What Is The Best Weight Loss Food For Dogs?

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that as many as 59% of dogs in the United States are either overweight or obese. While this extra weight puts dogs at serious risk of many health conditions, the good news is that this issue is often easy to fix. One of the first steps for dog parents is to find the best weight loss food for dogs. Let’s explore food options and other tips for keeping your dog’s weight in check.

 

Is Your Dog Overweight?

The easiest way to determine if your dog is overweight is to ask your veterinarian, but you also can find weight calculators online where you enter your dog’s breed, size and age. This will let you know whether or not your dog’s weight falls within a healthy range and how much weight your dog needs to lose.

 

You also can physically evaluate your pup by checking the following (in addition to weighing your dog):

• Rib Check: Gently run your hands along your dog’s sides. You should be able to feel their ribs with a slight layer of fat covering them, but they shouldn’t be hidden under a thick layer of fat. If you can’t easily feel their ribs, it could be a sign your dog is overweight.
• Waistline: Look at your dog from above. They should have a visible waist that is narrower than their chest and hips. If the waist is not defined or the sides bulge out, your dog may be overweight.
• Abdominal Tuck: When viewed from the side, the area behind your dog’s ribcage (the abdomen) should tuck up toward the hind legs. If the belly hangs down or there is little to no tuck, it’s a potential indicator of excess weight.

 

What Is The Best Food For Overweight Dogs?

Although dogs and humans have different nutritional needs, the same weight loss strategies typically apply for both, a combination of dietary adjustments and increased physical activity. Let’s tackle the dietary adjustments first.

 

As veterinarians, we recommend that you feed your dog a low-calorie, low-fat dog food derived from high-quality, whole-food ingredients. Whether your dog is overweight, underweight or at their ideal weight, the food you select for them is crucial. Every ingredient in their food should support their overall health.

 

With that in mind, we strongly recommend avoiding any type of heavily processed dog food, including kibble and canned food. Essentially, feeding kibble and canned dog food to your dog is comparable to a human eating a steady diet of processed junk food.

 

Kibble contains a plethora of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives and typically very high levels of sodium. Kibble mostly contains cheap filler ingredients such as soy, corn and wheat, none of which pack a solid nutritional punch. Additionally, the types of protein added to canned food and kibble are the absolute worst, low-quality meats, often from diseased animals.

 

Kibble is easy and it’s certainly less expensive than quality human-grade fresh dog food, but it’s full of cheap ingredients and empty calories and, in the long run, you may pay more for quality food, but you also are far more likely to save money at the veterinarian’s office. More importantly, your sweet dog will enjoy a healthier and happier life when fed a diet of high-quality foods designed specifically to support their unique health needs.

 

Did you know that in the Hawaiian language, one who has an animal companion is not known as an “owner,” but rather as a Kahu? This roughly translates to caregiver, protector or guardian. We love this term because it truly encapsulates the honor we have as caretakers of these amazing animals who give us so much. As your dog’s Kahu, you have the responsibility to keep them safe, loved and healthy.

 

Manage Weight With Holistic Dog Food

At Chi Dog, we offer five unique diets (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water), designed by veterinarians and based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Essentially, these principles ensure that your dog’s diet matches their unique health needs.

 

For instance, you may be searching for the best weight loss foods for dogs, but you also might need a sensitive stomach dog food or perhaps a food for dogs with pancreatitis or a dog food for kidney disease or a dog food for liver disease or Cushing’s disease, etc.

 

Our best dog food for overweight dogs is our Earth Diet. This is a tasty, vegetarian low carb dog food that contains organic chicken egg, tofu, sweet potato, spinach, green peas and mushroom. These ingredients are low in calories, yet still provide all of the nutritional support your dog needs.

 

This is also a good, gentle option if you’ve been searching for dog food for a sensitive stomach or dog food for liver disease. We also recommend this diet to help dogs heal from ligament injuries and as a dog food for seizures. This is also an excellent option for puppies.

 

Of course, if your dog has additional health issues, another of our diet plans might be a better fit. For instance, if you need a low fat dog food for pancreatitis or your dog suffers from allergies, heart disease, Cushing’s disease or anxiety, our Fire Diet can be a great option. If your dog is overweight, you can simply adjust the amount of food to supply them with the calories they need to reduce their weight.

 

Keep in mind, that while the Earth Diet is an excellent choice, most of our diets can be used as weight management dog food.  Our Metal Diet, however, was designed to help dogs that need to gain weight, so this might not be the best option for an obese dog. Again, you can adjust the amounts, but this is meant to be a hearty meal for underweight dogs. It’s also a low carb dog food, which can be ideal for dogs with diabetes and chronic constipation.

 

Treats: A Source Of Not-So-Hidden Calories

Dogs love treats, but if your dog is overweight or obese, it is recommended that you cut back on these tasty morsels. In general, as veterinarians, we suggest avoiding all processed treats and instead providing an occasional low-calorie piece of whole food, such as a tidbit of melon or perhaps a blueberry or a tiny piece of organic carrot. These are unprocessed and provide some nutritional support.

 

Add Some Physical Exercise

Just like humans, dogs need daily exercise, and engaging in physical activities will benefit both of you. Regular exercise helps keep dogs healthy, prevent obesity, and reduce behavioral issues, but it's important to tailor their activity level to their unique needs. Here are some general guidelines.

 

1. Low-Energy Breeds

Recommended Exercise: 30 to 60 minutes per day.

Examples: Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, Shih Tzus.

These breeds are typically less active and do well with moderate exercise, like short walks and light play sessions.

 

2. Medium-Energy Breeds

Recommended Exercise: 1 to 1.5 hours per day.

Examples: Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Beagles.

These dogs enjoy a balance of daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation.

 

3. High-Energy Breeds

Recommended Exercise: 2 hours or more per day.

Examples: Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds.

High-energy breeds thrive with vigorous activities like running, hiking, agility training, or playing fetch.

 

4. Puppies & Young Dogs

Young dogs need shorter bursts of exercise throughout the day due to their developing bodies and high energy. Frequent play sessions, training, and short walks are ideal (20 minutes or less). Exercise should be adjusted based on their growth stage and breed-specific needs.

 

5. Senior Dogs

Senior dogs may require less strenuous exercise due to joint health or other medical conditions. Gentle walks, low-impact play, and mental enrichment activities are beneficial.

 

For instance, you might enjoy a short walk in the morning and evening and provide your dog with a gentle game of fetch or perhaps enjoy some nose work or scent games to keep their minds active and alert and keep them moving, which can prevent stiff muscles and joints. Dog yoga and stretching exercises also can be beneficial for these older pooches, as well.

 

Important Considerations

• Mental Exercise: Mental stimulation, such as puzzle toys, training sessions, or scent games, is just as important as physical exercise, especially for working breeds.
• Health Issues: Always adjust exercise routines based on your dog’s health and consult your vet for personalized advice.

 

Switch Your Dog’s Diet Today

Whether you opt to purchase Chi Dog or another brand, the most important factor should always be the quality of the food provided for your dog. A highly-processed weight management dog food might help a dog reach their target weight, but it’s still not a great option to consider.

 

Another option is to create homemade dog food for weight management, and you can use our diet plans as a guide. We do offer a vitamin and mineral supplement that you can sprinkle on the homemade food to ensure that all of your dog’s nutritional needs are met. We recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about the proper portion size you will need to provide for a weight loss plan as well as the amount needed to maintain a healthy weight once that goal is met.

 

Chi Dog, however, provides a convenient option for dog parents and we ship holistically crafted meals straight to your door. If you’ve been searching for the best weight loss food for dogs, we offer the highest quality ingredients to fully support all of your dog’s health needs. Click on the Get Started tab to determine which diet is the best fit for your dog, and please let us know if you have any questions about our meal options.