Best dog food for weight gain in the UK

It's abundantly clear that Butternut Box is passionate about fresh food for dogs. Their fresh meal 'Beef it Up', for example, contains 60 per cent freshly prepared beef, sweet potatoes and a whole host of vegetables. We think this is the best tailor-made dog food subscription, with absolutely no 'mystery meats'. Your dog will thrive on freshly prepared, human-quality ingredients. All you need to do is give Butterbox some information about your dog's size, breed and age and this helps them to design a personalised plan. Fresh dog food is delivered to your door every few weeks. It's totally flexible, so you can pause or cancel your subscription any time. There are 11 healthy and tasty recipes to choose from, plus extra snacks such as Chicken and Salmon Sausies and Naturally Tasty Duck Treats. Everything is grain-free and all-natural.

Customer review: "As an owner of five rescue dogs - owner of a dog walking company Clapham Dog Walking - I have very hungry dogs after a day of exercise and socialising. They all absolutely love Butternut Box and healthy treats they adore. Having dogs live into old age, I believe a healthy good diet plays a major role in the health of dogs. Butternut Box appealed to me as it's top nutrition, with no nasties or meat meal or fillers, so it’s just extremely healthy and full of goodness. Our dogs can’t recommend this food enough."

Pooch and Mutt's Primal High Meat Dry Food is a highly nutritious kibble containing lamb, ostrich, chickpeas, pumpkin, turmeric and spirulina. In addition to these superfoods, there are glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain joint health and prebiotics to support healthy digestion. The higher meat content makes this ideal for working dogs, to maintain their muscle condition and give them calories for their active life. A superb grain-free complete food with 80 per cent meat and natural superfoods.

Customer review: "It's that age old cliché, only the best for my dog. So, for years we had our dog on a very expensive, highest meat content food you could buy. With their prices rising to over £100 for an 11kg bag, I decided to take another look at the market. I came across Pooch and Mutt primal and was blown away by the quality of their product compared to price. It was an absolute no brainer for me and Louis our Bedlington loves it too."

AATU 80/20 Dry Dog Food Chicken is made with 80 per cent free-run chicken. It's lovingly handcrafted in small batches using natural ingredients, cooked low and slow. 'Super 8' means the composition contains eight types of fruits, herbs, vegetables, botanicals and spices for a powerful ingredients list of nutritious vitamins and minerals. For 1kg of finished product 2.5kg of raw ingredients are used. AATU kibble is 80 per cent single-source protein and 20 per cent special blend of 32 vegetables, fruit, herbs and botanicals. This is the best natural, holistic food in dry food form and is suitable for dogs will allergies. Also available in Salmon and Herring, Duck, Shellfish and Turkey flavours in a range of quantities.

Customer review: "The production quality is top notch - as are the ingredients. Recipes are well thought out and although its not the cheapest on the market - it IS the best value for money compared to Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved and all the other mass produced market “leaders” - in-fact it leaves them standing in the dust."

Lily's Kitchen Recovery Recipe is a gentle recipe for poorly dogs who need a soothing and nutritious food to get their appetite and health back on track. Made from just fresh chicken, potatoes and banana (for soothing and restorative potassium and magnesium) this mild and palatable wet dog food is perfect for elderly, post-op or dogs suffering with pancreatitis and kidney problems. It's easy to chew and has some natural probiotics from yeast to help kickstart a healthy digestive system. With 95 calories per 100g it provides a convenient quality meal in a can.

Customer review: "My dog had a spate of sickness and diarrhoea. This food was palatable for her and easy to digest and she loved it. Turned her nose up at everything else at the time."

The Hunger of the Wolf Dry Dog Food is specifically designed for active, sporting and working dogs to maintain their calorie intake. Unusually, this dry kibble makes a big selling point about containing chicken meal. 300g of dried chicken in 1kg of food corresponds to 1,140g of fresh meat. Chicken meal provides a highly concentrated source of protein, more so than raw chicken which has a high water content. This high-density and high-calorie food is the equivalent of protein bars for athletes. Wolves - ancestors of dogs - who are true carnivores, have inspired the meatiness of this product. Suitable for all breeds, but best to try it in small portions as it's a very nutritionally dense food.

Customer review: "I bought this food for its high energy count. I have a Labrador who struggles to put weight on. This product went down well with him and there was definitely a small amount of weight gain which was great. BUT the constant gas that he produced was simply unbearable."

PRO PLAN Performance Adult Dry Dog Food contains 30 per cent protein and 20 per fat, which helps your dog reach and maintain their optimum weight. This dry food features Purina's most advanced and efficient combination of nutrients and is especially recommended for highly active dogs. OPTIPOWER key nutrients support rapid muscle recovery and growth. In addition, omega-3 provides anti-inflammatory fatty acids. This all-size and breed-complete food can also be nourishing for lactating female dogs.

Customer review: "I have worker Cockers and in the last six months have moved Jazz and Bonnie over to All Size Adult Performance. It really has ticked the box for them and me as I'm feeding less, so better for my pocket. With both of them it has improved their endurance, be it a working day or doing agility. There coats are amazing and often get complements."

PRO PLAN Large Robust Puppy Dry Dog Food is rich in chicken for thriving large breed puppies to grow into big and beautiful dogs. This dry food contains colostrum (found in the mother's first milk) which helps support puppies' natural defences. PRO PLAN OPTINutrition is Purina's most advanced and efficient combination of nutrients, and as industry experts, this is a brand we highly recommend. The five-star reviews are a sure sign that puppies and owners alike are fans of PRO PLAN too.

Customer review: "Our seven month old Bulgarian rescue pup has tried a number of different brands when it comes to dog food, but I have to say since introducing the Purina Pro Plan to him, we've seen a more content dog. He gets incredibly excited whenever he sees the pack and cannot wait to get stuck into the biscuits. I love the fact that despite being a decent size, they feel incredibly light and seem to be very easy for our Theo to crunch away on. Even our old Staffie is intrigued by them, although Theo has absolutely no intention of sharing."

Royal Canin Ageing 10+ Dog Food has a balanced composition of nutrients that will nourish your senior dog. If your pet has been under-the-weather and needs an easily digestible complete food, this is a superb option for restoring their body weight. Also, the specially adapted kibble makes it easier for an elderly dog to eat. It's important to choose the right product for the right lifestyle, and this 10+ dry dog food will provide additional joint support through a blend of Omega-3 oils.

Customer review: "My dog has a sensitive stomach and loves Royal Canin."

Simply sprinkle Buddy and Lola Dog Weight Gainer Supplement on your dog's food to help build healthy mass. Ideal for fussy eaters, this is a convenient way to add calories without adding meals. Buddy and Lola is a brand that's passionate about recovering rehomed and rescue dogs who need to gain weight. Equally, this supplement can be used for dogs who are recovering from injury. It contains Flaxseed oil, which is a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support growth and cell function. With a blend of soy and vegetable proteins, Buddy and Lola puts goodness back into your dog's body.

Customer review: "What a difference this product has made to my Romanian rescue who was underweight. Being a fussy eater I wasn't sure if he would accept this product but I needn't have worried as he ate his meal as normal. After nine days he seemed to have perked up and more like his self and after three months he is now at his ideal weight."

Crave Protein Chunks Dog Treats are derived from 100 per cent natural meat sources. These high protein and grain-free treats are great quality snacks and are just like jerky. Chunks, chews and protein bars are also available in Beef, Beef and Liver, Turkey and Chicken flavours. Good news, if your dog is devouring them - Crave Protein Chunks are also available in a range of quantities.

Customer review: "My husky loves these, his favourite treat and they look small but defo worth it as pure protein and chewy but don’t last long haha, could do with making bigger ones of these."

It's an unusual fact - dogs really enjoy peanut butter. You've got to be a bit careful though, as some products contain artificial sweeteners which are toxic and fatal to dogs. Peamutt Butter is specially designed for dogs. This yummy treat is packed full of protein and contains heart-healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin and vitamin E. This silky, smooth peanut butter can be stuffed into your dog’s chew toys or spread onto the surfaces of lick mats - now that's lip-smacking!

Customer review: "I use this to give my dog his medication and he absolutely loves the taste and the tablets are taken, no problem. It is just the right consistency, other brands I have previously used were either too thick or too runny."