Top 10 Best Dog Food for Weight Loss
Do you have a dog that is overweight? Are you looking for the best food to help them lose weight? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will discuss weight loss in dogs and feature the best dog foods for weight loss.
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We’ll provide information on what to look for when choosing a food, as well as our top picks. So, whether your dog is struggling with obesity or just needs to drop a few pounds, there’s sure to be a food on this list that can help.
- Pupper Chicken Topper
- Blue Buffalo Fit & Healthy
- Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight
- Canidae Pure Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Recipe
- Purina Pro Plan Weight Management
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight
- Nulo MedalSeries Weight Management
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Weight Control
- Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight
- Natural Balance Fat Dogs
- Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management
- Simply Nourish Fit & Trim Recipe
- Wellness Complete Health Healthy Weight
- Victor Purpose Senior Healthy Weight
- Wellness Core Reduced Fat
- Orijen Fit and Trim Dog Food
- Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain-Free
- Eagle Pack Reduced Fat
- Health Extension Lite Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
- Eukanuba Fit Body Weight Control
What are the signs that my dog is overweight?
- If you are unsure if your dog is overweight, there are a few things you can look for. First, take a look at their body from above. Are they hourglass-shaped or appear squarer? If they are squarer, they may be carrying extra weight.
- Another way to tell if your dog is overweight is to feel their ribs. Can you easily feel their ribs, or do you have to press down hard to feel them? If you have to press down, they may be carrying too much weight.
- When it comes to finding the best food for your overweight dog, you want to make sure that you are not sacrificing their health in the process. Many commercial dog foods that are marketed for weight loss contain fillers and low-quality ingredients that can actually be harmful to your dog’s health.
- Feeding your dog a food that is high in calories but low in nutrients can also lead to obesity. This is because your dog will still be hungry after eating and will beg for more food.
What causes excessive weight gain in dogs?
- There are several reasons why your dog might be carrying around extra weight. It could be due to genetics, a lack of exercise, or simply because they’re eating too much. Regardless of the cause, being overweight can have serious health consequences for your dog.
- Some of the most serious health consequences of being overweight include diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Overweight dogs are also at a higher risk of getting cancer. All of these conditions can be expensive and difficult to treat, so it’s important to do whatever you can to help your dog lose weight.
- One easy way to help your dog lose weight is to switch to the best dog foods for weight loss. These foods are typically lower in calories and fat than standard dog foods, and they often contain more fiber, which can help your dog feel full.
Does walking dog help lose weight?
Yes, walking your dog can help you lose weight. Walking is a great form of exercise, and it’s even better when you have a furry friend by your side. If you’re looking to shed some pounds, consider adding a daily walk with your dog to your routine.
You’ll both benefit from the fresh air and exercise, and you may even find yourself bonding more with your furry friend. Before you start any new exercise regimen, be sure to check with your veterinarian first to make sure it’s safe for your dog.
Walking isn’t the only way to help your dog lose weight. There are a few other things you can do to help them slim down, such as:
- Feeding them smaller meals more often throughout the day
- Cutting back on treats
- Adding more fiber to their diet
- Increasing their exercise time
- Feeding them the best dog food for weight loss
If you’re concerned about your dog’s weight, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you create a weight loss plan that is safe and effective for your furry friend.
How much should I feed my dog to lose weight?
The amount of food you should feed your dog will depend on their weight, activity level, and other factors. Talk to your veterinarian about how much food your dog should be eating each day. They can help you create a feeding schedule that will help your dog lose weight safely and effectively.
What can I cook for my dog to help him lose weight?
If you’re interested in cooking for your dog, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure you’re using lean meats and avoiding foods that are high in fat and calories.
You should also include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your dog’s diet. And finally, don’t forget to talk to your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet. They can help you create a plan that’s tailored specifically for your dog.
What are the best foods to feed my dog for weight loss?
There are a few things to look for when you’re choosing a food for your dog. First, make sure the food is high in protein and low in fat. You should also look for foods that are rich in fiber, as this can help your dog feel full.
And finally, avoid foods that contain fillers or artificial ingredients. These ingredients can add calories without providing any nutritional value.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss
Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Chicken Dinner
| Primary Protein Source: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 354 per can |
| First Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver |
Another great alternative for dog food that helps with weight loss is the Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Chicken Dinner. As with all Blue Buffalo products, this recipe contains no by-products, artificial flavors, corn, wheat, or soy. This pate food uses chicken as the first ingredient for quality protein without any excess calories.
Chicken liver is added for iron and vitamin A. Added blueberries and cranberries are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. The flaxseed in this food provides omega-3 fatty acids for coat and skin health while also promoting healthy digestion. L-carnitine is included in the recipe. This is an amino acid that helps convert fat into energy. In addition to this being a healthy food to feed your dog, you can trust that the calories are kept to a minimum at just 354 per can. This food combined with increased exercise can help them shed extra weight even faster.
The biggest issue with these cans is that they often seem to arrive dented, having been damaged during shipping. Also, the texture of the pate is thick and difficult to get out of the can.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight Dog Food – Best Value
| Primary Protein Source: | Turkey |
| Calories: | 320 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Turkey, rice flour, soybean meal |
Real turkey is the first ingredient in Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight Dog Food, making it our best value choice of weight loss dog food for the money. While this food does contain chicken by-products, it’s full of protein to help build lean muscle while burning fat. Each cup is 27% protein and 8% fat, combined with vitamins and minerals for healthy weight management. Peas and carrots are added for healthy fiber to help your dog feel full for longer periods. Natural sources of glucosamine are in this recipe to promote joint health in dogs that are carrying extra weight. There are many claims of dogs having fewer digestive issues while eating this food.
The worst problem with this product is that some of the kibble pieces are smashed. This leads to crushed kibble dust at the bottoms of the bags instead of intact pieces, upsetting some dog owners.
Nom Nom Turkey Fare Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall
| Primary Protein Source: | Turkey & eggs |
| Calories: | 201 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Ground turkey, brown rice, eggs, carrots |
Nom Nom is a popular pet food subscription service offering fresh pre-portioned dog food formulated by a veterinary nutritionist that’s delivered directly to your door. So, it should come as no big surprise that we’ve named Nom Nom Turkey Fare the 1st best overall dog food for weight loss that’s complete and balanced.
Turkey Fare contains turkey, eggs, carrots, and spinach. It also contains brown rice, which is considered one of the best grain ingredients to use in dog food. This food provides an above-average amount of protein and fat and a below-average number of carbs, making it ideal for weight loss.
Like other Nom Nom dog foods, Turkey Fare is freshly prepared and contains no fillers, artificial ingredients, or unhealthy by-products. This dog food consists of human-grade ingredients that are portioned to meet your dog’s specific caloric needs.
While a subscription to Nom Nom can be pricey, the service takes all the guesswork out of feeding your dog a proper diet. Once you join this meal delivery program, you’ll be asked to fill out some info about your pet so Nom Nom can match you with a recommended recipe and serving size for your dog.
This company preps and cooks its dog food weekly and allows you to choose between weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deliveries of meals. We love that this dog food looks like real food, too!
Nom Nom Turkey Fare may be pricey, but it’s super nutritious and highly convenient. This high-quality food will help get your dog’s diet in check so he can slim down and maintain a healthy weight.
Halo Holistic Healthy Weight Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Turkey |
| Calories: | 380 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Turkey, dried peas, dried chickpeas |
This Halo Holistic Healthy Weight Dog Food is made with a turkey, turkey liver, and duck recipe that is packed with protein from sustainably sourced ingredients. While it’s a little higher in calories per serving than some other brands, there is nothing artificial added to this food. Your dog can absorb the nutrients easily and effectively. It’s a good choice for its easy digestibility. The addition of L-carnitine helps dogs burn fat and increase their metabolisms to maintain a healthy weight. Since there are no meat meals in this recipe and only whole meats, the high-protein content helps muscles stay strong while fat melts away. We like that the produce in this food is grown by farmers that refuse to use GMOs.
Some dog owners dislike the smell of this food, saying it’s overwhelming and unappealing.
Evanger’s Classic Recipes Canned Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 301 per can |
| First Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken broth, brown rice |
The low-calorie, high-protein recipe in Evanger’s Classic Recipes Canned Dog Food is formulated to help dogs lose weight and help senior dogs get the nutrition they need without anything extra. This food is designed for less-active dogs who may need to lose a few pounds but can’t tolerate much exercise.
Chicken and brown rice are the primary ingredients. This formula is preservative-free and contains no fillers. Chelated minerals and vitamins are added as part of a healthy diet.
Don’t be surprised to find pieces of bone in this can. Evanger’s uses a special slow-cook and pressure-cook process to soften bones until they easily collapse. They are soft a pliable, easily digestible, and small, about the size of a grain of rice. There’s no danger in your dog eating these because they are completely splinter-free. They’re added for flavor, texture, and nutrients.
There is no added glucosamine or chondroitin, which some senior dogs need. This is important to know if your dog requires these things in their diet.
Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Chicken & Pea Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 409 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal |
Real chicken is the first ingredient in Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Chicken & Pea Dog Food. This recipe is an efficient weight loss solution for dogs who have food allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients. Nine of the ingredients in this recipe are wholesome, non-allergenic, and easily digestible. Your dog will get the nutrients they need instead of filling up on grains, corn, and artificial additives. This will promote healthy weight loss by only giving them usable calories.
Sweet potatoes add healthy carbs to this recipe. It’s also loaded with probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids. Many of these come from real vegetables and animal sources.
The biggest issue with this food is the recipe seems to have changed and it’s now a darker color. It can also be too rich for some dogs’ digestive systems.
Merrick Healthy Weight Recipe Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Beef |
| Calories: | 354 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Deboned beef, chicken meal, sweet potatoes |
A little more than half of the recipe in Merrick Healthy Weight Recipe Dog Food is made of protein and healthy fat. Deboned beef is the primary protein source and helps dogs maintain healthy energy levels and muscles. The remaining ingredients provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals for a balanced diet.
This formula is grain and gluten-free with added omega fatty acids for healthy coats. Glucosamine and chondroitin are added for joint health.
Merrick uses no corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives. With 80% of the protein in this food coming from animal sources, you can trust that your dog is getting the nutrition they need without fillers.
The biggest complaint about this food is that the size of the bag got smaller but the price stayed the same.
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 315 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Chicken meal, salmon meal, chickpeas |
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dog Food is designed to provide a nutritionally balanced diet even though it contains fewer calories. It combines protein and fiber to help your dog healthily lose weight.
Dogs stay fuller longer eating this food while it supports healthy digestion. Added omegas give your dog a healthy, shiny coat. This recipe also includes L-carnitine for a healthy metabolism to promote weight loss.
If your dog is switching to this food from one that is lower in fiber, be sure to make the change slowly. This fiber content can make dogs poop a lot more than they used to. Introducing the food over time can help their digestive systems get used to it.
Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Dog Food
| Primary Protein Source: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 291 per cup |
| First Ingredients: | Chicken, cracked pearled barley, brown rice |
The high-quality ingredients and low calories per serving in Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Dog Food will encourage healthy weight loss over time. This recipe is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for muscle maintenance.
L-carnitine is added to help maintain a healthy and speedy metabolism. Apples, broccoli, cranberries, and green peas offer antioxidants and fiber to keep your pup feeling satisfied. According to the manufacturer, 70% of dogs fed this diet lose weight within 10 weeks.
Dog owners are least impressed with this food’s smell. The odor is said to linger throughout the house. This doesn’t stop some dogs from eating it, though.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss
When choosing dog food for weight loss, there are certain things to watch for that make it the best for your pup.
Low Fat
Dogs don’t need excess fat in their diets. High-calorie dog food leads to excess glucose that will be stored in the body and turned into fat. Low-fat dog food will cut back on their fat intake and help them fill up on healthier ingredients instead.
Wholesome Ingredients
The best ingredients in dog food are quality protein, produce, and healthy fats. Artificial flavors, colors, and ingredients are all things your dog doesn’t need in their diet. Their bodies can have trouble breaking these things down. Wholesome ingredients are easier to digest and help to give your dog the energy and protein they need to stay healthy.
High Protein
Protein contains calories, but dogs burn more calories digesting it. Increasing their protein intake will force their bodies to use more energy.
Low Calories
There are calories to maintain weight and calories to lose weight. To find the number of calories your dog needs per day, use an online calculator or talk to your vet. If you’re feeding your dog the calories they need to maintain, they won’t shed any pounds. At the same time, it’s important to not underfeed your dog. Losing weight slowly is the healthiest way for them to do it.
Low-calorie dog food is helpful because it enables you to still feed your dog a significant amount of food without adding unnecessary calories.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Overweight?
It can be hard to tell if your dog needs to lose weight because different people have different ideas about what a healthy dog looks like. To get an idea, look up the breed standard for your dog. If you have a dog who is supposed to weigh, on average, 35 pounds, and your dog weighs 45, they may need to lose some.
You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs without pushing. The ribs shouldn’t be well-defined through the skin, but you should be able to feel them when you run your hands along their sides without working too hard to find them.
There should be a significant definition of your dog’s body. You should see their chest, stomach, and waist. If your dog’s abdomen distends past their sides or you can’t see where their waist contours, losing a couple of pounds may be in order.
The guaranteed way to know if your dog is overweight is to ask your vet.
Activity Level
Is your dog less active than they used to be? Are they tired and panting heavily after a regular walk around the neighborhood? If your dog is having trouble doing the same activities they used to do, they could be overweight. Other factors could be the cause of this but shedding some weight will help your dog move more easily.
Why Do Dogs Gain Weight?
The biggest cause of weight gain in dogs is feeding them too much. Even too much of their regular dog food will be too many calories and lead to fat storage. Excessive treats and feeding them from your plate in addition to their regular meals are also additional calories your dog doesn’t need.
Highly active dogs can consume more calories because they burn them off. Older or less active dogs don’t need to eat as much.
Feeding your dog before their stored energy is completely used causes fat storage and weight gain.
Weight gain can also be caused by little or no exercise. No exercise at all will not give your dog a chance to burn any energy and instead store all their calories. If you can’t decrease the amount of food that you give your dog, increase their activity level and see if that helps to balance things out.
Final Thoughts
Our favorite dog food for weight loss is the Nom Nom Dog Food. The high protein content from real meats makes this a delicious way for your dog to cut calories. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight Dog Food offers protein from turkey and low calories per serving. The GMO-free recipe of Halo Holistic Healthy Weight Dog Food is easy to digest and gives your dog low-calorie nutrition without additives.
We hope our reviews helped you find the best dog food to help your pup reach their weight loss goals.
