Low fat dog foods can be beneficial for those pets diagnosed with specific health conditions like:
- Pancreatitis
- Obesity
However, finding a good quality low fat dog food can be difficult.
That’s because to cut back on fat, manufacturers intentionally design dog foods that contain less meat.
So, unfortunately, most low fat dog foods are also low in protein and high in carbs, too.
How We Select Low Fat Dog Foods
The following low fat dog foods have been selected by the editor of The Dog Food Advisor because they each meet two criteria:
- Fat content notably below-average
- Product rated 4 stars or higher
The average fat content1 and arbitrarily chosen low fat limit2 of all dog foods currently stored in The Dog Food Advisor database are depicted in the following chart:
Suggested Low Fat Dog Foods
Acana Light and Fit is a 5-star dry dog food containing just 11% fat and 39% protein.
Addiction canned dog food is a quality product. The Salmon formula contains 10% fat and 40% protein. The Venison and Apple as well as the Brushtail recipes each report 10% fat and 45% protein. All three are rated 5-stars.
Amicus Senior and Weight Management is a 5-star dry dog food with 12% fat and 33% protein.
Annamaet Adult Dog Food is a 4-star kibble with 11% fat and 26% protein.
Annamaet Grain Free Lean is a 5-star kibble with 33% protein and just 9% fat.
AvoDerm Natural Large Breed Adult Chicken Meal and Brown Rice is a 4-star kibble with 11% fat and 29% protein.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Small Breed Healthy Weight is a 4-star dry dog food containing 10% fat and 28% protein.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe is a 5-star dry dog food containing 11% fat and 33% protein.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Chicken Recipe is a 5-star dry dog food containing 11% fat and 33% protein.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Canned Dog Food is a 5-star wet product. The Shredded Pork contains 15% fat and 39% protein, the Shredded Beef reports 12% fat and 39% protein and the Shredded Chicken lists a very low 7% fat and 44% protein.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Whitefish and Potato is a 4-star kibble with 12% fat and 26% protein.
Fromm Gold Nutritionals Reduced Activity Senior Gold is a 4-star kibble with 12% fat and 26% protein.
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Chicken is a 5-star freeze-dried dog food with 10% fat and 36% protein.
Honest Kitchen Zeal is a 5-star dehydrated raw dog food with only 9% fat and 39% protein.
Horizon Complete Senior is a 4-star kibble containing 11% fat and 27% protein.
Now Grain Free Senior Weight Management is a 4-star kibble with only 11% fat and 27% protein.
NutriSource Senior Chicken and Rice is a 4-star kibble with 11% fat and 29% protein.
OC Raw Dog Food is a 5-star frozen product. The Fish and Produce recipe contains 12% fat and 72% protein, the Rabbit and Produce reports 16% fat and 60% protein and the Goat and Produce lists a very low 9% fat and 77% protein.
Precise Holistic Complete Senior is a 4-star dry dog food with 11% fat and 28% protein.
Premium Edge Weight II Weight Control Formula is a 4-star kibble with 9% fat and 28% protein.
Primal Canine Rabbit Formula is a 5-star raw frozen dog food with 17% fat and 59% protein.
Professional Senior Dog is a 4-star kibble reporting 11% fat and 29% protein.
Simply Nourish canned dog food is a 4.5 star wet dog food with just 8% fat and 59% protein.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream is a 4-star canned dog food with 15% fat and 38% protein.
Wellness Core Reduced Fat is a 5-star dry dog food with 11% fat and 37% protein.
Weruva Human Style is a 5-star canned dog food available in twelve different recipes. As a group, the brand averages about 10% fat and 61% protein.
Wellness Super 5 Mix dry dog food is a good quality kibble. The Large Breed Adult Recipe contains 12% fat and 28% protein and the Small Breed Healthy Weight reports 10% fat and 31% protein.
A Low Fat Compromise Worth Considering
In our efforts to list only dog foods rich in meat-based protein, we may have inadvertently omitted some good candidates that might be lower in fat content than those suggested here.
So, if you’re looking for a dog food with a fat content even lower (say below 10%), you may have to settle for a recipe with less meat and more carbs.
And for especially sick animals, this could be a compromise worth considering.
A Final Word
If I’ve missed what you would consider to be a quality low fat dog food, please let me know by leaving a comment below.
This article is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Notes and Updates
The Advisor would like to personally thank research assistant, Sandy Brown, for her generous help in researching the low fat dog foods included on this list.
09/30/2012 Article updated
