What To Look For In Weight Management Foods
When picking any kind of dog food, you should always look for high-quality ingredients, such as real meat proteins and recognizable foods. Its best to avoid options made with meat by-products, corn, BHT or BHA, corn syrup, artificial coloring or flavoring, soy and MSG.
For weight management dog foods, you should look for one thats high in protein and fiber.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula
First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, Barley, Ground Rice, Canola Meal, Oat Meal
It is made with nutrient-rich salmon as the first ingredient for a protein-rich recipe. Plus, it has prebiotic fiber for sensitive stomach for a highly-digestible formula that nourishes the beneficial bacteria found in your dog’s intestine.
This special recipe includes ingredients, such as rice and oat meal to provide easily digestible sources of carbohydrates for your pet. Plus, its packed with fish oila source of omega 3 fatty acidsto help support healthy joints and mobility, and omega 6 fatty acids and zinc to nourish your dog’s skin and keep his coat looking healthy. And best of all, its made without corn, wheat or soy.
This food is somewhat high in carbs, which is lowering the fat & protein content slightly, making it nutritionally less balanced compared to other dog food brands we evaluated.
Carbohydrates are not of excellent quality so they keep the foods cost low. They are nutritionally useful to dogs in the right amounts, however, high amounts of carbs can reduce the much-needed meat-based protein and fat content.
Dr Tims Premium Weight Management Pet Food
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
About: Dr. Tims Weight Management Food is specifically designed to help speed your dogs metabolism, thereby increasing her caloric needs. Despite featuring relatively few calories, this recipe is formulated to keep your dog full between meals, through the inclusion of several different fiber sources.
Features: Dr. Tims Premium Weight Management Food relies on the chicken meal as the primary protein, and it also includes a salmon meal and chicken liver meal as well.
Brown rice and whole oats provide the bulk of the carbohydrate content, and several vegetables, including dried field peas, parsley, spinach, and celery, are included in the recipe.
Dr. Tims Recipe also features a few rather odd ingredients, including watercress and oddly enough pigs blood . Ground flaxseed meal is mixed in for the omega-3 fatty acids, while several fibrous plant materials are added to increase the foods fiber content. This includes things like beet pulp, psyllium seed husk, and chicory root.
Chicory root is particularly noteworthy, as it is a prebiotic a food for beneficial bacteria. This helps ensure that the probiotics included in the recipe will be able to colonize your dogs digestive tract.
PROS
CONS
Dr. Tims Recipe doesnt contain any whole proteins, which is somewhat disappointing. But, this probably shouldnt be a deal-breaker for most owners.
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Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Dog Food helps dogs to lose excessive weight. It combines an array of high-quality ingredients to deliver a perfect low-calorie meal for your dog. High considerable amounts of fat to avoid weight gain. But has enough fiber to enhance digest and keep the dogs full.
- High protein weight-loss food
- Helps maintain muscle growth while managing weight
- Healthy and natural nutrient source
Ketogenic Pet Foods Natural Dog Food features healthy macronutrients to help restore metabolic balance. The food can has high-quality nutrients and meat-based protein for healthy dogs. Its a fat creamy recipe with no artificial carbohydrate.
- Contains Nutritious oils to improve nutritional value
- Carb based pet food for high immune system
- Perfect recipe for fastest weight loss
What To Look For In A Dog Food For Weight Loss
Your dogs basic nutritional needs wont change with his body weight. Hell need more protein and fat as a puppy than as an adult, but throughout his life his minimum requirements remain largely the same. This means that youll need to be extra careful when shopping for weight loss dog food to make sure youre reducing your dogs total calorie intake without negatively affecting his nutrition.
Here are some things to look for in a dog food for weight control:
Now that you have a better understanding of your dogs minimum nutritional needs and how to meet them while also helping him lose weight, youre ready to start shopping! If youre still not sure where to start, check out our top picks for the best dog foods for weight loss below.
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What Can I Do To Satisfy My Picky Eater
One way to enhance your dogs appetite is to add tasty toppers to her food. Mixing a few tablespoons of a quality canned food to your dogs kibble can help.
Fresh, raw or cooked chicken or beef can also get your dog to drool over their meals again. Eggs are another popular appetizer scrambled or boiled with no salt, oil or seasonings, of course.
Toppers can safely make up about 10-20% of your dogs diet. Youll need to be mindful of added calories and nutrients.
Weight Management In Dogs
To make sure that your dog remains at the desired healthy weight, you will need to incorporate certain weight management tactics in your daily regimen. The desirable amount of exercise depends on your pets breed, size, age, and health status. Taking these into account, chalk out a regular exercise plan and make sure you and your pet follow it every day. You dont necessarily have to take your dog on a long walk. Going up and down the stairs, playing in the yard, chasing a ball, or swimming in the pond can also suffice. Moderation and consistency are the two things to keep in mind.
Want to know more about exercising and participating in outdoor activities with your pet? Check out this article on ScoutKnows:
In addition to regular exercise, pay attention to your dogs diet. Switch to low-fat food if your pet needs to reduce their weight, and high-fat food if your pet needs to gain some weight. You should also stop giving your dog treats in between meals. If youve been sharing your chips and churros with your pet, end that practice right away. Junk food is not good for you in the long term, and it is not good for your dog either.
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Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
- Type: Dry grain-free formula
- First 3 ingredients: Beef, whole grain brown rice, whole grain millet
- Best for: For all senior breeds
- Price: $$
If you have an elderly dog and hes putting on some weight, you should whip him into shape to avoid the health conditions like diabetes that obesity can trigger. As your dog enters his golden years and his activity levels drop, its common to notice weight gain creeping in. Take control by switching his food gradually and over the course of ten days to this senior formula from Victor.
Beef, pork, chicken, and fish meals give your dog protein from a range of decent sources. This will help ensure his lean muscle doesnt waste away as he ages.
The proteins derived from beef work well if your dog has allergies to other common meat proteins.
The chondroitin and glucosamine in this stuff promote joint health in your aging dog.
If you need to keep an elderly dogs weight in check while also helping his ailing joints and bones, switch to this nutrient-dense formula and it might be the smartest investment you make this year.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Healthy Weight Adult Pasture Fed Lamb & Rice Recipe
If your dog isnt sensitive to grains, this Nutro Wholesome Essentials Healthy Weight Adult Pasture Fed Lamb & Rice Recipe could be a great option. It features real pasture-fed lamb as the main ingredient and a premium source of protein with digestible whole-grain brown rice for carbohydrate energy. It is rich in fiber from numerous sources with a blend of omega fatty acids for skin and coat support. This recipe could be higher in protein, but it is very low in calories and fat compared to even other weight control recipes. It contains vitamin supplements and chelated minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition and is completely free from low-quality fillers and artificial additives.
- Pros: Very low in calories and fat, real lamb as first ingredient, whole-grain digestible carbohydrates, vitamin supplements and chelated minerals, rich in fiber
- Cons: Could be higher in protein, may be too high in fiber for some dogs
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Personalized Fresh Food: The Farmers Dog
The Farmers Dog offers fresh, human-grade meals using all-natural ingredients. All recipes are pre-portioned and personalized to your dogs specific dietary needs. You fill out a brief survey, which includes your dogs age, breed, current weight, and whether hes at a healthy size. You can have them customize the food for a weight loss goal.
They offer turkey, pork, or beef recipes, developed by board-certified American College of Veterinary Nutrition nutritionists and flash frozen. And you can have all of your dogs meals regularly shipped right to your door.
Price: Varies based on each dogs target ideal weight, age, and other factors or topper plan for purebred 15 pounds for as little as $1/day
Our First-Hand Experience
We switched our dog, Lexie, from kibble to The Farmers Dog shortly after rescuing her. Because King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are prone to heart conditions , we wanted to make sure she maintained a healthy weight.
She not only shed a few extra pounds, but we also noticed an improvement in her coats shine and her energy level. Shes been a fan ever since and gobbles it down!
Over time, I started mixing it with a little rice to stretch the packs out and add grains to her diet, and she didnt gain back the weight . The before and after photos were taken one year apart after switching from kibble to The Farmers Dog. Sadie C., Canine Journal
Price:$64.99
Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Dog Food
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
About: Eagle Packs Reduced Fat Recipe is a weight-loss formula, which reduces its caloric content by limiting the amount of fat in the food. But despite having less fat than typical dog foods, Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Recipe still provides all of the nutrition your dog needs to remain healthy while losing weight.
Features: Pork meal is the primary protein in Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Recipe, but the chicken meal and turkey meal are also included too. Dehulled barley, ground brown rice and oatmeal supply the bulk of the foods carbohydrates.
In some ways, Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Recipe is a no-frills dog food, as it lacks the fruits and vegetables that are included in many other foods. However, by contrast, it contains more supplemental ingredients than most of its competitors.
For example, in addition to the standard vitamin and mineral supplements used in many foods, this recipe includes eight probiotic strains several of which are not found in many other foods. This reduced-fat recipe also includes glucosamine, which is an important cartilage-supporting compound that can help dogs with hip dysplasia and other joint ailments.
Note that this food has a large kibble size, which may present problems for small and toy breeds.
PROS
CONS
Calories per Cup: 343
Pork Meal, Dehulled Barley, Peas, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal…,
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How Can I Help My Dog Lose Weight
Check out this Rachel Ray video for some quick tips on ways you and your family can help your dog lose weight. One of these tips includes getting a fitness tracker to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. See our reviews of the best dog activity monitors to learn more. And be sure to read more tips on how to help your dog lose weight.
Other Tips For Losing Weight
Whilst the above kibbles are the best around for weight loss, they are not a miracle cure, and his weight loss journey needs more than just the right nutrition, so be sure to implement the following tips.
Exercise: Dr Ochoa at the American Kennel Club recommends that you create an exercise plan, which you need to stick too. If your pooch is particularly overweight then be sure to start off slowly, and begin your day with a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Weekly Weight Monitoring: Just as you would with your weight, be sure to monitor his weight weekly and keep a diary of it. Dependent on the size of your dog, a few extra pounds might not be visible, but by monitoring his weight you can ensure that you know to feed him less treats and exercise him that bit more the following week
Patience: Be patient with your pooch, and remember that crash dieting is just as bad for him as it is for us humans. If you are worried that he is not losing weight as he should then speak to your Veterinarian, and they will be able to advise you accordingly.
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Best Weight Management Dog Foods
- Best Wet Dog Food To Mix With Dry – January 9, 2022
Is your dog overweight or underweight? Weight-related issues can undermine your pets health and can even shorten their lifespan. As such, canine weight management is something that pet parents cannot afford to overlook. To know if your dog is of a healthy weight, compare their weight with the average for their breed if it exceeds it to a large extent, your pet needs to slim down, and if it is less than it, your pet needs to fatten up.
A proper diet is an important part of canine weight management, and you will need to monitor what your pet eats to make sure their diet meets their nutritional requirements. There are specific weight management dog foods available. If you have concerns about feeding your pet commercial dog food, you can always opt for a home-cooked dog food diet.
Here is one of best weight management dog food in the market:
Scouts Pick
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food with Real Roasted Duck 30lb
Best Weight Management Dog Food
We have evaluated dozens of top-rated weight management dog food brands on the market to bring you the best ones. Here are our reviews and recommendations on the best dog food for weight loss and weight management for your consideration.
- HILLS Science Diet Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food for Healthy Weight, Chicken Recipe
- Weight management dog food clinically proven
- Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks after having this nutrition.
- Lean muscle maintenance using good source of protein for this dog food.
- #1 Veterinarian Recommended
- WELLNESS Reduced Fat Grain Free Dog Food
- Weight Management Dog Food with high fiber
- Balanced with nutrient rich superfoods for a complete and balanced dog food
- High protein from fresh meat ingredients support leaner body mass and muscle tone.
- Omega Fatty Acids from ingredients such as flaxseed and salmon oil supports healthy skin
- Antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine for a healthy heart and overall health support.
- 26 lbs bag.
- NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient
- No chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy
- Weight Management Dog Food with blend of protein and fiber support for healthy weight loss.
- Antioxidants and natural fiber to support healthy digestion and stronger immunity.
- 30 lbs bag.
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Blue Buffalo Vet Diet Weight Management For Dogs
Blue Buffalo Vet Diet Weight Management for Dogs is formulated with standard fat levels to help with weight loss. It contains a minute calorie content to enable overweight dogs to shed some pounds. It also features controlled levels of mineral to support the urinary health of the dog. It has enough fiber to keep the dog filled for a longer period, eliminating the need for food.
- A wholesome natural diet with nutritional benefits
- Contains enough macro fiber to help control weight
- Enhanced urinary tract with low mineral level
Things To Look For In Dog Food
There are many things to consider while looking for the right dog food. Apart from your dogs specifics needs and preferences , there are some general criteria that you should keep in mind while working on the perfect nutrition plan. Here are things that you will find in every vet recommended dog food:
- Lots of named animal protein. Ingredients are listed by weight, so you should look for those products that have animal protein at the top of the list. Whats more, it should be a named animal protein. If you only see meat, it will probably be of low quality. Look for beef, chicken, lamb, and so on and never buy meat meals. When theres fresh or frozen meat first on the list, there should also be a source of animal protein in the first 3 ingredients, as fresh and frozen meat contains too much water to be rich in protein.
- Whole vegetables, fruits, and grains. Its best when as many ingredients as possible are fresh and unprocessed, as it allows them to keep their nutrients. There may be some fractions in the food you choose, but not many and not high on the list of ingredients.
- The expiration date. The fresher, the better, and the more nutritional value. Ideally, you should buy products with a best-by date 10 or 11 months away. Its not always possible, but try to keep it at least 6.
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