Fight Canine Obesity with The Leading Weight Loss Dog Food

Here’s a comprehensive guide covering everything that you must know before buying dog food for weight loss. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Dog Food for Losing Weight

You can find a variety of dog foods claiming and marketed to aid with weight loss, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are a good choice for you. Here are some things you should always check:

Nutrients

Check the label for necessary minerals, vitamins, and a good amount of major macromolecules like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids. A balanced amount of all these nutrients is a must for a healthy and happy pup.

Reduced calorie content

The main difference between normal dog food and weight loss dog food is the caloric content. A good weight loss food will have significantly low calories but they will provide the same amount of bulk. The bulk helps the dog feel fuller and keeps them satisfied for a long period. 

Check for a good fiber content as fiber takes up plenty of space in the dog’s gut while providing a few usable calories as well. Furthermore, dog food designed for weight loss can also feature a high protein level in addition to a low fat level.  

Probiotics

A good weight loss dog food will be fortified with probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that aid your dog’s intestinal tract to operate effectively. You should pick dog food with probiotics so there are lesser chances of your dog ending up with an upset stomach. 

Delicious

Make sure you pick a dog food that will appeal to your dog’s palate. You wouldn’t want your dog to stop eating altogether. Make sure the food has your dog’s favorite flavors like turkey, chicken, or beef.  

How Do I Know My Dog is Overweight?

It is quite possible that your dog might not show how much weight they have put on due to their fur. You will have to monitor your pet’s movements and habits to identify canine obesity. Here are some of the best and easiest ways of finding out if your dog is over the normal weight for their breed and size:

• Body profile

Observe your pup’s overall body profile carefully as they move, sit or lie down. Notice how their body folds when they sit from the side, or you can simply stand above them and judge the profile. If you feel your dog has a bulge on the tummy area or they’re sitting and laying down most of the day, chances are that your dog is obese. 

You can tell your dog is at a healthy weight and in good shape if you can spot a faint hourglass shape from the above and their abdomen seems slightly tucked inside. 

• Weight

The easiest way of figuring out if your furry friend is suffering from obesity is to check their weight. See if their weight falls into the healthy weight range for their height, size, and breed. 

• Feel the ribs

Another effective way is to hold your dog from the sides of the torso and gently press your hands in. If your dog is at an optimal weight, you will be able to feel their ribs without much pressure. If they are fat, you won’t be able to feel the ribcage properly due to a layer of fat that covers their body. 

Tips for Buying Quality Weight Loss Dog Food

Here are some key criteria that a weight loss dog food must pass:

• Make sure you pick a food brand that manufactures in a country with high safety standards. Mostly, high-quality pet food will be made in Canada, USA, Western Europe, New Zealand, or Australia. 
• The best weight loss pet food will feature a whole protein that will conspicuously be placed at the front of the pack. Select food that has deboned beef or chicken at the beginning of the ingredients list. Unquestionably, meat should form the bulk of your dog’s diet.
• Only pick identified meat products that are properly labeled on the product, such as “beef/chicken meal”. Avoid products with labels such as “meat meal”, these products often contain ingredients obtained from unsavory sources. 
• Ensure it doesn’t contain meat byproducts or unidentified meat meals. Unnecessary additives and artificial colors also trigger a lot of canine allergies in older dogs. You should avoid these.  

What Does Canine Obesity Do?

Gaining too much weight will affect the health of your dog eventually no matter what breed they belong to or what their lifestyle is. Here are some common problems with obese dogs:

• Overweight dogs have a high chance of developing diabetes mellitus. This can also lead to impaired kidney, nerve issues and will shorten their lifespan.
• Obese dogs can also suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) that can end in cardiac issues later.
• It can also lead to breathing difficulties, liver problems, skin issues, and reproductive failure.
• Other common problems they may end up with are increased body temperature, joint problems, heart disease, and an overall decreased lifespan.

Conclusion

Every dog starts to put on weight at some point in their lives. You, as a pet parent, should make sure you’re keeping a check on their health and activity levels at all times. Make sure you notice their movements, eating habits, and the quality of their diet. 

And, if your dog has put on some pounds, no need to worry. You can gradually switch them to a controlled weight management food system to make sure they lead a healthy life. This guide will equip you with all the knowledge you must have about the shift and some of the leading weight loss dog foods in 2023.