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 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!
#mudbay #furvor #bonebroth #dogs #healthypets
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.
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogs #timetoplay #healthypets
Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy?
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The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
The textured design encourages longer licking, helping promote calm behavior and engagement. Premeasured lines make portioning easy every time.
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Simply mix the grain-free Cheddar and Bacon LickMix. It’s easy to digest, simple to prepare, and each bag provides 10 or more lick sessions. Made from 100 percent silicone, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe. Strong suction cups keep the LickMat stable for easy, everyday use.
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Enhance your dog’s daily enrichment—visit us in-store or online and bring home the woof LickMat and LickMix today.
#mudbay #woof #healthypets #dogs #petenrichment
👀 Looking for a way to slow down mealtime and keep your dog thinking? The GURU Pet Company Bobble Ball turns your dog’s food into an interactive activity.
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Simply fill it with kibble or small treats, screw the top back on, and let the wobble begin. The weighted base creates unpredictable movement that keeps dogs engaged and working for every bite.
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A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay today.
#mudbay #dogs #staybusy #healthypets #dogtoys
🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
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We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
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The Digestive Support Formula has beneficial fiber from lentils and sweet potato, along with probiotic inulin from chicory root. It also includes organic apple cider vinegar for extra immune and digestive support.
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Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
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All Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated and free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. And they are convenient and easy to use as a complete meal, a treat, or a topper.
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You can find the full line—including Skin & Coat, Cognitive, Digestive, and Hip & Joint Support formulas—exclusively at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #mealtime #pnwpets #mudbayairdriedtoppers
💫 New at Mud Bay!
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CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
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Made with 100% organic ingredients, you can feel good giving them to your dog during longer training sessions. CocoTherapy Coco-Charms are also free from grains, dairy, gluten, eggs, and preservatives, and are low glycemic.
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Shop the Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie CocoTherapy Coco-Charms in-store or online today!
#mudbay #cocotherapy #trainingtreats #dogs #healthypets
🎉 🎉 GIVEAWAY! New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers for Cats & Dogs
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We’re excited to give you a chance to win a bag of one of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas.
Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated, complete and balanced for cats and dogs, and easy to use as a topper, treat, or complete meal.
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New Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper Formulas:
Digestive Support
Made with turkey, chicken, and lentils, plus organic apple cider vinegar and chicory root to help support healthy digestion and immune function.
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Hip and Joint Support:
Made with turkey, chicken, fish, and oats, plus turmeric and omega-3s from tuna to help support mobility and joint health.
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To enter:
👍 Like this post
😃 Tag us and tag a friend
🤝 Follow us
We’ll pick winners at random and notify them on April 16th. Each winner will receive a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers. 🍀 🤞 Good luck!
#mudbay #foodtoppers #dogs #cats #petfood
Check out these new aquatic-themed toys for your pup from Fluff & Tuff.
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Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
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We also have Dottie the Puffer Fish, who will keep your pup active with a nice fetch session, and, last but not least, we have Millie the Axolotl, who is an engaging option for all of the above and ready to shake up your pup’s toy selection.
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Shop these fun new Aquatic options for your pup in-store or online today!
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogtoys #playtime #pnwpets
We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉
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The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
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We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
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Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
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Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
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Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔
#mudbay #dogpark #sneaktreat #mudbayairdriedtoppers #new
Keep your pet happy and blissfully engaged with the woof LickMat and LickMix.
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The LickMat is BPA-free, 100% silicone, and dishwasher safe on the top rack, with suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking. It also features suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking, while its built-in mixing bowl and measuring lines make mixing easy.
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The Bacon and Cheese LickMix is grain-free and designed for use with the LickMat, woof Pupsicle, or as a meal topper. Each bag yields about 10 LickMat sessions when used as directed.
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Treat your dog with the Woof LickMat and LickMix. Shop all woof products in-store and online today!
#mudbay #woof #dogs #enrichment #petproducts
Stock up on your dog’s favorite Bulk Biscuits and make every refill count.
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Mud Bay’s Bulk Biscuits are all-natural, with many locally sourced options, including organic and grain-free varieties. When you refill your Mud Bay Mud Bucket, you pay $4.24 per pound instead of $4.99 on every refill. That’s 75 cents saved per pound, or 15% off each refill.
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Our Mud Buckets are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and come in two handy sizes: 2.75 liters and 8.5 liters. Designed for easy refills and fresher storage, they help make treating your dog simple and eco-friendly.
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Refill. Reuse. Re-Biscuit. Visit your local Mud Bay today to pick up a Mud Bay Mud Bucket and some tasty biscuits for your dog!!
#mudbay #mudbuckets #dogs #treats #healthypets
