High Calorie Dog Food

This is our review of the best high-calorie dog food for small breeds

Is high calorie dog food good for your Shih Tzu ?

You may have a Shih Tzu that needs to gain weight. If that is the case, then you could wonder if should feed your pet high calorie dog food. Is a supplement best, or a high-calorie dog food? Perhaps human-grade food is also a good option.

Your online search may result in a number of nutritional guides with dog food recommendations, or exercise recommendations. Maybe that’s not what you are looking for. You just need to know what is a good high-calorie food for your Shih Tzu to gain weight through muscle and not through fat,

If your Shih Tzu is unable to maintain a healthy weight, then it is important to get a veterinarian’s guidance to help pinpoint the issue. Once you have determined the cause and are ready to help your dog gain weight, then there are some options.

This article will help guide you with tips to improve the weight of your dog naturally with the goal of increasing healthy lean muscle.

If your Shih Tzu is at an unhealthy weight, then please consult a veterinarian to help your pet. You want the best for your dog and for him or her to be as healthy as possible.

The best methods to help put weight on your pet are to provide extra snacks, add toppers to the food to increase their appetite, and choice of high-calorie foods for your dog.

Continue reading to see

• Why does your Shih Tzu need high calories
• Tips to help your Shih Tzu gain weight
• How to monitor your dogs progress

Why does your Shih Tzu need higher calories ?

Why does your Shih Tzu need higher calories, and when should a small dog be fed a high calorie dog food? Some reasons your Shih Tzu may need high calorie food;

• your Shih Tzu is under weight from illness,

• is a growing puppy, and needs more growth support
• may have been eating a poor or low-quality diet
• recovering from an injury.
• may be a fussy eater who is too thin

If your Shih Tzu suffers from any of these conditions then consider a higher calorie diet

As a rule, small breeds including the Shih Tzu have faster metabolisms. The Shih Tzu is also generally solid and muscular for their size, and require more calories than a larger breed.

Tips to help your Shih Tzu gain healthy weight

Always use high quality foods that provide the extra calories

Provide premium dog food

Many dog foods on the market contain useless fillers and extra carbs. That is not what your dog wants. Instead offer some premium dog foods to help your pet achieve a healthy weight. You can blend with their original food so they don’t get an upset stomach or soft stools from the change.

Here are a couple of good options for high-calorie premium dog foods.

Use human food supplements

Some of the best human foods to help your dog bulk up include:

Eggs are one of the most nutrituous foods available, period. Our Shih Tzus prefer scrambled, but they also will eat eggs over easy. Keep the butter content low and no spices or seasonings. Our growing 6 month old Shih Tzu Jillie gets nutritional support for her growth from eggs and chicken breast.

Full fat cottage cheese and plain yogurt. These make great snacks and can be used as toppers to help stimulate your dog’s appetite. Our dogs all love these treats.

Protein from Lean meat – Raw or cooked red meats, chicken, and pork are also great. Salmon or other oily fish are excellent choices.

Quinoa – A better choice than rice, quinoa is a healthier carb alternative, providing amino acids that are crucial for building lean muscle in your dog. And your Shih Tzu will get improved energy from this healthy carb.

Try food toppers

if you don t want to change your pet’s diet, use toppers to improve food flavor—some dog forums like the following popular toppers.

• Chewy’s meal mixers
• Natures bone broth
• Nupro supplement
• K9 show stopper
• Nutri cal

Monitor your pets progress

Watch for lean muscle growth over fat gain. You can do this by feeling around your pet’s hips and chest. Look for increased solid tissue indicating muscle growth.

Track weight gain by weighing weekly to make sure your pet is gaining weight slowly and not too rapidly.

Adjust rations or increase activity and exercise as needed to keep fat content in check.

Summary

Whatever the reason you may have to increase the weight of your Shih Tzu, it is best to talk to a veterinarian first as they may find a medical reason and can offer good advice and provide the safest route to take.

Providing some of the higher-calorie foods outlined in this article should help get your dog’s weight on track.

Remember to keep an eye on your pet’s weight. A weekly check to feel their ribs and a weight scale will help monitor their progress. Don’t go overboard resulting in a dog that is too heavy, and remember to supplement with some exercise.

Here is a Bonus High Calorie Recipe that our dogs love.

We ration to ensure they don’t eat too much and start to gain weight and we only occasionally offer this meal.

Chicken breast with natural chicken broth

• brown chicken breast in olive oil
• add diced carrots, green beans, red pepper
• add water and quinoa
• simmer in saucepan for 20 minutes
• allow to cool and serve

…your dogs will love it, even the finicky eaters.