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.
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.