Weight management involves switching to dog foods for weight loss. Just like in humans, gaining weight is quite common in the doggo world.
If left unattended, the gain in weight predisposes pets to several health problems hence reducing the quality of life of our beloved buddies. Weight management measures involve regular exercising and proper feeding.
If your canine friend has gained weight, it’s high time you switch to food specially formulated to aid in weight loss. The best dog foods for weight loss are an effective solution to canine obesity.
The market is flooded with food suggestions that help in weight loss but we have rounded up the top 5 best dog foods for weight loss to help you get the good stuff. Let’s jump straight to our top picks!
1)Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog
Reward your sidekick with this flavorful delicacy from Eagle Pack. Packaged with lesser fat content than the original formulas, this dog food ranks top among our best dog foods for weight loss.
It is made for pooches that are less active or overweight. Its lower calorie count makes it easy for your dog to lose some weight with no compromise on nutrition value.
Pork, chicken and fish provide fat converted to energy to enable your dog to strut around. Pork has amino acids essential for dog nutrition in great sufficiency. Dog foods with pork are rich in thiamine, popularly referred to as vitamin B1, that supports cell function. Pork is also great for dogs that suffer stomach complications such as bloating and constipation.
Fish-based dog foods are rich in omega fatty acids for healthy skin. Fish is also flavorful bringing to the bowl a highly nutritious irresistible meal. Combined, these three animal proteins will give your dog the energy and nutrition he needs during the implementation of the weight loss plan. Carbohydrate levels are also expertly balanced to help your dog in his weight loss agenda.
Support from various plant ingredients boosts levels of amino and omega acids, vitamins, minerals and fiber for optimal body organs functioning. This dog food is naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols to deliver fresh ingredients for your pup to gobble up.
What we Like
- Derives protein from animal sources to support lean muscle form
- Antioxidant support to boost immune defenses
- Contains lower fat and calorie content than Eagle Pack Original formulas
- Expertly balanced ingredients for optimal nutrition in the body
- Naturally preserved dog food
2) Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Canned Dog Food
Help your best friend melt off some weight with this canned food from Purina Pro Plan. This is among the best dog foods for weight loss that delivers high protein levels in delicious chunks covered in a tasty gravy.
From these protein-rich chunks, healthy muscles are formed and fatty acids are released as well for beautiful skin that you will enjoy scratching and running your fingers through.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Canned Dog Food focuses on attainment and retainment of healthy body weight for all breed sizes. This meal is complete and balanced with the inclusion of prebiotic fiber in the chunks to smoothen out the digestion process.
This Purina Pro Plan Food is a great choice for dogs struggling with excess weight in their bodies. With its vast experience in pet food production, this brand can be trusted to deliver great results.
What we Like
- Contains delicious high protein chunks
- Complete and balanced with antioxidants and prebiotic fiber for strong immune and digestion systems
- Is a reduced fat formula for healthy weight loss
- Wet dog food suitable for all breeds
- Artificial fillers free dog food
3) Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
Instinct Raw Boost prides itself on the production of minimally processed dog foods made to bring out the best in your four-legged companion. Freeze-dried meat from chicken is combined with grain-free ingredients to produce high protein kibble for energy and lean muscle mass.
This kibble is one of the best dog foods for weight loss and is loaded with L-carnitine that maximizes fats amount burned and boosts overall body health.
The inclusion of fiber-rich ingredients keeps your pet’s tummy full for longer times thereby reducing the number of times he gets to feed which helps him lose some weight in the process. This dog food offers complete nutrition that features fewer fats in comparison to other Instinct Raw Boost recipes.
Consumption of this raw food is great for the skin, digestion, activity, and ideal for sensitive stomachs. Made in a safe environment with quality ingredients, this is a go-to option for dog weight loss.
What we Like
- Contains freeze-dried raw meat rich in protein for energy and strong muscles
- Loaded with L-carnitine for optimal weight shedding
- Has less content than other Instinct Raw Boost recipes
- Minimally processed to avoid distorting nutrients in ingredients
- Made without grains
4) Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
Featuring next in our best dog foods for weight loss recommendations is this product from Blue Buffalo that is made especially for adult dogs. It uses natural ingredients purchased from local farms.
The food starts its recipe with real meat such as chicken. The ingredients in this dog food have low-calorie content to prevent unnecessary weight gain.
Blue Buffalo foods are made with the inclusion of unique Life Source Bits. These are a precise blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are carefully combined by a team of expert vets and animal nutritionists for good health in dogs.
This diet is grain-free and does not have artificial fillers that could trigger allergic reactions in your dog. Try this food and watch your doggie grow slimmer and stronger.
What we Like
- Starts with real meat as the key ingredient
- Uses ingredients low in calories and fat to maintain healthy body weight
- Made with LifeSource Bits for a healthy body
- Made with natural ingredients from local farms
- Gluten and grain-free dry dog food
5) Wellness Complete Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
This dry dog food carefully combines quality ingredients to help your pooch lose excess fat while retaining his muscle tone. Premium protein from deboned chicken maintains healthy muscles and is rich in glucosamine for a strong skeletal structure. Peas are a very important part of the dog diet for various reasons. They add up to the bulk of amino acids from animal protein.
Secondly, they have many vitamins that have high antioxidant levels to boost immunity. Peas contain essential dietary fiber that helps in the churning of food in the digestive tract.
Manganese from peas promotes healthy cartilage for good joints. Foods made with peas have a low glycemic index that helps control weight gain by minimizing appetite through regulated blood sugar in the body.
This is a well-balanced meal fortified with vitamins and minerals from wholesome grains for whole-body health. For example, the peas in the food have iron and are chock full of fiber essential for digestion.
Omega fatty acids from animal sources are backed by those drawn from plants to give your dog lustrous shiny skin. When searching for the best dog foods for weight loss, look no further than the Wellness Complete Healthy Weight dry dog food.
What we Like
- Uses deboned chicken as the first ingredient
- Formulated with low-calorie ingredients
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals from wholesome grains for whole-body health
- Glucosamine is added for strong bones
- Dry dog food suitable for small to large breed sizes
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Characteristics of Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss
Numerous dog foods are marketed for weight loss but not all of them are good choices. Here are some of the attributes to look out for when choosing the best dog foods for weight loss.
Lower Caloric Content
Ideally, weight loss dog foods have lower calories than regular foods. While the foods provide the same amount of bulk as regular food, the calorie density is lower compared to normal food.
The best dog foods for weight loss have a higher fiber content. Fiber contains fewer useable calories and keeps your dog full. Another adjustment to the weight loss dog foods formula is incorporating high protein levels and low-fat levels. Decreasing the amount of fat in the diet helps reduce caloric content. The increased protein levels ensure your pup gets the necessary nutrition.
Flavorsome
Picking low-calorie and low-fat dog food is easy. However, there is more to consider when picking the right weight-loss dog food. The best dog foods for weight loss must be delicious to appeal to your pet’s palate.
If the food isn’t appealing to your dog, he or she may stop eating altogether. No one wants that, right? Look for dog food made with delectable high-quality proteins and fats to avert hunger strikes.
Complete and Balanced Nutrition
The goal of switching to weight loss dog foods is to help shed off the excess fat that has built up in your pup’s body. This doesn’t mean you sacrifice proper nutrition in the process.
While the best dog foods for weight loss have below-average calories and low-fat content, they should still provide balanced nutrition to the pooch. The food must provide adequate vitamins, minerals and other nutrients essential for a healthy life.
Important Additions
Some of the best dog foods for weight loss are fortified with probiotics. Probiotics supplement the normal flora in the digestive system and are important in maintaining a healthy gut.
A healthy gut can operate effectively and so your pup is able to digest food properly. Besides, probiotics help reduce the chances of intestinal upsets when switching to weight-loss dog food.
Read: How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight
What Causes Canine Obesity
Numerous reasons cause weight gain in pups. Here are some of the most common players:
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Overfeeding
Dog food contains calories and feeding your pooch too much food means an intake of a lot of calories. Nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats are rich in calories. When a dog takes in more calories than it burns during physical activities and other vital functions, the surplus calories are utilized in another way.
Mostly, the excess calories are converted to fats and stored in the body. This homeostatic control is meant to provide energy reserve in the event the body requires energy later on.
However, when a dog is overfed, the stored energy is not used by the time he or she is having the next meal. Continued overfeeding results in excess storage of fats in the body causing obesity.
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Minimal Exercise
Physical exercise is one of the ways through which dogs burn their calories. Whether it is a walk or play in the garden, physical exercise is important in a pet’s weight management.
Failure to exercise your pup inhibits energy output from the consumed food. The outcome of this is a buildup of fat in the body that eventually leads to canine obesity. Exercise also enhances muscle and bone health making it key to a healthy doggo.
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Genetics
Too much food and little or no exercise are preventable but genetic predisposition are out of our control. Pundits have shown that some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to gaining weight.
Breeds like Beagles, Rough Collies, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs are more likely to gain weight even when feed right and exercised regularly. To help manage a healthy weight keep your pup physically stimulated and stick to a healthy feeding plan.
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Problems Associated with Dog Obesity
No matter the dog breed, weight gain is accompanied by health issues that negatively affect the quality of life. Here are some of the problems that may arise from weight gain:
- Joint Problems. As the pup packs more pounds it exerts extra weight on the joints which impair mobility. The extra weight causes wear and tear on the joints. Torn joints aggravate problems such as arthritis and Hip Dysplasia.
- Diabetes Mellitus. High-fat content in the body increases the risk of contracting diabetes mellitus. Continued intake of carbohydrates increases the blood sugar levels and when the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin to metabolize the sugar the dog suffers from diabetes. The build-up of fat in the body causes insulin resistance and also marks the onset of Diabetes. Diabetes is a problem because it leads to impaired nerve function, kidney problems and shortens the life of your canine.
- Cardiovascular Problems. Canine obesity results in the deposition of fat droplets in blood vessels. The fat deposits form lesions on the inner walls of arteries which affects circulation in the body. If the coronary artery is compromised by these lesions, the cardiac muscles do not get enough blood. This means they don’t receive the fuel needed for contractions. This causes heart failure. Moreover, increased body weight puts stress on the heart leading to inefficient blood circulation. The stress may cause congestive heart failure which is fatal.
- Labored Breathing. A fat build-up in the dog’s body interferes with the muscles of the breathing system namely the diaphragm. When the diaphragm can’t function effectively, your dog will have difficulties when breathing. As a result of the labored breathing, body tissues won’t receive enough oxygen causing fatigue and lethargy.
- Unhealthy Skin and Coat. Beneath the skin is an adipose tissue made of fat globules. The subcutaneous fat plays important role in keeping the skin glossy and the coat radiant. Too much fat in the body affects the pad as it causes skin folds. The creases can harbor dirt and oils that increase the risk of skin infections.
- Steatohepatitis. This is fatty liver disease. Like in other animals, the liver is an important organ that ensures proper metabolism and healthy life. In obese dogs, the liver may lose its ability to metabolize the chemicals the dog consumes. Impaired liver function leaves your dog miserable as other health problems creep in.
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Conclusion
Helping your canine friend shed a few pounds is pretty simple. When you decide to switch to a weight-loss feeding plan, we recommend the best dog foods for weight loss above.
To maximize weight loss in your pooch, increase the amount of exercise, stop feeding treats, stop feeding your pup human food and consult your vet for additional assistance. Which one of these weight-loss dog foods will try first?