While most pets struggling with weight problems are overweight or obese, many dogs also struggle to put weight on. Dogs who are very active, are older or have underlying health problems may struggle to gain weight properly.
Luckily, many companies make specialized diets to help dogs bulk up. In this article, we will review the best dog foods for weight gain on the market.
Best Dog Food For Weight Gain
- Best Overall: Adirondack 30% Protein High-Fat Recipe
- Best Canned Food: Purina Beyond Wild Adult Dog Food
- Best for Puppies: Victor Dog Food Active Dog and Puppy
- Best for Seniors: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food
- Most Affordable: Purina Pro Plan Sport Dog Food
Adirondack 30% Protein High-Fat Recipe
Purina Beyond Wild Adult Dog Food
Victor Dog Food Active Dog and Puppy
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Sport Dog Food
Reviews of The Best Dog Food for Weight Gain
#1. Adirondack 30% Protein High-Fat Recipe
Best Overall
High-quality ingredients
30/20 protein/fat percentages
Highest kcalorie per cup
Relies on synthetic vitamins
Contains multiple grains
Adirondack high-protein, high-fat recipe is hands down the best dog food to gain weight and muscle on the market.
Not only is this food packed with 30% protein and 20% fat, but it is also made with quality ingredients so you can be sure you are loading your pup up with nutrition as well as calories.
This recipe is made specifically for performance dogs, like working military and police dogs, and for growing, high-drive puppies. But it will also work well to put weight back on an adult or puppy that is struggling to hold mass.
The first ingredient in this diet is chicken meal. Unlike fresh meat, meals are made of rendered, low-water, muscle meat, organs, and bones and provide an exceptional amount of protein, fat, and micronutrients per pound.
In addition to the above-mentioned meat and other quality animal ingredients like menhaden fish meal and fish oil, this food also contains some higher-quality grains, like brown rice and pearled barley, that are typically well tolerated by dogs and provide more nutrition than filler grains.
All these quality ingredients on top of a calorie-density of 534.8 kcal/cup make this easily the best high-calorie dog food on our list. And at 30% protein, it is also one of the best dog foods for muscle growth.
Best of all, this food is very well priced given how much there is to like about it.
Overall, if you are in search of the best dog food to build muscle or just a great kibble to help your working dog maintain their vibrance and energy, you can’t go wrong with this high-calorie recipe from Adirondack.
#2. Purina Beyond Wild Adult Dog Food
Best Canned Food
Grain free
Very high protein/fat percentages
Quality animal proteins
More expensive than many dry foods
This is the best canned dog food for weight gain on our list.
Both the turkey and beef recipes surpass the recommended protein and fat percentages for weight gain foods. That makes this the best dog food for underweight dogs that we reviewed.
Because this is a canned diet, the nutrients are more readily available than with a dry food. This is an excellent choice for malnourished dogs or those with digestive diseases.
Purina’s Beyond Wild line contains quality ingredients and high protein animal sources. They are also grain free, making this food a great choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
The price tag for this item is another thing to be happy about. Canned diets tend to be more expensive than wet, but this food is more affordable than most.
Most customers who have tried this food rave about how much their dog enjoyed it. Even dogs with picky sensibilities seem to be won over by this canned food.
As you might imagine, many customers love this food for helping their pets gain back weight. And it seems to be especially helpful for lean dogs with sensitive stomachs.
#3. Victor Dog Food Active Dog and Puppy
Best for Puppies
USA sourced and quality ingredients
Moderately priced
Made for puppies and adults
Kibble size too big for small puppies
This is the only food on our list marketed for both active adults and puppies. As you can imagine, it is also one of the best dog foods to put on weight.
This is a great choice for working and competing dogs who burn a lot of calories, as well as nursing mothers and their maturing litters.
At 397 kcalories per cup, this food has fewer calories per serving than our number one pick. It also has more protein and less fat, making it a great choice for owners who want to keep their working dogs lean and healthy without adding too much weight.
Because this food is specially formulated with active puppies in mind, it is the best puppy food for weight gain on our list. It is a great choice for lean breeds like pointers and sighthounds as it can be fed from puppyhood through adulthood.
This is one of our more affordable foods on the list, but it still contains quality ingredients and is grain free. It is an excellent choice for dogs with corn or wheat allergies. If your dogs are suffering from some kind of food allergy or intolerance, consider this one or check out this article on the best dog food for allergies.
Victor brand foods are known for their quality and many customers comment on how great it is to find quality food that their dog actually enjoys.
#4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food
Best for Seniors
Grain free
High protein
Affordable
Lower fat content
This high protein food was made to support muscle growth in senior dogs.
It has half as much fat as the other foods on this list and is not the best option to put weight on a normal healthy adult dog. However, this ingredient ratio can help older dogs’ digestion and muscle health without adding unnecessary weight.
Similar to the Victor Active Dog and Puppy formula, this food is an excellent choice for active dogs who need to stay lean, especially those nearing their golden years.
Like all Blue Buffalo products, this food provides quality ingredients at an affordable price. If you’ve tried shopping for a cheaper dog food lately, here are our tricks to identifying a truly quality dog food and the best cheap dog foods that are sure to fit in your budget.
In addition to price, many customers rave about how much their pet enjoys this food.
The first two ingredients chicken and chicken meal, both excellent sources of animal protein. This is also a grain free food, making it great for sensitive dogs.
For senior dogs in need of a few more calories in their diet then this formula provides, you may consider mixing this dry food with a canned food such as Purina’s Beyond Wild.
#5. Purina Pro Plan Sport Dog Food
Most Affordable
30/20 protein/fat percentage
Very affordable
Made for canine athletes
Lower quality ingredients
Contains corn
This is the the best dry dog food for weight gain you’re going to find at this price point. Not only is it easy on your wallet, but the high-calorie content is sure to help your dog maintain a solid weight.
Like our number one food, Bully Max, this one has 30% protein and 20% fat, ratios sure to put weight on even the most active dogs.
This food is specially formulated for canine athletes, making it a great choice for anyone with an active dog who struggles to keep on weight. It also contains glucosamine and EPA as an added benefit to your active dog’s joints.
This food does contain lower quality ingredients than the others on this list, including corn, by-products and animal digest. Those looking for high-quality feeds may prefer some of the other options listed here.
And unlike our number one pick, much of the protein in this food comes from the grains rather than from the animal products.
Customers enjoy this food for how quickly their dogs “bulked up” on it as well as for how much their dogs enjoy eating it.
Dogs That Might Benefit from a Dog Food for Weight Gain
If your dog struggles to keep weight on while on a traditional diet, switching them to a high-calorie, weight gain diet may help.
Dogs who are very active such as working dogs or dogs who compete in athletic events require a lot more calories than companion animals. By feeding a high-calorie diet, you can feed less food while still helping them maintain a healthy weight.
Puppies and nursing mothers also need more calories than the average adult dog. And some dogs with chronic illnesses may need calorie dense dog food.
How to Tell if Your Dog is Underweight
The easiest way to assess your dog’s weight is to feel their ribs. According to petmd.com, “Individual ribs should be evident without having to press hard, but they should not be readily felt.”
If your dog’s ribs are easy to feel, they may be slightly underweight. If their hip and shoulder bones are also prominent, they may be very underweight.
Check out this video for a step by step guide to checking your dog’s weight.
Keep in mind that all dog breeds are built differently. For example, you will be able to see the ribs and hip bones of a healthy greyhound, but you should not be able to see any ribs on purebred labrador.
How to Pick a Quality Dog Food for Weight Gain
Many companies now have high-calorie foods designed for active and underweight dogs. Most puppy foods are more calorie dense than those for adults.
If your dog needs to gain weight, either of these can be a good option. We recommend dry foods with 30% protein and 20% fat or wet foods with 7% protein and 5% fat for weight gain.
If your dog will be on the food long term due to high activity or chronic illness, you will want to look for quality food with the right nutritional profile. Always select foods with a quality animal protein as the first ingredient and that don’t contain filler ingredients like corn or soy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Dog Food for Weight Gain?
We reviewed a lot of great, high-calorie diets for dogs. In the end, we found Adirondack 30% Protein High-Fat Recipe to be the best dog food for weight gain. Not only does this formula contain an impressive amount of protein and fat and a calorie density not touched by its competitors, but the food is made with quality ingredients.
You’ll feel good feeding this food to your active or underweight dog. And your dog will feel good getting the high-calorie, nutritious food they need.
This food is pricier than others on the list, but the quality and calorie content is well worth the extra investment.
