Gaining a few extra pounds might not seem like a lot to us, but just a small amount of weight gain in dogs can lead to big health problems. You can help your dog maintain a healthy weight by feeding them the best dog food for weight loss. Veterinarians also recommend portion control and age-appropriate exercise.
If your dog needs to shed some extra weight, our picks for weight loss dog foods are a good place to start. We spoke to veterinarians and reviewed dozens of recipes to find options with the nutritional profiles and ingredients that support weight control. One of the best overall foods, Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Turkey and Rice Entree, is a low-fat formula that’s high in moisture and fiber to help your dog feel full.
All of our recommendations meet veterinarian-recommended nutrition standards from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and align with the Global Nutrition Guidelines from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). While the veterinarians we consulted didn’t recommend specific foods, their input guides us in making selections.
Keep in mind that veterinarians don’t recommend weight loss diets for puppies. Instead, Dr. Mark Freeman, a veterinarian and clinical associate professor of community practice at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends increasing their physical activity. Our experts say dogs need one hour of daily exercise, broken into short sessions based on their age, health, and abilities. Your vet can recommend the best exercise routine for your dog.
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Highlights for the best dog food for weight loss
Best wet: Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Turkey and Rice – See at Chewy
Best dry: Nutro Healthy Weight Adult 1+ Years Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe – See at Chewy
Best for seniors: Iams Proactive Health Healthy Aging Chicken and Whole Grain – See at Chewy
Best for large breeds: Merrick Healthy Weight Real Chicken and Brown Rice – See at Chewy
Best for small breeds: Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Small and Mini Adult Chicken – See at Chewy
Best fresh: JustFoodForDogs Veterinary Diet Metabolic Support – See at JustFoodForDogs
Best wet
Purina; Chewy/Business Insider
You can help your dog lose weight by ensuring they drink plenty of water, which makes them feel full, says Dr. Nancy Welborn, a veterinarian and associate professor of community practice at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In fact, many of the best dog foods for weight loss contain a small amount of salt because it encourages dogs to drink more water.
Another way to increase your dog’s water intake is to give them wet dog food, which contains 75% to 78% moisture. In contrast, dry foods contain only 10% to 12% moisture. However, Welborn says wet food typically costs more and tends to contain more fat than dry food, so it may not be ideal for every dog.
To compare the nutritional values of wet and dry pet foods, you’ll need to convert the wet food values to a dry matter basis, which reflects the nutrient content once all moisture has been removed. You can follow the instructions provided by the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, contact the food manufacturer, or ask your veterinarian for help.
The high-moisture foods below include lean proteins and healthy carbohydrates. We also took fat content into account for each food, in line with the advice of the veterinarians we spoke to. Our selections contain a maximum of 13.48% fat on a dry matter basis, which is lower than many of the best dog foods.
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Turkey and Rice Entree
Turkey, liver, and chicken are the main proteins in this prescription weight loss food. Carbohydrates include wheat gluten, rice, and cornstarch. Beneficial extras include vitamin E supplements. The nutritional breakdown is 50% protein, 11% fat, 8% fiber, and 299 kcal per 13-ounce can (23 kcal per ounce).
Royal Canin Weight Care
Pork byproducts, pork liver, chicken liver, and chicken are the main proteins in this recipe, while wheat flour and powdered cellulose provide fiber. Healthy extras include L-carnitine, dried plain beet pulp, and niacin. The nutritional breakdown is 50.58% protein, 13.48% fat, and 16.86% fiber. This food contains 263 kcal per 13.5-ounce can (19.48 kcal per ounce).
Best dry
Nutro; Hill’s/Business Insider
Successful weight loss depends on several factors, including your dog’s breed, age, lifestyle, and what and how you feed them. Freeman says both wet and dry food have their pros and cons, so there is no general preference for one over the other when it comes to weight management.
However, a study found that obese dogs may be more likely to lose weight on dry food diets. The researchers acknowledge the limitations of their small study size — 143 dogs — but suggest pet parents may find it easier to control portions of dry food. Regardless of whether you choose wet or dry food, measuring the food on a kitchen scale will get you the most accurate portion sizes, says Dr. Julie Churchill, a veterinary nutritionist and professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
Freeman says that most weight management diets for dogs have more fiber and fewer carbohydrates and fats compared to other diets. The best dry dog foods below include both soluble and insoluble fiber sources, such as brown rice, beet pulp, and oats. Welborn says insoluble fiber helps keep your pup feeling full, while soluble fiber promotes a healthy digestive system.
Nutro Healthy Weight Adult 1+ Years Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Chicken and chicken meal are the main protein sources in this weight-management food. Standout carbohydrates include rice bran, whole grain brown rice, and whole grain barley. Healthy extras include powdered cellulose and dried plain beet pulp. With 24% protein, 8% fat, 11% fiber, and 232 kcal per cup, this food is ideal for overweight dogs that need to lose weight.
Hill’s Science Diet Light Adult 1-6 Chicken Meal, Barley, and Rice Recipe
Chicken meal is the lean protein source in this feed-trial tested food. Carbohydrates include cracked pearled barley, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, brewers rice, and whole grain oats. Beneficial additions include powdered cellulose, dried beet pulp, and L-lysine. The food contains 25.3% protein, 8.1% fat, 12.2% fiber, and 243 kcal per cup.
Best for seniors
Hill’s; Iams/Business Insider
Churchill says one of the best things you can do for your senior dog is help them maintain a healthy weight and lean body condition. This can significantly reduce the risk and severity of age-related health conditions like arthritis and may extend the life of your beloved pet.
However, senior dogs may have a harder time staying at their ideal weight. As dogs age, their metabolism slows and energy levels decline, increasing their risk of obesity, Freeman says. When choosing a senior diet, he recommends foods that contain no more than 30% high-quality, easily digestible protein, such as fish and fish meals, venison, and chicken, to avoid putting strain on the kidneys — unless otherwise advised by your veterinarian. He also says senior weight management diets should have lower levels of fat, phosphorus, and sodium compared to typical adult formulas.
Welborn says the best foods for senior dogs who need to lose weight often incorporate ingredients that boost metabolism, allowing for larger portion sizes than some other foods. For instance, our weight management pick from Hill’s contains L-carnitine, an amino acid that helps convert fat into energy.
Iams ProActive Health Healthy Aging Mature 7+ Chicken and Whole Grain Recipe
Chicken, chicken byproduct meal, dried egg product, and chicken fat make up the proteins in this senior food. Main carbohydrate sources include ground barley, ground whole grain corn, and carrots. Beneficial additions include marine microalgae for omega fatty acids, L-lysine, prebiotics, and L-carnitine. The food contains 24% protein, 10.5% fat, 5% fiber, and 349 kcal per cup.
Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Adult Hearty Vegetable and Chicken Stew
Pork liver and chicken are the main protein sources in this food. Carbohydrate sources include carrots, green peas, rice, spinach, and wheat gluten. Beneficial additions to this food include powdered cellulose, L-lysine, L-carnitine, beta-carotene, niacin, and omega fatty acids. The food contains 29% protein, 12.1% fat, 11.9% fiber, and 247 kcal per 12.5-ounce can (19.8 kcal per ounce).
Best for large breeds
Merrick; Nutro/Business Insider
Large breed dogs are particularly prone to joint and bone diseases, making it even more crucial for them to maintain a healthy body condition throughout their lives. Welborn says large breed puppies need food with the right balance of phosphorus, calcium, and fat. As they transition into adulthood, Freeman says even a small amount of weight gain can increase the risk of health issues, such as diabetes, endocrine diseases, and joint diseases. Foods specially developed for large breed adult dogs typically contain more omega fatty acids than other dog foods, which may help prevent or alleviate joint and bone conditions.
When selecting the best dog food for weight loss for a large breed pup, our experts recommend foods that are high in fiber and low in fat. Our picks also have a bigger kibble size, as Welborn says large dogs may eat smaller kibble too quickly, leading to discomfort and vomiting. Additionally, the weight loss picks below have healthy extras, like glucosamine and chondroitin, to support the bones and joints.
Nutro Large Breed Healthy Weight Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Chicken and chicken meal are the main protein sources in this large breed recipe. Carbohydrate sources include whole grain sorghum, whole grain brown rice, split peas, kale, and spinach. Beneficial additions to this food include glucosamine, chondroitin, insoluble and soluble fiber, and vitamin E. The food contains 22% protein, 8.47% fat, 11% fiber, and 245 kcal per cup.
Merrick Healthy Weight Real Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Deboned chicken and chicken meal top the ingredient list of this food, along with brown rice, oatmeal, and quinoa. Healthy extras include vitamin E, L-carnitine, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. With 26% protein, 9% fat, and 10% fiber, this food is ideal for moderately active dogs with constipation or that need help maintaining a healthy weight. Each cup contains 385 kcal.
Best for small breeds
Chewy; Hill’s/Business Insider
Small breed dogs typically have a faster metabolism than other pups. However, Welborn says small dogs can still reach an unhealthy weight, and that, in fact, it is common among small breed dogs. “If you have a dog that weighs 10 pounds and you overfeed them, they’re going to get bigger faster,” she says.
Welborn adds that small breed dogs are prone to patellar luxation, diabetes, and heart disease, especially if they’re overweight. A scale called a body condition score (BCS) allows vets to determine if your pup has extra body fat. Our sources also recommend asking your vet to teach you how to assess BCS at home using this guidance from WSAVA.
No matter your dog’s BCS or breed, Welborn doesn’t recommend a grain-free diet due to its potential link to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Like our other weight management picks, the best dog foods for small dogs should be high in fiber and low in fat. Dry food options for small breeds should have small kibble for easy chewing.
Hill’s Perfect Weight Small and Mini Adult Chicken Recipe
Chicken and chicken meal are the main protein sources in this small breed weight management food. Carbohydrate sources include cracked pearl barley, brown rice, peas, corn, oats, carrots, apples, broccoli, and cranberries. Beneficial additions to this food include dried beet pulp, L-lysine, L-carnitine, and beta-carotene. The food contains 28.6% protein, 11.2% fat, 10.4% fiber, and 291 kcal per cup.
Royal Canin Weight Care Small Dog
Chicken byproduct meal is the main protein source in this recipe. Carbohydrate sources include corn, barley, and brewers rice. Beneficial additions to this food include dried plain beet pulp, powdered cellulose, powdered psyllium seed husk, and fish oil. The food contains 28% protein, 9% fat, 10% fiber, and 259 kcal per cup.
Best fresh
JustFoodForDogs/Business Insider
Treats, snacks, and table scraps can interfere with any pup’s weight management plan. “Educating pet parents concerning low-calorie options for treats and snacks and helping them understand just how many calories they offer daily can certainly help,” Freeman says. If your dog tends to beg for table snacks or a taste of whatever you’re having, you might consider a fresh food meal prepared by an animal nutrition expert as one possible solution.
Fresh dog foods are typically made from human-grade ingredients and cooked in a kitchen rather than prepared via high-pressure processing. They may cost more than processed options, it’s true — but you can have them conveniently delivered on a subscription basis to satisfy your dog’s love of table snacks.
The best fresh dog food recipes for weight loss provide balanced nutrition with lean protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, and fish. Our recommendation from JustFoodForDogs is specifically developed to keep your pup full between meals with whole psyllium husk.
Just Food For Dogs Veterinary Diet Metabolic Support
Turkey and beef liver are the main protein sources in this prescription fresh food. Carbohydrate sources include oats and butternut squash. Beneficial additions to this food include whole psyllium husk for fiber and marine micro algae oil as a source of omega fatty acids. The food contains 42.4% protein, 16.4% fat, 7.9% fiber, and 52 kcal per ounce.
What to look for in dog food for weight loss
The veterinarians we consulted recommend considering the following criteria when shopping for weight loss dog food.
AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for adult maintenance or all life stages: The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a nonprofit organization that recommends nutritional profiles based on an animal’s life stage. AAFCO doesn’t approve specific dog foods, but a dog food that meets AAFCO standards for maintenance or all life stages is complete and balanced to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. Churchill and Freeman say weight management diets aren’t appropriate for puppies, so you won’t find any foods for weight management labeled as meeting AAFCO’s nutritional standards for growth.
Ingredient list: Labels list ingredients by weight, so the first few ingredients generally make up most of the food’s weight. Our experts suggest looking for a few key ingredients in weight management diets, including salt to increase water intake, fiber to keep dogs feeling fuller for longer, and additives such as L-carnitine that may increase metabolic rate. While there are no particular ingredients to avoid, Dr. Emily Luisana, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and co-founder of Peak Veterinary Specialists, recommends avoiding grain-free diets. “Grain-free diets have been linked to DCM in dogs and the exact mechanism is still under investigation,” she says. She also recommends talking to your vet if you currently feed your dog a grain-free diet.
Guaranteed analysis: Adult dog food must have a minimum of 18% protein and 5.5% fat to fulfill a dog’s nutritional needs. Our experts say the best weight management diets for dogs are low in fat and high in fiber. You can find the nutritional content breakdown of a specific food by examining the guaranteed analysis on a bag or can or by contacting the manufacturer.
Healthy extras: Our picks for the best dog food for weight loss contain healthy extras, such as sources of beneficial fiber, ingredients that increase the metabolic rate, and those that support the joints. Examples of these include powdered cellulose, L-carnitine, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Calorie content: Simply decreasing the amount of food your dog eats may not lead to healthy weight loss. Instead, it could harm their health by causing nutritional deficiencies, Churchill says. Instead, your vet may recommend switching to food lower in calories but properly balanced with other important nutrients.
Breed-size formulation: Small and large breed seniors have different health risks and may require different calorie amounts and kibble sizes, according to our sources. Buying food specific to your pup’s size ensures they get a recipe formulated for their needs.
Feeding-trial tested vs. formulated foods: Some pet food labels will say the food is formulated to meet AAFCO’s nutritional standards for adult maintenance or all life stages or has undergone feed-trial testing. These labels confirm that the food meets or exceeds the recommended protein, fat, and nutrient requirements for adult dogs. While feed-trial testing is the gold standard for evaluating pet food, not all reputable companies can afford pet food feed-trial testing, Welborn says.
Expert formulations: In line with our expert’s recommendations, the dog foods we recommend meet the WSAVA guidelines. This means the pet food manufacturers not only meet various quality-control standards but also employ a full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist and perhaps a PhD-level animal nutritionist.
Next-level ingredients: Next-level ingredients refers to ingredients in dog food marketed as human-grade, organic, sustainably caught, or cage-free. For instance, our fresh food recommendation is made with next-level ingredients. Pet foods with these types of ingredients tend to cost more than others, but they allow you to support a pet food company that values social and environmental responsibility.
How we selected the best dog food for weight loss
We spoke with two board-certified veterinary nutritionists and two small animal veterinarians about weight management for dogs. They helped us understand the most effective — and healthiest — approach to weight loss in dogs and what to look for when choosing the best dog food for weight loss.
Dr. Nancy Welborn is a veterinarian and associate professor of community practice at the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating from LSU, Welborn practiced private veterinary medicine for livestock and companion animals before transitioning to emergency small animal critical veterinary and eventually returning to LSU to teach community practice.
Dr. Emily Luisana is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and co-founder of Peak Veterinary Specialists, which provides nutrition services to pet owners and veterinarians. Previously, she was a practicing clinical veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC. Luisana is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University. After several years of general practice, she pursued a clinical nutrition residency at NC State University and a fellowship in clinical nutrition at Blue Pearl Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas. Her clinical areas of interest include critical care nutrition, weight loss, homemade diets, and disease-state nutrition.
Dr. Julie Churchill is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and a professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing veterinary training at Michigan State University, Churchill pursued internal medicine and nutrition residencies and earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota. Her interests include seeing patients in the clinic, mentoring students, and finding more effective ways to teach nutrition and facilitate the integration of nutrition into the care of all patients by healthcare teams.
Dr. Mark Freeman is a board-certified veterinarian and associate clinical professor of community practice at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman is a graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests include animal behavior and molecular biology.
Our experts recommend choosing only pet foods that meet AAFCO nutritional standards. They also recommend purchasing foods from manufacturers that comply with WSAVA guidelines. This guide only includes complete and balanced foods that meet the nutritional needs of adults or all life stages.
Dog food for weight loss FAQs
What is the best thing to feed a dog to lose weight?
According to the veterinarians we consulted, the most effective weight loss diets for dogs have more fiber and fewer carbohydrates and fats than other diets. They may also incorporate ingredients that boost a pet’s metabolism, like L-carnitine. You’ll find this ingredient, which helps convert fat into energy, in many of our picks for the best dog food for weight loss.
Should I give my dog less food to lose weight?
If you reduce the amount of food you feed your dog to lower their calorie intake, you’re also decreasing the amount of other important nutrients they get. “If the calories are too restricted, pets are at risk of nutritional deficiencies,” Churchill says. “It’s much better to select new food that properly meets your pet’s needs.” Rewarding pups is important for bonding and training. Keep in mind, too, that rewarding pups is important for bonding and training. That’s why Churchill suggests talking to your vet about healthy treat options and appropriate quantities instead of cutting out treats entirely.
How can I get my dog to lose 10 pounds?
Your dog’s weight management plan depends on their breed size and current body condition. Churchill says dogs that are 10% to 15% over their ideal weight are slightly overweight and might benefit from lower calorie options or adjustments to their treats and snacks, along with increased exercise. However, if a pet is more than 15% to 20% above their healthy weight, a therapeutic (prescription food) plan is likely necessary, she says.