Best Dog Food for Weight Loss 2024 – Buyer’s Guide
Table of Contents
- 1 What Can Obesity Lead To In Dogs?
- 2 What Causes Dogs To Gain Weight?
- 3 Which Dogs Are Prone to Canine Obesity?
- 4 What Makes A Canine Food Good For Weight Loss?
- 5 How Many Calories Does Your Dog Need
- 6 How To Help A Dog Lose Weight
- 7 The Best Dog Food for Weight Loss
- 7.1 Natural Balance Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food
- 7.2 Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food
- 7.3 Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food Pork
- 7.4 Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
- 7.5 Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food
- 7.6 CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food
- 7.7 Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
- 7.8 Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula Adult Dog Food
- 7.9 Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
- 7.10 Nutro Natural Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food
- 8 Dog Food for Weight Loss Buyer’s Guide
- 9 Bottom Line
It’s okay to admit it.
That your furry friend struggles with the weight problem, if the weight of your pooch is not managed well is likely to result in serious health problems.
You need to endow yourself with deep dark secrets about the best dog food for weight loss that you don’t want anyone to know.
Get that thought which keeps you up night after night on things concerning the best dog food diet. Read more about these quality dog food diet that will help to improve the quality of your furry friend’s life and also increase his lifespan.
Well, we have good news…
You can protect your pooch from abnormal weight gain by providing quality food for weight loss. This canine food diet contains low calories and fat.
The dog food diet will help your pooch to slim down and also maintain healthy body weight. We have provided a detailed explanation about the frequently asked questions and top quality dog food for weight loss.
Let’s jump straight in now:
What Can Obesity Lead To In Dogs?
Each breed of dog has a healthy weight gain range. But if they happen to gain abnormal weight, then it can result in health problems and also reduce the lifespan of your furry friend.
Obesity is considered to be the most common problem dog experiences, especially if they are feed on the wrong dog food diet. Canine obesity is a condition where dog gains abnormal weight that is above the breed weight range.
Here are some of the top common problems associated with canine obesity. They include:
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is a condition that is commonly caused by obesity. The state makes the body of the canine to be unable to use glucose usually.
Diabetes will make your pup to be unable to respond to the insulin produced by the pancreases. If the condition remains untreated, it will result in kidney failure, nerve problems and also shorten the pup lifespan.
Liver Problems
Obesity is a common condition that triggers the development of fatty liver disease in furry friends. The disease makes the liver of your pooch to be unable to metabolize the chemicals and foods it eats.
Fatty liver disease is required to be treated on time. If it remains unchecked, then it will result in permanent liver failure, liver cancer, and ascites.
Heart Disease
Obesity is harmful not only in human beings but also to pets. A pooch that is obese is prone to suffer from hypertension.
The condition forces the heart to pump extra blood to excess tissues in the body of the pup. The excess workload makes the heart of the pooch to experience congestive heart failure.
Mobility
For a dog to experience efficient and smooth movement, the muscles, bones, and ligaments need to work together without any strain.
Obesity makes the pooch to be more substantial, and this will exert pressure on these body tissues that foster smooth movement.
The pressure exerted on the joints will result in a condition known as osteoarthritis. The condition causes pain and inflammation on the joints hence inhibiting the mobility of your pup.
Joint Issues
Obesity implies that your pooch carries a lot of weight which they are unable to support. The abnormal pressure makes them suffer from joint pains.
Prolong exposure to obesity will also result in hip dysplasia and arthritis, which are severe joint issues that might require surgery in extreme cases.
What Causes Dogs To Gain Weight?
There are quite a good number of reasons why your pooch gains those extra pounds. Guess what? Majority of these reasons can be controlled and managed, but some occur as a result of chronic health issues.
Here are some of the most common reasons behind abnormal weight gain in your furry friend. They include:
Less Physical Exercise
Excessive weight gain in dogs can be caused by lack of physical exercise just like human beings. The food your pooch results in increased energy input that is more than the energy output.
If your furry happen to have a great appetite that triggers them to each much, then you need to increase the amount of physical exercise. Failure to follow the routine then they are likely to gain more weight.
Too Much Food
Most of the canine food contains a lot of calories. These calories come from carbohydrates, fat, and proteins. Most dog owners are not aware of the exact amount of calories a dog needs in life.
The number of calories depending on the age, size, and dog breed. Consider these factors, or else your pooch is going to gain unhealthy body weight.
Which Dogs Are Prone to Canine Obesity?
Neutered dogs
Dogs that are spayed and neutered require a low amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight. Neutering or spraying alters energy requirement of your dog.
Therefore, you are not supposed to feed them with foodstuff that contains a high amount of calories since they are highly susceptible to obesity.
Older Dogs
The metabolism of dogs varies with age. Young dogs have a high rate of metabolism as compared to older dogs. This is the reason why many older dogs tend to gain weight from nowhere.
Older dogs are known to be less active as young pups hence making them susceptible to canine obesity, which is a severe weight problem.
Dogs under Medication
There some medications that can increase the appetite of your dog. This kind of drugs makes them eat too much and later gain a lot of weight.
The reduced metabolism will make the store energy to be converted into fat hence fostering occurrence of obesity in your pooch.
Dogs Feeding on Too Many Calories
Some dog owners are not aware of the exact amount of calories to give their dogs. Providing your pooch with too many calories is likely to make them suffer from obesity. It happens since their body tissues are unable to consume excess calories.
Certain Dog Breeds
There are certain breeds of dogs that are prone to unexplained weight gain. Most of these dog breeds are Rottweilers, Labrador retrievers, and Dachshunds. When you happen to own one of these breeds, then follow a strict dog food diet to avoid unnecessary weight gain.
Inactive Dogs
If your pooch happens to be inactive or she lacks physical exercise, then expect abnormal weight gain. Good energy from the food is converted into fats, and this result in obesity occurrence. This is the reason why it is recommended to take your pooch for a walk daily.
What Makes A Canine Food Good For Weight Loss?
There are a lot of dog diet food in the market, but you need to be very careful when selecting the best food for your pooch, especially if he or she has gain weight.
The following are some of the fine details you need to consider before selecting diet dog food for your furry friend. These factors include:
Right Amount of Proteins
Proteins are quite beneficial to the dog that is breaking down excess fats since it helps to foster the growth and development of skeletal muscles. Therefore, ensure your pooch get food with plenty of proteins while slimming down period.
High Amount of Fiber
Supply your pooch with food that contains plenty of fibers since it will make the dog full throughout; hence, they will consume less amount of food. This is the best diet food since it also provides energy for the dog, and it contains low fats.
Probiotics
Consider dog foods that contain probiotics in case you want them to lose excess weight. These foods contain bacteria that will help your dog to have a better metabolism rate.
The bacteria enable your furry friend to digest all the foods adequately, and in the process, they are unable to gain a lot of weight.
Low Amount of Calories
The high amount of the calories in the food forces the dog body to convert them into fats, which later result in increased body weight.
Therefore, consider foodstuff that has a low amount of calories to reduce the tendency of your pooch, converting them into fats.
Consider dog food that has low fats and high amount of proteins since it helps to trigger weight loss in overweight dogs. Pick foods with low calories.
How Many Calories Does Your Dog Need
The amount of calories in the dog food determines its quality, especially if you are working on how to reduce the weight of your pooch.
Foods that contain a low amount of calories are considered to be of high quality hence making them suitable to control and manage the weight of your furry friend.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to determine the exact amount of calories that your pooch needs unless you seek assistance from professional vets.
Different dog breeds have a different rate of metabolism and burning down of excess calories per day. Therefore, you are required to determine the resting energy requirement before purchasing any dog food.
The resting energy requirement per day is calculated by determining the weight of your pooch in pounds and raised it to power three quarters then multiply by 70, which is an endless amount of calories.
The resting energy requirement is then multiplied by several factors like the age of the dog, unaltered adult dog, and sprayed the dog. This is the best way to know the exact amount of calories to give your pet per day.
How To Help A Dog Lose Weight
Switching to weight loss for your pooch is excellent, but it is not the only means to help them cut down excess body weight.
Here are some of the ways that can also work hand-in-hand with dog food for weight loss. The strategies include:
Increase Exercise
Calorie intake determines the weight of your pooch. If you happen to give your furry friend too many calories per day, they also tend to increase the amount of exercise.
Vigorous exercise makes your dog burn down excess fats, and this will also increase the amount of calories intake.
Remember to start exercise gradually to prevent injuring your pooch. Start with a walk, then running for about five miles per day.
Stop Taking the Dog for Treats
It is good to take your dog for a treat and provide them high calories food. Many gifts will make your dog body weight to increase, and some might become obese. Reduce the number of treats by making it once a while.
Stop giving those Human Foods
Some people may opt to give their pooch French fries, and this can be problematic as far as their weight gain is a concern. It is advisable to provide dog food diet to your pup to prevent the occurrence of canine obesity.
Visit a Professional Veterinarian
Always involve your vet in case you want your pooch to lose some pounds. The vet will offer additional supports like correcting the effect of overweight in your dog.
The Best Dog Food for Weight Loss
| Food Product | Main Ingredients | Ratings | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Balance Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food | Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas | 5 star | Low Calories, Enhance Healthy Weight Gain, Make the Dog Feel Full | Check Price |
| Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food | Beef, Beef Meal, Dried Peas, Soybean Meal, Chicken | 4.9 star | Premium Nutrients, Tasty Meal, Suitable for Weight Loss | Check Price |
| Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food Pork | Pork Meal, Dehulled Barley, Peas, Ground Brown Rice | 5 star | Triple Animal Proteins, Contain Antioxidant, Increase Appetite in Dogs | Check Price |
| Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food | Chicken, Lamb Meat, Rice Bran, Brown Rice | 4.8 star | Lack Artificial Flavors, Low Calories, Natural Ingredients | Check Price |
| Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food | Deboned Chicken, Ground Barley, Rice Bran, Chicken Meal | 5 star | Suitable for Weight Loss, Nutritional Diet | Check Price |
| CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food | Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Rice Bran, Peas | 4.7 star | Balance Nutrients, Low Fat, Low Calories, Suitable for Inactive Dogs | Check Price |
| Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food | Chicken, Rice Flour, Whole Grain Corn,Fish Meal | 4.9 star | Promote Healthy Weight Gain, Suitable for Less Active Dogs | Check Price |
| Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula Adult Dog Food | Rice Flour, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Turkey | 5 star | Tasty Meal, High Energy, Easy to Digest | Check Price |
| Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food | Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pea Fiber | 5 star | Grain Free, Natural Ingredients, Good for Weight Loss | Check Price |
| Nutro Natural Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food | Whole Grain Sorghum, Split Peas, Rice Bran, Chicken Meal | 4.9 star | Low Fat Content, Low Calories, Premium Protein Source | Check Price |
Here are the top 10 chosen food for dog weight loss. Most of these foods are of high quality and also grain free. They do not pose the risk of an allergic reaction to your pooch.
Let’s cut to the chase and get more in-depth details about them.
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food
Guess what?
It is time to say goodbye to the overweight body of your pet. The dog food is formulated for overweight dogs, and it helps to keep your pooch nutritional balanced. They contain the low-calorie amount that is suitable for your pup.
The food brand contains special fibers and proteins that will make your furry friend feel full when shedding extra pounds.
Some of the common ingredients found in the food brand include Dried Beet Pulp, DL-Methionine, Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Barley, and Oat Groats, among many others.
- Low calorie
- Keep the dog full
- Foster healthy weight
- Result in smidge
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food
This is another incredible dog food for those struggling with overweight. The dog food contains natural probiotic that helps to foster the digestion process of your pup.
It also does not contain artificial flavors and preservatives that will result in dog stomach problems. The nutrients are incredible as they enhance healthy weight gain for your furry friend.
The dog food brand is made from natural ingredients that are suitable for weight loss and also promote good looking skin coat.
Real beef, peas, brown rice, carrots, chicken fat, soybean meal, whole ground corn, and vitamin E supplements happen to be the main components of the dog food brand.
- Tasty Meal
- Contain natural ingredients
- Suitable for weight loss
- Contain a slight amount of artificial flavors that make the pet sick
Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food Pork
The eagle pack contains a well-balanced nutritional diet for your pooch. The ingredients are natural and quite delicious for the dog.
The tastiness of the food brand tends to be challenging to control when feeding your pets since it gives them the desire to eat more and more.
That’s not all.
The dog food brand has a low amount of fats and calories to support healthy weight gain for your furry friend. It is suitable for those dogs that need to shed a few pounds.
The dog food brand is manufactured in the United States, where the policy of control and quality assurance policy is highly followed.
Some of the common ingredients found in the food are pork meal, chicken meal, turkey meal, rice, flaxseeds, tomato pomace, peas, and chicken fat, among many others.
- Support healthy weight loss
- Skin and coat support
- Antioxidant support
- Triple animal protein
- Increase the appetite of the dog
Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro Ultra is incredible dog food, especially those in need of shedding extra pounds from their body to live healthily.
It contains premium ingredients such as chicken meat, pastured lamb meat, and salmon. These ingredients provide high-quality proteins, and they tend to have low calories.
The dog food brand is not made from by-products of chicken meal, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, and preservative. These ingredients are considered to be unhealthy for the dog.
- Premium ingredients that are healthy for the dog
- Lack of artificial flavors, colors, and preservative.
- Low calories and fat content
- Not suitable for highly sensitive stomach dogs
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food
Provide complete nutritional balance for your pooch and also enhances healthy weight gain. It also contains low calories to help overweight dogs to lose weight.
The dog food brand is highly delicious, and it helps resolve the hunger issue in your dog. It also helps your dog cut down excess fat in the body.
Manufacturing of the food product adheres to the policy of control and quality assurance since it is made in the United States.
Some of the premium ingredients found in the dog food brand are a chicken meal, blueberries, spinach, flaxseeds, and sweet potatoes, among many others.
- Have a well-balanced nutritional diet
- Suitable for weight loss
- Makes the dog throw up
CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food
Canidae dog food brand is quite unusual in terms of nutrients. The nutrients are well-balanced, and this is the reason why dogs gain healthy weight.
It has low calories and fat content. This dog food is considered for those dog breeds that are less active since they will not gain excess weight.
Some of the common ingredients found in the dog food brand include brown rice, chicken meal, oatmeal, turkey meat, chicken fat, lamb meat, and salmon oil, among many others.
- Low amount of calories and fat
- Well-balanced nutrients
- Suitable for less active dogs
- Slightly too expensive
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
Purina pro plan is a portion of incredible dog food for weight loss. It is made from high-quality proteins, and the chicken meal is always the first ingredient.
The dog food product also contains live probiotic that helps to facilitate proper digestion process in your pooch. They also have recommended size kibbles and tender meat.
The food is the best choice for the dog owner who wants his or her pup to cut down weight and maintain a healthy weight.
The common ingredients in the food brand are rice flour, chicken, whole grain, soybean, and natural liver flavor.
- Great for weight loss
- Suitable for inactive dogs
- Not ideal for a pooch with a sensitive stomach
Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula Adult Dog Food
This is healthy dog food, especially those struggling with a weight problem. Real turkey meat is the first ingredient that makes the food tasty and delicious.
It contains the required amount of fat and calories for that pooch that wants to lose additional weight in their body.
Also, it contains antioxidant products that help to improve the immune system of your pooch and fight of any form of infection.
The dog food brand is also suitable for dogs with joint problems since it contains Glucosamine that fosters healthy joints development.
The common ingredients of the food brand are chicken by-product meal, turkey, corn gluten meal, oatmeal, and whole grain meal, among many others.
- Food is tasty and delicious
- Has adequate energy
- Easy to digest
- Suitable for healthy joints
- Only ideal for mini dog breeds
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
Small dog breeds are highly susceptible to canine obesity. Hill’s science diet is the perfect food choice for them as it will help them shed excess weight.
The dog food product is made from premium ingredients that enable tiny dogs to develop lean muscles and healthy weight.
It contains natural ingredients such as brown rice, corn gluten meal, chicken flavor meal, lactic acid, pork liver flavor, and dried carrots, among others.
- Premium natural ingredients
- Grain free
- Suitable for tiny dog breeds only
Nutro Natural Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food
We won’t have completed the review without mentioning Nutro natural dog food that contains ranched raised Chicken, Rice, and Sweet Potato Recipe.
These incredible ingredients contain low calories and fat suitable for dog breeds struggling with weight loss. The food makes the dog feel full after eating a small amount.
The nutrients are well-balanced to also facilitate easy control and management of healthy weight gain in the pups. It has fibers that are easy to digest and also contain ingredients that promote healthy joints development.
- High-quality protein source
- Lack of artificial flavors and preservatives
- Low calories and fat content
- Slightly expensive
Dog Food for Weight Loss Buyer’s Guide
Sometimes it can be hard to resist the begging eyes of your pooch. You may be forced to overfeed them but know you are stealing part of their life.
Control the amount of food and calories that you are providing them by not allowing yourself to be swayed by their begging eyes.
Control and strict diet will enable your pooch to stay around for a couple of years. Provide them quality food that has a low amount of calories to prevent them from gaining abnormal body weight.
Use the above-recommended food in case your dog happens to have gained too much weight. The dog food diet above will help them shed excess pounds and gain healthy body weight.
Bottom Line
Canine obesity is becoming a significant problem and this is making many dog owners be worried about the kind of food diet they are offering them.
It is advisable to switch to foods that have low calories when you want to control and maintain the weight of your pooch.
Exercise and healthy food diet will improve the quality of life of your pet as well as long foster lifespan since they will be less susceptible to risks associated with overweight.
Therefore, consider dog food that is of high quality for your pup. Also, remember to seek advice from a professional Vet and provide plenty of exercise to your furry friend in case you want them to shed some few pounds.
