukanuba Premium Performance
Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food with Protein
Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
How Much Should I Feed My Dog to Gain Weight and Muscles
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Remarks
More Posts
