Keep your dog’s weight in check! Read on to learn the best diet dog food.
Introduction
Are you aware that you may be literally killing your pooch with kindness? Those occasional treats that you keep feeding him may fool you into thinking that all is well. But, in reality, you are just creating a recipe for disaster. Before you know it, he’ll be weighing 70 lb. And, make no mistake—having an overweight dog is no small thing. It can cause permanent damage to his internal organs, joints, and bones.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reports that up to 54% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight. What is worrying is that this proportion does not seem to be decreasing. Excess weight takes a toll on your dog’s body as it does on humans. And, while some of the adverse effects that result from obesity can be reversed, some remain for life.
Thankfully, you can keep tabs on your mutt’s weight by exercising and giving him a proper diet.
Ideally, his diet should have more protein and fewer calories. A high protein diet works well because it leads to satiety and combats muscle loss. In this discussion, we look at the best dog food for weight loss.
At a Glance: Our Choices for the Best Diet Dog Food
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*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.
Reviews of the Best Weight Management Dog Food
If your dog is overweight, we recommend that you switch to these low-calorie options.
Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
Our Rating
We gave Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Formula a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Review
Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight is manufactured in the United States. It is one of the best low-calorie dog foods from a well-known pet brand. The good thing about this food is that it features a low-fat formula, created without additional calories from fats. This way, you can rest assured that your dog will have better weight control.
Satiety is one of the greatest concerns for most dog breeds. Naturally, dogs are big eaters and minimizing the amounts of their foods can turn out to be detrimental to their health. To assure satiety, Blue Buffalo has incorporated several vegetables that are rich in fiber. This food also helps to sustain your dog’s energy levels thanks to the inclusion of a carbohydrate.
Pros
- Enriched with L-carnitine for enhancing bone mass and brain functioning
- Also contains amino acids that can aid your dog to gain muscle mass
- Fruits boost the amount of fiber and vitamins
Cons
- It’s not entirely grain-free
Our Rating
Our Rating for the Reduced Fat Formula by Wellness CORE is 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Review
Wellness Core Reduced Fat recipe is another ideal weight control dog food. It is rich in quality proteins, which are obtained from the deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, and chicken liver.
Manufactured in the US, this protein-focused dog food also provides your dog with healthy fat sources. This results from the inclusion of chicken fat and salmon oil. The benefit of these two ingredients is that they provide just the right amount of calories to sustain your dog’s energy without adding in excess weight.
If you have an obese pooch, the highly-recommended diets are low-fat dog foods, natural dog foods and grain-free dog foods. The Wellness Core Reduced Fat Formula combines all three in one package.
The manufacturer recommends transitioning to this dog food gradually. Ideally, you should introduce this product in stages over a period of 5 to 7 days. Remember to increase the amount every day. If you decide to rush through the transition process, you had better brace yourself for dog farts!
Pros
- Decent pricing
- Enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin to improve your dog’s joints and bone health
- Grain-free and low in carbohydrates
Cons
- Some dogs vomit after taking the Reduced Formula
Our Rating
We rated Natural Balance Ultra Reduced Formula at 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Review
If you’ve been looking for the best diet dog food, the Ultra Reduced Formula by Natural Balance fits that bill. It’s a low-fat recipe that is specially formulated for overweight, older, and less active dogs that may have difficulty managing their weight. More specifically, this product has about 17% fewer calories per cup compared to the Natural Balance Ultra-Premium Dog Food.
Since its establishment is 1989, Natural Balance has remained a reputable brand in the dog food market. The company subjects every batch of their dog foods and treats through nine safety tests. Nature Balance works with a crew of microbiologists and chemists, who guarantee that each of their recipes meets the most demanding standards.
This formula features quality meats obtained from chicken, salmon meal and lamb meal. It is also fortified with fruits and veggies that aid in weight management.
Pros
- Has added carrots that are excellent sources of vitamin A and beta-carotene.
- Oatmeal provides carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin E, and thiamin
- Fresh potatoes provide potassium and are highly digestible
- Contains essential fatty acids that give your pooch a healthy and shiny coat
Cons
- Not suitable for puppies
For an in-depth review of Natural Balance Ultra Reduced Formula by Chewy.com, visit
Our Rating
Our rating for Royal Canin Low-Fat dog food is out of 5 stars.
Review
If you’ve been looking for an affordable, yet quality low-calorie dog food, then Royal Canin Vet Diet is just what you need. It has minimal fat and helps with gastrointestinal problems. Given that it’s highly-digestible, tasty, and well-balanced, feeding this product to your dog will be a breeze.
What we liked most about the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet is its low-fat concentration. With this dog food, your pup will still have sufficient amounts of energy to go about his activities. It also features proteins that are easy for your dog to digest.
Pros
- Filled with healthy fats for a shiny coat
- Enriched with prebiotics, EPA and DHA that boost your dog’s digestive system
- Low fiber content enhances absorption of nutrients
Cons
- Pricey
Our Rating
We gave Purina Pro Plan Focus Weight Management Formula a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Review
The last product on our list is the Pro Plan Weight Management Dog Food. It is helpful to pet owners trying to keep their dogs at a healthy weight. Pro Plan Focus is made with real chicken, a high protein source. The presence of proteins aids in weight management as it keeps your dog feeling satiated for a long period.
This product is also fortified with essential nutrients such as omega fatty acids, EPA, and glucosamine. And, while these elements may not have a direct impact on weight loss, they will support your dog’s overall health. The Pro Plan Weight Management has a lower fat content than other Pro Plan product lines.
Pros
- The glucosamine supports joint health and mobility
- The fat content maintains ideal weight and body condition
- Natural prebiotic fiber, which is obtained from wheat bran enhances digestive health
Cons
- Some dog breeds experience temporary side effects such as loose stools
Conclusion
Obesity can bring along a ton of other health conditions including arthritis, respiratory problems, diabetes, and heart disease. You should always keep your dog’s weight in check through exercise and a proper diet.
Many dogs become overweight because of eating too much or feeding on high-calorie dog foods. Thankfully, you can control both of these factors by portioning his meals and investing in the best diet dog food. If your pooch is already obese, you can reverse this problem by switching to the foods highlighted in our review. However, remember to transition slowly to prevent side effects.
