04/11/2026
What should I do to help my dog gain weight? How can I feed my dog so that it gains weight in a healthy way?
Can you see your pet’s ribs and hip bones sticking out and are wondering what you can do to help your dog gain weight? Before changing anything in your dog’s food bowl, consult a veterinarian to rule out medical causes of being underweight and determine your dog’s target weight. Next, increase the calorie content of their diet by choosing a complete and balanced food with high energy density and a high meat content. You should also divide the daily ration into 3–4 smaller meals, feed your pet at regular times, and make meals more appetising (for example, by moistening dry kibble). Be patient, too, as healthy weight gain definitely takes time!
Table of Contents
Underweight Dogs – How to Recognise the Signs?
Why Is My Dog So Thin? The Most Common Causes
How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight: A Step-by-Step Guide
What Should You Feed Your Dog to Help Them Gain Weight?
How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight: Summary
Underweight Dogs – How to Recognise the Signs?
A dog is underweight when their ribs, spine and hip bones are clearly protruding and visible to the naked eye, and you can barely feel any body fat beneath the skin. A sunken abdomen is another sign of being underweight. This means an unnaturally pronounced (too deep or sharp) waistline and a noticeably tucked-up belly, which can be seen when looking at the dog from the side or above.
In a dog with a healthy body weight, the ribs can be felt under the fingers through a thin layer of fat (but are not visible to the naked eye). What's more, when viewed from above, the waistline is clearly defined.
Why Is My Dog So Thin? The Most Common Causes
Being underweight in dogs can result from both medical conditions and an insufficient calorie intake. That's why it's so important not to start by simply giving your dog more food, but to first establish the underlying cause of the problem. The most common reasons include:
Parasites and diseases – intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and other medical conditions can cause weight loss even when your dog has a good appetite.
Dental and oral health problems – pain when chewing may cause your dog to avoid food.
Stress and environmental changes – moving house, a new family member or a change in daily routine can affect your pet's appetite.
An insufficient food ration – a portion that is not adjusted to your pet's body weight or age may fail to meet their daily energy requirements.
Food that does not meet their needs – highly active, working and sporting dogs have higher energy requirements.
How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight: A Step-by-Step Guide
To help your four-legged friend gain weight in a healthy way, follow the steps below.
Consult a veterinarian
Being underweight can be caused by intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal diseases or metabolic disorders, among other things. That's why it's worth consulting a veterinarian who will examine your dog, perform blood tests and recommend deworming if necessary. The specialist will also determine your pet's target weight and the rate at which they should reach it.
Choose the right food
To help your dog gain weight, feed them a complete and balanced food with high calorie density. The formula should contain high-quality, easily digestible animal protein (which supports muscle development), healthy fat sources that provide energy, and ingredients that support digestion.
Divide the daily ration into more meals
Has your dog previously been fed just 1–2 large meals a day? Divide the daily ration into 3–4 meals instead. Smaller portions are easier on the digestive system.
Feed your pet at regular times
Feed your dog at the same times every day (so their body can get into a regular digestive routine) and remove the bowl after 15–20 minutes. This can help encourage a healthy appetite.
Make meals more appetising
If you're wondering how to help a picky dog gain weight, moistening dry food with water, adding broth or mixing it with wet food may also help. The stronger aroma encourages dogs to eat, while softened kibble is easier to chew.
Monitor your dog's weight regularly
Weighing your dog regularly allows you to check whether dietary changes are working and adjust the plan if necessary. Keep a record of the results, remembering that weight gain should be gradual rather than sudden.
What Should You Feed Your Dog to Help Them Gain Weight?
A good choice for underweight dogs is complete and balanced Carnilove dry food with high energy density, such as:
Carnilove Active Dog with Venison, Reindeer and Wild Boar (suitable for active adult dogs of all breeds),
Carnilove Active Dog with Lamb and Wild Boar,
Carnilove True Fresh with Beef,
Carnilove True Fresh with Duck.
Another good option may be complete and balanced wet food, which often attracts dogs to their bowls more effectively than dry kibble thanks to its stronger aroma. Examples include Carnilove Dog Can Paté with Turkey and Salmon or Carnilove Dog Pouch Paté with Turkey and Quail. Remember to warm the wet food slightly before serving to make it even more aromatic.
How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight: Summary
Although a pet owner's first instinct may be to give an underweight dog a larger portion of food, healthy weight gain actually requires a well-thought-out approach. Below, we've summarised the most important information about how to help your dog gain weight.
You can recognise an underweight dog by their clearly visible ribs, spine and pelvic bones, lack of body fat and sunken abdomen.
Before trying to help your dog gain weight, consult a veterinarian who will rule out medical causes and establish your pet's target weight.
What should you feed your dog to help them gain weight? The best choice is complete and balanced dry food containing high levels of easily digestible animal protein and enriched with healthy fat sources (for example, food from Carnilove).
You can make meals more appetising by moistening dry kibble with water, adding broth or mixing it with wet food.
Divide the daily ration into 3–4 smaller meals served at regular times, and remove the bowl after 15–20 minutes.
Monitor your pet's weight regularly and remember that weight gain should be gradual, not sudden.
If your dog refuses to eat for more than 1–2 days or develops lethargy, vomiting or diarrhoea, contact your veterinarian immediately.