Best Dog Food For Weight Loss: Reviews & Top Picks

Certain food can help dogs lose weight, but what’s the best dog food for weight loss?

Dogs gain weight for different reasons: some are naturally prone to obesity, some gain weight to health-related issues, while some just eat too much, or eat the wrong food…

Obesity can lead to countless health issues, including joint issues, blood pressure complications, and even lethargy…

Luckily, if you provide the right kind of food you can help your dog not only lose weight but also live a healthier and happier life.

How to choose the best dog food for weight loss?

When choosing this type of food, you need to focus on three factors and find food that:

• Contains above-average protein
• Have below-average fat
• Contains below-average calories

Below… You will find not only the best-recommended food for weight loss but also the safest.

Plus, we will provide answers to the most common questions on how to keep a dog’s weight in balance throughout the dog’s life.

How we chose

Because choosing the right food for your dog can be confusing and overwhelming, we reviewed all dog foods.

Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Barking Royalty’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being.

Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust

Additional factors we considered included:

• Ingredients. We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients such as fillers and artificial
• sweeteners and colors.
• AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile. We checked if the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
• Price. We included products to suit a range of budgets.

Here are the best weight loss dog foods for your dog.

Best Overall

1. Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Deboned chicken, chicken liver, turkey liver, cod liver, cage-free eggs

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3490 kcal/kg, 401 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-free
• Grain-free: Yes

Chicken is the first ingredient in this formula used to provide a strong protein base and richer taste.

Commonly used in dogs’ dry food, chicken helps dogs build lean muscle mass and delivers omega-6 fatty acids.

This protein-based ingredient is followed by chicken liver, turkey liver, cod liver, and cage-free eggs – all adding to better taste and richer flavor.

Up to 85% of this formula are premium animal ingredients including fish for a strong source of essential vitamins, minerals, and of course, protein.

The first five ingredients in this formula are always a raw animal protein, while dried fruit and vegetable are added to provide additional protein, and fiber, and keep the dog’s energy in great balance.

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Best Budget

2. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, cracked pearled barley, brown rice, pea fiber, corn gluten meal

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3191 kcal/kg (299 kcal/cup)
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight formula is another commonly used dog food with chicken as the first ingredient, followed by cracked pearled barley, brown rice, pea fiber, and corn gluten meal.

The top five ingredients are carefully selected to bring enough protein and fibers, making the dog’s muscles lean and gut in balance.

As a grain-inclusive formula, this food contains barley, rice, and oats.

Chicken meal and pork flavor are added for extra protein and richer flavor, while dried beet pulp provides enough fiber and helps keep the intestinal tract clean and smooth.

Overall, this formula is carefully created for adult dogs who need to be watchful of their weight.

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight formula is made in the States with quality global ingredients helping dog owners keep their dog’s weight in balance.

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Best Grain-Free

3. Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Deboned beef, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, turkey meal

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,345 kcal/kg, 354 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Deboned beef is the first ingredient in this formula that promotes enough protein and as such helps dogs build lean muscle mass.

As a great source of essential amino acids, deboned beef is followed by a chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and turkey meal.

Next to beef, chicken meal is a great protein source that provides dogs with energy and healthy fats. Plus, turkey meal is rich in vitamin A, iron, and phosphorous.

Salmon meal and real fruit and vegetable are present in this formula to provide enough prebiotic fiber, which feeds the good bacteria in your dog’s gut.

Not only that it makes a dog’s gut healthier, but it also provides enough vitamins and minerals, including a good source of phosphorus and iron.

Made in the States this formula is packed with the world’s finest ingredients providing the right kind of nutrition and the right set of flavors.

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4. Victor Purpose Senior Healthy Weight Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef meal, whole grain brown rice, whole grain millet, grain sorghum, chicken fat

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3385 kcal/kg, 360 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive – SENIOR
• Grain-free: No

Beef meal is the first ingredient in this formula to provide enough protein and help dogs build muscle.

This high-quality protein source is followed by whole grain brown rice, whole grain millet, grain sorghum, and chicken fat.

Each of the top five ingredients is mixed to provide not only enough protein but also enough vitamins and minerals that help dogs thrive.

Peas provide enough fiber, while tomato pomace helps create a softer texture and more comfortable kibble to chew on.

This formula is not only suitable for weight control, but it also helps dogs with sensitive digestion and as such, it is best suited for senior dogs.

Seniors of all breed sizes can enjoy this formula, as ingredients with glucosamine and chondroitin enable long-term joint health.

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5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, pea fiber

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,230 kcal/kg, 324 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

Deboned chicken is the first ingredient in this formula, followed by a chicken meal, brown rice, barley, and pea fiber.

For an extra protein boost, this formula contains pea protein, while dried chicory root provides fiber to support the dog’s digestive health.

Potatoes found in this formula provide enough energy and help dogs be active throughout the day.

L-Carnitine found in this formula supports lean muscle development and reduces calories from fat.

To help dogs have strong bones and teeth, this formula contains calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins.

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6. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, peas

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,230 kcal/kg, 324 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

This formula is carefully made to help dogs maintain a healthy weight.

As the first ingredient, this formula offers deboned turkey for a strong protein base and lean muscles.

Deboned turkey is followed with turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, and peas making this formula a balanced mix between meat, fruit, and vegetable.

Each ingredient in this formula is carefully selected and mixed to encourage lean body mass and muscle tone, making a dog’s coat and skin healthy and strong.

With reduced fat, this formula offers a great balance of fat and protein, while grain-free formula this food offers great meat sources.

Packed with omega fatty acids, this formula offers antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, vitamins, and minerals.

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7. Natural Balance Low Calorie Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, dried peas, oat groats

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3070 kcal/kg, 315 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

Chicken meal is the first ingredient in this formula to offer all the nutritional benefits of chicken meal, followed by a salmon meal, chickpeas, dried peas, and oat groats.

For extra flavor, chicken fat is included in this formula, while salmon oil offers omega fatty acids making the dog’s skin and coat healthy and strong.

For an extra protein boost, this formula offers pea protein, dried eggs, and vitamins and minerals.

Dried carrots, dried spinach, and dried parsley are added to this formula to provide enough fiber and make the dog’s gut and intestinal tract strong and clean.

Obesity in dogs can cause many issues, countless health problems, and even some sort of skin disease while keeping dogs well fed.

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8. Purina Pro Plan Adult Weight Management Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, rice, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal, corn germ meal

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,535 kcal/kg, 364 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

The first ingredient in this formula is chicken for a strong protein base, better taste, and richer nutrition, followed by whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal, and corn germ meal.

For a richer taste, this formula contains fish meal and wheat bran.

As a formula that is created for weight control, it is packed with guaranteed live probiotics for digestive and immune health.

With real chicken as the first ingredient, this formula offers high protein formula that is high in fiber and low in fat.

To support digestive health this formula offers complete and balanced nutrition for overweight or less active adult dogs.

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9. Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Pork meal, dehulled barley, peas, ground brown rice, oatmeal

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,240 kcal/kg, 343 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

Pork meal is the first ingredient in this formula offering not only protein but a great source of amino acids.

This ingredient is followed by dehulled barley, peas, ground brown rice, and oatmeal, as the top five ingredients.

For a richer taste, Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog Food formula offers omega fatty acids that promote skin and coat health.

Thanks to omega fatty acids, this formula also offers antioxidants promoting a strong immune system.

Carefully designed and made in the States, this formula is carefully designed to support your canine companion’s health.

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10. Nutro Ultra Small Breed Weight Management Dry Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain barley, whole grain brown rice, whole grain oats

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3473 kcal/kg, 382 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Grain-inclusive
• Grain-free: No

Chicken is the first ingredient in this formula to provide enough protein, a better taste, and strong nutrition.

Other top four ingredients include chicken meal, whole grain barley, whole grain brown rice, and whole grain oats helping overweight dogs deal with healthy weight management.

This formula is carefully made of 15 superfoods, and high-quality real ingredients that are supported with vitamins and minerals creating complete and balanced nutrition for small breed adult dogs.

Specially formulated for overweight, small-breed adult dogs will enjoy this kibble to help with healthy weight management while providing a rich diet.

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Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States putting dog owners in a whole new spectrum of challenges.

Since food is a primary factor in weight management in general, one must ask – how to choose the best food to help your dog stay lean.

Although mastering this question may sound super hard, the truth is that there is a rather simple answer.

The solution for overweight dogs fibs in food ingredients.

Did you know that every extra ounce or pound can shorten a dog’s lifespan and lead to serious health issues in the future?

This is a common rule, even for high-energy dogs who tend to be active and run throughout the day.

However, no matter how active a dog might be, he will still need proper food to help him keep his weigh-in order.

Weight management in dogs is not something that should be taken lightly.

In a way, it is a certain form of philosophy that helps both dogs and dog owners live stress-free.

Once a dog gets extra pounds, there should be certain steps that will push pounds running down.

Since weight loss isn’t just about reducing a dog’s intake of calories, it should be well-formed in agreement with your veterinarian.

Never make any major feeding style changes or lifestyle changes without first talking with your veterinarian.

Once your veterinarian gives you a green light and advises switching your dog’s food to achieve a certain weight-related goal, you will need to choose the best food possible.

In practice, this means that you will pick a food that is appropriate to the dog’s life stage, has complete nutrition, and food that provides ingredients and even flavors that your dog loves.

When choosing the best food for weight loss focus on food that contains fiber to help your dog feel full, and probiotics to smooth their digestion.

What Are The Signs That My Dog Is Overweight?

If you stick to regular veterinarian check-ups you should know at every moment if your dog has any weight issues or not.

If you are not sure if your dog is overweight or not, you should take your dog to the vet’s office.

Of course, you can always check the dog yourself. This means that you should take a look at the body from above.

Is your dog hourglass-shaped or does it appear more like appearing squares?

If your dog appears square, it may be a first indicator that you might carry extra weight.

Another way to tell if your dog is overweight or not is to feel its ribs.

Can you easily feel ribs, or do you have to press your hand down hard to feel them?

If you have to press down, your dog might carry too much weight.

When it comes to choosing the best food for your currently overweight Fido, you should look beyond marketing and brand.

You need to go for food that comes with high-quality ingredients. Why?

Low-quality ingredients can actually be extremely harmful to your dog’s health eventually leading to numerous health-related issues and disturbances.

What Causes Extra Weight Gain In Dogs?

If you stick to regular veterinarian check-ups you should know at every moment if your dog has any weight issues or not.

If you are not sure if your dog is overweight or not, you should take your dog to the vet’s office.

Of course, you can always check the dog yourself. This means that you should take a look at the body from above.

Is your dog hourglass-shaped or does it appear more of appearing square, if your dog appears squarer, it may be a first indicator that you might be carrying extra weight?

Another way to tell if your dog is overweight or not is to feel its ribs.

Can you easily feel ribs, or do you have to press your hand down hard to feel them?

If you have to press down, your dog might carry too much weight.

When it comes to choosing the best food for your currently overweight Fido, you should look beyond marketing and brand.

You need to go for food that comes with high-quality ingredients. Why?

Low-quality ingredients can actually be extremely harmful to your dog’s health eventually leading to numerous health-related issues and disturbances.