The Best Dog Food For Weight Loss (Updated List)

Whether you just realized that your pup has lost their hourglass figure or if those pup love handles have been a long time coming, it’s never too late to get their weight back on the right track with dog food meant for weight loss.

The most suitable weight loss dog foods will be lower in calories and fat and higher in protein to help support weight loss and encourage lean muscle growth. The combination of low fat and calories, and high protein will also help keep your pet satiated for longer, so you won’t have to worry about giving in to those puppy eyes. If you’re still feeling lost in your dog’s weight loss journey, check out this list of some great products for weight loss.

Dog Foods for Weight Loss – Our Reviews

Our choices have it all: all-natural ingredients, lower calories and fat, and loaded with protein. Your puppy will be back to a healthy weight with no struggles!

Our Top Pick

1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight

If you’ve been looking for a brand you can trust, look no further than Blue Buffalo. They offer ingredients, including chicken mixed with various fruits and vegetables, that will boost your pets’ nutrition without making them overweight.

This is perfect for pet owners who have struggled to control their pet’s weight. And since every ingredient has been sourced naturally, you can have confidence every time you pour a bowl.

Our Picks of Dry Foods

1. Wellness Complete Health Healthy Weight

With this formula, Wellness Complete has offered you the ability to ensure your pets stay healthy and energetic for years into the future. And since it includes a perfectly balanced mix of top-quality protein and whole grains, you can be confident that every nutritional need will be met.

Includes a host of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, antioxidants, and more to keep your pet in top shape. It’s a great option that you shouldn’t pass up.

2. Orijen Fit & Trim Dog Food

Orijen prides itself on developing a product that’s wholly designed for the biology of your dog, including 85% meat, 15% vegetables, and other plants, and 0% grains. This is the diet your pet would eat if he lived in the wild. And this formula lets Orijen Fit & Trim keep your pet looking and feeling his absolute best. And what’s more, all the ingredients that go into this pet food are sourced regionally via sustainable practices.

This is one of the highest quality options on the market — and the price shows. But if the price isn’t an option, Orijen Fit & Trim may be just what you’ve been looking for.

3. Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight

Hill’s Science Diet is among the most well-known and recommended brands. And for a good reason. This company has diversified and refined its product offerings so that they likely have a solution no matter what your pet needs. They’ve designed this Perfect Weight formula to help overweight dogs lose weight quickly and healthily. Research has shown that 70% of the dogs that begin a regimen of it will lose weight in the first 10 weeks. And even better, it tastes delicious and is made without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Uses natural, quality chicken, lamb, and salmon to ensure your dog gets the protein he needs without the additional unhealthy fat.

4. Wellness CORE Reduced Fat Grain-Free

Many dog foods are made primarily of grain, with some meat and vegetables thrown into even things. Unfortunately, your pet didn’t evolve to eat grain; the diet would’ve consisted mainly of meats, vegetables, and fruits in a natural habitat. And that’s what makes up Wellness CORE’s Reduced Fat Grain Free dog food.

It’s been formulated to boost your pet’s heart, digestive, skin, and coat health. And it’s completely GMO-free. In other words, it’s a great option if you’ve been searching to get your dog’s weight down safely and effectively.

5. Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight

Like men, dogs love beef. And yet, so much dog food out there is made up of fillers, meat byproducts, and artificial garbage. But that’s not the case with this formula. Deboned beef is the number one ingredient in this product, and it’s made up of 55% protein and 45% vegetables, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s also got the ingredients you need to keep your dog’s hips working.

It’s a well-balanced, delicious meal for your dog that will give him the energy he needs without contributing to excess weight gain.

6. Victor Senior Healthy Weight

As your dog gets older and becomes less active, there’s a genuine possibility that he’ll begin packing on the pounds. After all, if he spends most of his time lying around and eating, he won’t burn off all that additional weight. As a result, you need to be extra careful about the way you feed him. That’s why Victor’s Senior Healthy Weight is such a great option — especially for dogs who are getting up there in years.

Its blend of high-quality beef, chicken, pork, and fish allow it to give your family friend the protein he needs without fattening him up with unhealthy fats or artificial fillers.

Our Picks of Canned Foods

1. Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Canned Dog Food

If you’ve struggled to control your pet’s weight, part of the problem may be an imbalance in the amount of protein he’s getting compared with fats and carbohydrates. It is often terrible to put weight on your puppy. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Pro Plan’s Weight Management Canned Dog Food is designed to offer your pet a well-balanced meal that won’t add unnecessary pounds. And your pet will absolutely love it since it’s filled with delicious turkey and other top-quality ingredients.

Optimized with the perfect blend of protein to fat, your dog only loses excess weight, not muscle.

2. Wellness CORE Grain Free Weight Management Canned Dog Food

It is filled to the brim with high-quality meat that your dog will devour. It has 80% more meat than traditional dog food, which tends to be packed with grains and other fillers. But this product isn’t just meat. It also includes antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and probiotics. If you’re searching for a premium option to give your dog everything he needs to stay healthy and energetic, look no further than this formula.

3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Canned Dog Food

It is synonymous with quality. It’s the number one, most recommended brand by veterinarians nationwide. And that’s because it’s been designed to be the optimal blend of high-quality protein and delicious flavor that your pet won’t be able to resist. If you’re looking for a canned option that’s delicious for your pet, will help him maintain a healthy weight, and will support your pet’s overall health, you could do a lot worse than this product.

Our Picks of Natural Products

1. Nutro Natural Healthy Weight Dog Food

Nutro makes various natural pet food designed to support your pet’s overall health with sustainable, all-natural ingredients and processes. This is part of what makes it one of the premier natural brands on the market. And it’s also why this formula is at the top of the list. And since it includes plenty of top-quality protein from beef, chicken, and lamb, it doesn’t skimp on taste while controlling your pet’s weight.

It’s made the 100% non-GMO ingredients sourced by trusted farmers and suppliers and cooked in a US-based facility.

2. Nutro Ultra Weight Management Dog Food

It is specially designed to give your pet the nutrition possible. That includes a healthy dose of high-quality proteins like chicken, lamb, and salmon and a mix of fifteen superfoods, including coconut, kale, chia, blueberries, and more. And it has absolutely no corn, soy, wheat, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. In other words, it’s the best nature has to offer for your pet. And the icing on the cake? It’s completely non-GMO.

3. Nulo Adult Weight Management Cod and Lentils Recipe

Nulo has created a series of grain-free weight management dog foods. It’s a combination of cod, lentils, and other vegetables that limits the amount of unhealthy fat your dog will get, helping him maintain a healthy weight. And since it includes L-Carnitine, your pet will have the ability to better metabolize the fats he does eat. If you’re looking for a high-quality foundation for future health, Nulo Adult Weight Management Cod and Lentils Recipe is a great place to start.

4. Blue Wilderness Healthy Weight Dog Food

If you’ve been searching for an all-natural option that will help your pet maintain a healthy weight, and that includes all the proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your pet needs without any of the filler or artificial preservatives, then look no further than this formula.

This is a grain-free option that’s been specially formulated to meet your dog’s specific needs while boosting his overall health.

5. Natural Balance Fat Dog

Helping your pet walk the line between rail-thin and overweight is a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be an impossibility. With this product, you can help your pet reach the optimal weight without forcing him to eat the food he hates. Fat Dog has been designed to offer the perfect blend of all-natural protein and fiber so that he’s always satisfied and doesn’t put on extra pounds.

This low-calorie option is one of the greatest for any pet owner who’s looking for a natural way to keep a dog at a healthy weight.

*Ratings are formed by the article’s author based on their own research and combined with customer reviews.

Buying Guide

We’re here to help you pick the perfect food to help your canine companion achieve their weight loss goals. We’ll go through what makes a good weight loss or management food as well as how you can help your family friend achieve that loss.

READ MORE: Can Dogs live on a Vegan Diet?

How Can You Tell if Your Dog is Overweight?

Let’s first get a handle on your dog’s current weight and weight gain. Since most of us don’t have a scale or don’t weigh our dogs regularly, their weight might not mean anything to you. First and foremost, know an ideal body condition score [1]. More than the number on the scale, will better help you determine what a healthy weight is for your canine companion. It considers different body types and muscle masses and will help you reassess your dog’s weight as they continue on their weight loss journey.

As a general rule, when looking at your pet from above, they should have a waist. It shouldn’t be a straight line from their shoulders to their hips. Their stomach should also tuck up when viewed from the side, not sag down to the level of the deepest part of their chest (or beyond!) You should also be able to feel ribs without pressing too firmly on their chest.

Next, talk with your veterinarian. They can give you an idea of what your dog should weigh, how much they need to lose, weight-loss strategies, and walk you through body condition scoring.

After you’ve determined that your family friend is overweight, it’s essential to realize how they got there. Too much human food snuck under the table? Not even walks around the neighborhood? Or a dog food that’s too high in calories? Narrowing down where that extra weight came from will help you break those bad habits with your pup on the plump side and get them slimmed down more quickly.

Health Concerns Associated with Obesity in Dogs

Next, we need to look at problems that excess weight can cause in your favorite couch potato. It’s also important to remember that a healthy weight range for a dog is much narrower than for a human, significantly smaller breed dogs. A few extra pounds can literally be the difference between a healthy pup and one of these dangerous conditions.

• Heart Disease: While it might not be artery-clogging complications experienced by humans, excess weight puts extra strain on the heart and cardiovascular system. Constant stress can lead to congestive heart failure and decreased circulation.
• Diabetes: Extra fat stores can increase the chances of insulin resistance in a body. That means that they produce an adequate amount of insulin but that their body isn’t responding to it correctly. This increases their blood sugar, is left untreated can lead to permanent nerve and organ damage or even death.
• Joint Problems: The more weight your dog is packing around, the more wear and tear their joints, tendons, and ligaments experience. Issues like arthritis and injuries can occur more quickly, and problems prior, like hip dysplasia, can be exacerbated by extra weight.
• Breathing Troubles: Carrying excess weight puts more pressure on your dog’s chest and diaphragm, making it more difficult for them to breathe, especially when lying down. You may notice that your heavy dog pants excessively, even when not exercising and that they tire out more quickly.
• Overheating: The more layering a dog has, the more quickly they get hot. This is especially dangerous in dogs due to their reasonably inefficient cooling system. Again, heavy dogs tend to pant excessively to try to cool their body.
• Cancer: Obesity can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can also plug up their liver with extra fat stores causing it to filter less effectively.

So, what does all of this mean? For most overweight dogs, it means a shorter lifespan. The extra work that this weight puts on a body can cause them to die younger.

Which Dogs are More Predisposed to Weight Gain?

Just like people, some dogs are going to gain weight more quickly than others. This can be due to genetics, activity, and, of course, food. Some breeds that may pack on the pounds more efficiently include:

• Сocker spaniels
• Labrador retrievers
• Basset hounds
• Dachshunds
• Shelties
• Cavalier King Charles spaniels

These dogs have a genetic composition that makes weight gain an issue.

That’s not to say that other breeds can’t get heavy just as easily. Especially dogs that are inactive or overfed. Other causes are:

• Old age: Dogs tend to become less active as they age and their metabolism slows down, meaning they burn fewer calories than they once did.
• Health conditions: Anything that can disrupt a body’s normal function can contribute to weight gain. Conditions like hypothyroidism, for example, can cause weight gain.

Also, dogs that have been spayed or neutered can gain weight more quickly. Not only are the reproductive hormones that are removed during altering used for reproduction, but they also have an effect on metabolism. Removing them tends to slow metabolism.

• Medications: If your family friend has ever taken corticosteroids for a skin condition, you’ve probably seen the effects some medicines can have on weight. Some medications that we give our dogs can increase their appetite or slow their metabolism.
• Inactivity: If you don’t move as much, you don’t burn as much. Dogs that are inactive due to injury or unwillingness to exercise will gain weight, especially if they’re still eating the number of calories that an active dog would need.
• Overeating: This one is often on us. We tend to ‘love’ our pups with food and indulge and treat them with calories that they just don’t need.

How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

1. You need to first access their caloric intake

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as saying your dog needs X amount of calories per day. Rather, you need to look at their activity level, age, and whether they’ve been spayed or neutered to calculate their caloric needs ^[2]. Once you know how many calories they need per day, feed them that many. All brands should list the number of calories per cup so you can easily figure out how much food to give.

2. Another option is to look at labels

They will have a recommended feeding guideline for dogs of different weights. These guidelines will be given in a range to take different activity levels into account. See where the amount that you’re feeding your dog stacks up to what you should be providing. Most of us don’t realize that we’re giving our pups more than the recommended amount. You should always measure food and divide it between meals per day rather than free-feeding them.

3. Your next option is to feed your dog less of their food

To promote weight loss, you should feed your dog for the weight that they should be at, not the importance they currently are. For example, if your pet weighs 40 pounds (18.14 kg) and needs to weigh 30, feed them the amount that a 30-pound should get, not a 40-pound.

4. Diet is only half of the journey, exercise needs to be included as well

Exercise will promote weight loss more quickly and encourage lean muscle growth. Just like in people, start your dog’s exercise program out slowly and gradually build up to more and more time each day. Look for low-impact activities, such as walking or swimming, to help protect those joints.

5. Choose the most suitable options

The real benefit behind these foods is that they will provide complete nutrition with fewer calories so that you don’t have to skimp on meal sizes-something that some dogs just won’t tolerate!

How to Choose the Right Dog Food for Weight Loss

What makes food suitable for weight loss? Again, weight loss dog foods should be higher than average in protein and lower than average in fat and calories. That way, they can still provide the nutrition and energy that dogs need without creating excess fat stores. They are usually higher in fiber and act as a filler to keep a tummy full for longer.

Lower than average calories means you should look for food that’s 400 or fewer calories per cup. Some weight loss foods are actually under 300 calories per cup. And protein levels should be in the high 20s, or better yet, 30 percentages. Also, fat should be in the single digits percentage-wise.

Besides these nutrition levels, you need to make sure the food you choose is complete and balanced. Look for the AAFCO stamp that ensures that food meets healthy dogs’ nutritional requirements ^[3]. This will make sure that all needed vitamins and minerals are covered.

An added benefit that you can look for in a weight loss dog food is enrichment with omega fatty acids and glucosamine to aid in joint health and probiotics to promote healthy digestion. This will ensure that your dog will maintain overall health while traveling down the weight loss road.

Finally, you need to make sure your dog’s weight loss food tastes good. We’re all well aware that human diet foods don’t always taste as great as the alternatives. Diet is the same. Fiber tends to not be tasty, so the higher the fiber, the more minor the taste. Ensure that the brand of weight loss food you choose is appealing to your pet, or they’re not going to eat it, and you’re going to have more troubles on your hands.

Also, make sure that you can afford it. Dog foods for weight loss may be pricier than their regular versions, and your family friend may be on this food for a long time, depending on how much weight they need to loss. Choose a variety that is affordable and easy to get your hands on.

READ MORE: Signs that your Dog is getting old

Conclusion

It’s all too common that our friend gets a little too heavy without us really realizing it. And there’s no doubt that maintaining a healthy weight is better for all health and longevity aspects. If you need a little help getting your dog to reach their weight loss goals, look into the corresponding options. These foods will provide all the nutrition that your canine companion craves without extra fat and calories. The proper diet mixed with a bit of boost in exercise will have your pup back on the healthy track in no time.

Article Sources:

1. “Body and Muscle Condition Score.” American Animal Hospital Association, aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/life-stage-canine-2019/nutritional-assessment/body-and-muscle-condition-score/
2. “Basic Calorie Calculator.” Veterinary Medical Center, vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/basic-calorie-calculator
3. “The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Is a Voluntary Membership Association of Local, State and Federal Agencies Charged by Law to Regulate the Sale and Distribution of Animal Feeds and Animal Drug Remedies.” The Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2 Nov. 2020, aafco.org/