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You have registered your dog for a Show competition in a few weeks. She’s in tip-top health. Her physical characteristics check out.
The only problem is that she’s underweight. It is required that she adds weight and reaches the required threshold before the competition. What can you do?
Enter satin balls.
Designed to help emaciated dogs, poor eaters, underweight working dogs, and very active pups, satin balls can greatly help your dog.
The recipe is heavily loaded with proteins and fats among other food groups and will cause rapid weight gain.
If you are desperate to put weight on your dog, satin balls are worth your consideration.
The biggest question you should know before going this route is: how much is enough for your dog?
Giving the right amount is crucial to its success. To keep you updated, we’ll provide an answer to this question in this post.
What Are Satin Balls?
The word “satin balls” is quite strange to many people. If you’ve never had to deal with an underweight dog, you have probably never heard of it.
Simply put, satin balls are golf-sized balls consisting of meat, proteins, and grains.
It is a wholesome meal that packs a punch with regard to nutrition.
From fiber to protein to minerals (phosphorous, iron, zinc, and manganese) to vitamins, satin balls have them all.
According to MuscleBully, the original recipe was created by Diana Carreon, R.N., C. in 1996. The recipe was as follows:
- 10 pounds hamburger meat (any type of meat will do)
- 1 large box of Total cereal
- 10 unflavored gelatin envelopes
- 1 large box of uncooked oatmeal
- 1 12 oz. jar of wheat germ
- 10 raw eggs alongside their shells
- 1.25 cup vegetable oil
- 1.25 cups unsulfured molasses
- Pinch of salt
All you need to do is mix all the ingredients using a wooden spoon or by hand then divide them into golf-sides balls or patties.
Feed one or two to the dog then store the rest in the freezer.
There are a few recipe moderations by people who claim that some of the original ingredients are not the healthiest for your dog.
If you look it up, most satin balls recipes now use:
- Ground beef/turkey/lamb in place of hamburger
- Olive/coconut oil instead of vegetable oil
- Special K for Total cereal
- And sea salt in place of salt
As long as you use the right proportions and keep the recommended servings, you will end up with the same results.
How Many Satin Balls to Feed Dog

For a small dog of fewer than 20 pounds, 1 satin ball will suffice daily.
However, if you have a medium-sized or big fur baby, you want to give 2 satin balls per day.
You can choose to offer one ball in the morning and another one in the evening.
Start with 1 or 2 balls depending on the size of your pup during the first week and watch out for any positive changes.
Ideally, weight gain should show within the first week. If nothing seems to change, don’t be afraid to add the amount.
For a small pup, increase the amount to 1 and a half balls and make it three balls for a medium or big dog breed.
Monitor the progress of your dog for three weeks. By then you should be able to see dramatic changes.
Once the dog achieves the desired weight, stop giving her satin balls. If you do, you risk triggering obesity, which can take place rather quickly.
Additional Tips

Before you order satin balls ingredients, there are a few things to pay attention to. These include:
1. Keep The Diet Off Puppies
The founder of the satin balls recipe, Diana Carreon, was keen to say that the fattening balls are not ideal for puppies.
The reason is that the recipe doesn’t have enough calcium to balance out the massive amounts of phosphorous from the protein.
For a puppy whose bones are developing, calcium is very important. Adult dogs can handle the mineral imbalance without an issue.
2. Watch Out For Your Pet’s Allergy Triggers
If your puppy is allergic to any of the ingredients in the satin balls recipe, leave it alone.
There are several other ways you can use to put weight on your doggie.
If you must use the balls, look for substitutes for the ingredients.
3. Feed The Recipe Raw
Although there are cooked versions of the satin balls recipe, the best one is fed raw. That is the only way you can keep the nutrients intact. Heat destroys some of them rendering them useless.
Cooking the balls may also reduce the calories through steam and melting the mat fat (some may drain to the cooking pot).
4. Keep A Close Watch On The Dog
As aforementioned, the satin balls are ridiculously high in calories. The weight gain might actually shock you.
To prevent obesity, keep a daily record of weight gain and stop the diet as soon as the balls deliver the results you are looking for.
Related Post: How Much Weight Should A Puppy Gain Per Week?
Closing Thoughts
Satin balls are fantastic recipes for owners looking to add some weight to their pups. It is fast, safe, and effective.
If your dog is malnourished, preparing for the show ring, or just needs a boost in matter weight, consider using this magic recipe. You will be happy with the results!
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