For most cats and dogs, getting to a healthy weight involves weight loss. But some pets need to gain weight to be at a healthy weight. For dogs and cats who are dangerously underweight, your first step should be to consult with a veterinarian. Refeeding syndrome can be a fatal condition that occurs with significantly underweight pets. However, for cats and dogs that need only a small amount of weight gain, small nutritional changes can often help you meet your goals.
To find out more cat and dog weight gain tips, we talked to Tryniti Thresher. As a store lead at the Mill Creek Mud Bay, Tryniti loves helping customers find nutritional solutions to their pet’s problems, particularly if their dogs or cats need some help maintaining a healthy weight.
TT: No one in a Mud Bay store is a veterinarian, so we can’t make any diagnosis about the reason for weight loss. And weight loss can be indicative of significant health issues. You want to make sure that your dog or cat is healthy or you know the reason why they’re losing weight before we start talking about the nutrition aspect of weight loss.
This is particularly important if it’s at all possible that your pet has a blockage, has thyroid problems, or has diabetes. In the store, I’ll often start by asking customers: Have you seen your vet to rule out any medical issues?
And sometimes the cause of weight loss is a medical issue, but it’s already been diagnosed. Customers might want a specific food that coordinates with what their vet recommends as part of an overall treatment plan.
TT: Absolutely! I had this problem with my cat when she switched to a meat-based wet food. Eliminating the carbohydrates in her food was biologically appropriate, but it becomes more difficult for her to maintain her weight.
Usually, when customers ask me about this problem, they’re having issues with older cats who can’t maintain weight. So, what works for most cats is finding a food with a high meat content that is also very calorically dense. An option I found, was to sprinkle Ziwi Peak on top of a cat’s food every day. It’s very calorically dense, and it’s 98-percent meat.
For me and most customers, adding a high-calorie topper works very well. It only took a couple of weeks before I started to see some improvement in my own cat. And although customers should expect that it will take some time for their cats to gain all the weight they need; my cat was able to gain the right amount of weight over several months. And you can tell that she feels great.
TT: I would recommend a similar approach for dogs. It’s important before you start any type of feeding plan that you know the reason why they are underweight. The most common reason is the dog is particular about food. In that case, you need to find a food that he likes. We do lots of food sampling so you can try different foods from our stores to find the one that will increase his appetite.
Sometimes a dog is ill so that he won’t eat at all. There was a very sweet, very old dog named Ginger who used to come to the store. She was diagnosed with cancer, and she lost her appetite because of the chemotherapy she was undergoing.
And I was very concerned about this dog. So, I talked with her owner, and we tried to convince Ginger to eat by using tripe. Tripe is very pungent, and a lot of dogs tend to like it. It’s also a natural source of probiotics. And it worked—Ginger liked the freeze-dried beef tripe that Vital Essentials makes.
When she started eating tripe, Ginger’s owner started making tripe meatballs out of canned tripe, and she put other food inside of the tripe to create a more balanced diet.
Ginger visited the store after several months, and she looked like a completely different dog! When she first came into the store, she was so skinny, and she wouldn’t take any treats from me. And when she came back, she was willing to take treats and happy to eat them.
Ginger lived for another two years. For me, it was an incredibly rewarding experience that we helped Ginger and her owner get through this rough patch in their lives. And I have a deep fondness for smelly tripe because of that experience.
TT: Persistence is key to getting any animal to consider a new food. So, I suggest trying the food three times. And if the animal won’t touch the food, I suggest waiting a week and then trying again.
For example, if you’re trying a new wet food, and you want your cat or dog to eat this specific wet food, I suggest serving it straight out of the can first and letting it sit there for ten minutes. If she walks away from it at first, don’t give in. My cat will often do that. She’ll look at it and walk away to see if I’ll give her anything else. Then, after 10 minutes, when no new food appears, she’ll come back and eat it.
If your animal doesn’t eat after 10 minutes, I suggest picking it up and adding some hot water straight out of the tap to the bowl. You don’t want to microwave the food because then you’re cooking it. And cooking pet food can change the smell and the texture. But by adding a little bit of hot water, you can make the wet food smell more and get the aroma to lure your pet to the food. And that will work for a lot of animals who wouldn’t consider the food straight out of the can.
But if that doesn’t work, you can try a meal topper. If you already have a treat that your dog or cat loves, that’s perfect. You can crumble a favorite treat over the food, and your pet may get so excited that she’ll eat the whole thing. My cat loves those Orijen freeze-dried chicken treats, so she’ll eat the whole bowl if something is sprinkled on top.
Also, if you’re trying to help your dog or cat gain weight, don’t make the mistake of taking exercise off the table. Exercise enriches our pets’ lives, and it has a lot of health benefits. So maybe try adding a bit more food or treats during heavy exercise days, but trust that the exercise also has significant benefits.
Store Lead Tryniti Thresher is happy to talk about pet weight loss or weight gain with any customers who visit Mill Creek. When she’s not at work, she’s hanging out with her miniature schnauzer and Yorkshire terrier mix (she calls her a Schnorkie!) Suki and her cat, Yumi.
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
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Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
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We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
#mudbay #cats #cattreats #catnip #cattoys
Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
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Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
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Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
#mudbay #woof #letusknow #healthypets #pupsicle
Nulo Culinary Harvest coming soon at Mud Bay!
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This new option from Nulo is an oven-baked, high-protein dog food basted in bone broth. And because it’s oven-baked, that means it’s cooked at a lower temperature, so your dog can absorb more nutrients and get the most out of each meal. The bone broth also adds extra flavor, perfect for dogs who appreciate something extra at mealtime that also has functional benefits to their overall health.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest for Adult and Small Breed dogs, will soon be available both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
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Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
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With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
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Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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