Underweight in Pets: Causes and Tips

How can you help your pet gain weight?

When a pet has lost a lot of weight, it is important to find out the cause of the weight loss. Sudden significant weight loss can be a sign of illness or other health problems. If this is the case, contact your veterinarian to identify or rule out any health issues.

Every pound goes through the mouth, right? It is often thought that underweight can be solved simply by feeding the animal more. Unfortunately, this is not true, and there is much more involved in responsibly helping an animal gain weight than just giving more kibble, wet food, or treats. Below we share some tips on how you can help your pet gain weight in a healthy way:

• Choose high-quality food

To help a thin pet gain weight, it is important to choose good quality food that contains a high level of fats and proteins. These two nutrients provide energy. Carbohydrates also provide energy alongside proteins and fats, but in large amounts, they are not healthy for your dog or cat. Therefore, try to avoid food with many fillers (such as wheat, rice, potatoes, or other grains), as they contain few nutrients and can cause digestive problems in large amounts. Riverwood foods contain no grains or potatoes. Instead, we have chosen yellow peas because of their low glycemic index. These carbohydrates are broken down slowly, which is better for a healthy and stable blood sugar level.

The variants with Reindeer, Deer & Wild Boar for dogs and Duck, Reindeer & Wild Boar for cats are especially suitable for dogs and cats that need extra energy. Both variants contain a high level of balanced and high-quality proteins and fats.

• Tasty favorites

Do you have a very picky dog or cat that has lost a lot of weight because they leave their food? Then you can choose to mix the kibble with a little wet food. The smell and texture of the wet food will likely encourage eating. When choosing wet food, opt for high-quality food with a high meat content. Riverwood's Mono Protein canned foods for dogs are based on a single protein source and consist of 70% meat. View the full range of Mono Protein canned foods for dogs here.

Would you rather not give your four-legged friend wet food? Then you can also choose a supplement as a topper over the food. The Riverwood Norwegian Salmon Oil is a dietary supplement suitable for both dogs and cats. The strong smell of the salmon oil can stimulate eating. In addition, the Norwegian Salmon Oil is also rich in unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, which provide extra support for the skin and coat.

We have previously written blog articles with tips for picky dogs and cats. Tips for picky dogs can be found here, and in this blog, you will find tips for picky cats.

• Feed smaller portions and spread them throughout the day

A good tip is to divide your dog or cat's meals into three or four portions per day, instead of one or two large feeding times per day. Smaller portions help the animal digest its food better and absorb the energy from the meals more effectively. It is important that no more than six hours pass between meals.

• Give responsible snacks

Many snacks contain a lot of calories. These treats can be a good addition to your dog or cat's daily meals. However, choose healthy snacks. Healthy snacks contain natural ingredients and no added sugars or salt. Check out the range here healthy reward treats and natural chew treats for dogs from Riverwood.

• Keep the animal active

It may sound a bit contradictory to recommend exercise for a dog or cat that needs to gain weight. Exercise actually burns calories, right? While that is true, exercise is beneficial because it helps a lean dog or cat build muscle mass. As an added bonus, increased activity will boost their appetite. Additionally, exercise is good for digestion. Make sure there is at least 30 minutes between eating and exercise.

If you want your dog or cat to be more active, keep in mind that you should increase activity gradually to prevent injuries if the animal is not used to extra exercise.

• Weigh your pet regularly

Weighing your dog or cat weekly is a good way to monitor your pet's weight. It provides a clear picture of whether the animal has gained, lost, or maintained weight over time.

• Keep a feeding diary

By keeping a feeding diary, you become aware of all the food your pet consumes in a day. Additionally, you can determine whether the strategy to help your four-legged friend gain weight is working or not. If the animal's weight changes at the next weighing—weight gain or loss—you can look back at the notes to see what happened.

With the above tips, you and your four-legged friend can work together to ensure they reach a healthy weight again!

Many pets already enjoy Riverwood every day. Do you want your dog or cat to also enjoy our delicious foods and are you curious which variant would suit your dog or cat best? Then answer here a few questions about your dog or here about your cat and order a discounted trial package right away.