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What is the "healthiest" most calorically dense food for dogs on a budget (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 days ago by Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I got an old dog that is losing weight pretty fast. She is 16 and for the last 15 years she has been about 25-28 pounds, and she is currently sitting at like 12 pounds.

I have been alternating between hot dogs and bologna as she likes to eat them and doesn't fuss about it. Most wet dog foods will work for about a week, then she turns her nose up at it.

I've soaked her dry food to get the volume up for her, which worked for a bit but now she pretty much refuses to eat dry food for about two days then nibbles.

I get that older dogs tend to lose their appetite as they get close to the end, but I'd prefer she not pass away from starvation over old age. I do still tend to hold off from straight up sugar/carbs, but a random peanut butter sandwich scrap or three has been passed over to her more than once.

So I am looking for ideas for high calorie food which can be purchased easily and preferably on the cheap.

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[–] multifariace@lemmy.world 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Low sodium broth could make the dry food mpre appealing.

[–] Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Good call, not sure why I didn't think about soup over water for soaking.

[–] OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Make certain its low sodium. Very important. Don't expect this to gain a bunch if weight. But it will retain fluids and actually add bulk which means less calories. This more to keep interest in the foods for them and or fluid retention.

[–] spongebue@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Also, as I learned from having a wife who needs to watch her sodium intake, less sodium doesn't necessarily mean low sodium, which I believe has a legal definition. You may need to shop the higher end brands that come in cartons, not the store brand cans. But I think a little splash should help pretty well and last a while

[–] Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I landed on white rice, chicken breast and black beans with a tablespoon or two of just vegetable oil for a fat. Figured it was a fairly balanced carb/protein/lipid mixture in addition to whatever dry food I mix into it. Zero salt added, she is munching away currently. Next time I get to the store I will get some low sodium broth to mix into the rice and beans while they cook to soak it up.