Dog Needs to Gain Weight

I have a 9 month Chihuahua dog that weights 2.8 pounds; I need to get her weight up. What food is the best for her? Thanks.

By Lavender Mommie from LA, CA

Answers:

Dog Needs to Gain Weight

Breed standard for Chi's is 2-6 pounds, so your puppy is within range. Has the vet confirmed health? What are you currently feeding her/him? How are you feeding, free range feed or timed?

Read the ingredients on your food, first item should be protein (meat). Cook up chicken, lamb, or beef and mix with a little rice. There are homemade dogfood recipes on this site. Give those a try. Table scraps will fatten, but are not healthy. Chi's legs are fragile, too much weight is not good. (11/19/2009)

By cheryll

COOKIES for Weight Gain

Here is the recipe. Mix all this together and form into balls, freeze, then take out, microwave for 30 seconds or I forget how long, and give all through the day as treat in addition to regular food. Dogs will not gain weight on kibble alone.

• hamburger meat cooked and crumbled, you can use chicken if you can afford it
• Total cereal for vitamins
• eggs
• mayonnaise
• 2 tsp gelatin unflavored, optional
• macaroni cooked
• oats cooked
• light Karo syrup

You can mix all this up and turn it into little cookies to freeze. Then pop them out to microwave for 30 seconds or so until warm or not frozen.

Yogurt is great for dogs so long as there is no artificial sweetener in it. Great for cats too, great for digestion. Dogs also like cottage cheese and evaporated milk with Karo light syrup. I like to supplement all dog foods since I don't like the ingredients in dog food to begin with.

We had a very starved hound dog, days from death, that a concerned neighbor brought to us, sweetie, and she has gained wonderfully on this. Don't freeze the yogurt or microwave it though.

Also animals need Pedialyte here is the homemade version.

• 4 cups water
• 7 Tbsps sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
  

I have found dehydrated animals don't like to eat. Hope this helps!

Robyn (11/21/2009)

By Robyn Fed