Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss
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It’s estimated that 45% of all U.S. dogs are either overweight or obese1. As a result, a high number of dogs—around 35 million—require food that will help them lose weight.
This is for a number of reasons, not least because keeping your dog at their ideal weight can add two years to their life2.
Also, if they remain overweight, it can lead to medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure and tumors, among other life-threatening conditions.
When it comes to choosing the best dog food for weight loss, veterinary specialist, Dr. Donna Spector, recommends feeding your overweight dog a food that contains:
On this page we’ll share The Dog Food Advisor’s safest and most recommended dog foods for weight loss.
And we’ll answer the 5 most frequently asked questions about how to use a weight loss food to help your dog return to a healthy weight.
Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss February 2026
Here are The Dog Food Advisor's best dog food brands for weight loss for February 2026.
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Best Dry Dog Food For Weight Loss
Annamaet Lean Formula Dog Food
Annamaet Lean is one of seven dry recipes included in our review of the Annamaet Grain-Free product line.
Annamaet Lean takes the majority of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 8% fat and 51% estimated carbs, which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 23%.
An excellent weight loss formula. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Annamaet Grain Free Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- High amount of protein, low amount of fat
- L-carnitine to boost lean muscle mass
- Half the fat of other Annamaet grain-free dry dog food
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, field peas, lentils, potato, tapioca Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For All adult dogs Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"This is a smaller brand that is high quality and excellent for dogs that may need something more supportive for weight loss. Though my dog has always been picky with dry foods, she has enjoyed the food for years. While it has helped to lower and maintain her weight to a comfortable number for her age. We are both big fans."
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Best Wet Dog Food For Weight Loss
Wellness Core Weight Management Wet Food
Wellness Core Weight Management canned dog food acquires the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken as well as pork liver and whitefish. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 50% protein, 16% fat and 26% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 32%.
It’s also worth noting this formula contains zinc proteinate and 4 other chelated minerals for superior absorption and nutrition. Chelated minerals like these are typically found in top-quality brands. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Wellness CORE Pate Dog Food (Canned) range here
Things we like
- High amount of protein
- Chelated minerals to aid absorption
- Designed for all life stages and breeds
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, turkey broth, pork liver, whitefish Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 50% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For All adult dogs Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Beau is a 9 year old mini poodle. He has trouble chewing so he doesn’t eat in the morning. I decided to give him wet food instead of kibble in the morning. He loves his wellness food!"
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Best Senior Dog Food For Weight Loss
Dr. Tim’s Metabolite Weight Management Formula Dog Food
Dr. Tim’s Metabolite features high amounts of protein while also being low in fat, making it ideal for senior dogs who are overweight or need to lose a few pounds as their metabolism begins to slow down. It’s one of three dry recipes included in our review of the Dr. Tim’s grain-free product line.
Dr. Tim’s Metabolite derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 11% fat and 48% estimated carbs, which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 33%.
An exceptional, low-fat, grain-inclusive recipe. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Dr. Tim’s Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- High protein content combined with fiber
- Low amount of fat
- Protein derived from chicken meal
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, brown rice, whole oat groats, dried field peas, powdered cellulose Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 33% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For All dogs (including senior dogs) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"We finally tried this food after giving so many other weight loss/management foods a try. This stuff works! Our chiweenie had gotten pretty lazy in her old age and after losing her sister to diabetes so she packed the weight on. We gave this food a try after no success on other brands and she has dropped 2 pounds already! One more pound to go and then she will be on maintenance. I really contribute the success of her weight loss to this food. Not to mention, she enjoys it. She actually gets excited about meal time and is usually pretty vocal to let me know its time."
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Best Fresh Dog Food For Weight Loss
Open Farm Gently Cooked Harvest Chicken
Open Farm Gently Cooked Harvest Chicken is one of seven recipes included in our review of this fresh food range. It’s a high-quality fresh dog food that helps dogs lose weight due to its high protein content, which keeps them fuller for longer.
This is a fresh, grain-free dog food that gets its protein from human-grade fresh chicken. Our analysis showed that the recipe contains 37.5% protein, 29.2% fat and 25.3% estimated carbohydrates, with a fat-to-protein ratio of 78%.
A highly recommended fresh high-protein option.
Read our review of the full Open Farm Freshly Crafted Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Things we like
- High protein
- Fresh, human-grade chicken
- Antibiotic, hormone and steroid-free
Main Ingredients 100% Animal welfare certified chicken, chicken, carrots, kale, butternut squash, apples, pumpkin, water, flaxseed Texture Fresh Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 37.5% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For All adult dogs Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Openfarmpet.com"My dog is very picky but likes the gently-cooked harvest chicken quite a lot. I will be buying more. The humane meat sourcing is also a big concern of mine. Bravo, Open Farm!"
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Best Large Breed Dog Food For Weight Loss
Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight
This Merrick recipe gets the lion’s share of its animal protein from fresh beef as well as chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 11% fat and 45% estimated carbs, which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 31%.
A protein-rich, low-fat formula that helps larger breeds in particular maintain a healthy weight. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Merrick Grain Free Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- Low levels of fat
- A main ingredient of fresh deboned beef
- No artifical colors, flavors or preservatives
Main Ingredients Deboned beef, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, turkey meal Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For All adult dogs (including large breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"A 5 star dog food for my big German Shepherd dog. He loves it and I am happy to find an outstanding weight control food for him."
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Best Small Breed Dog Food For Weight Loss
Nutro Ultra Small Breed Weight Management
Nutro Ultra Small Breed Weight Management is one of nine dry recipes included in our review of the Nutro Ultra product line.
Nutro Ultra Small Breed Weight Management gets the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 13% fat and 50% estimated carbs, which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 43%.
An exceptional, reduced-fat formula designed for smaller dogs. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Nutro Ultra Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- Made with real chicken and chicken meal
- Tailored for small breed dogs
- Formulated with 14 superfoods
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain barley, whole grain brown rice, whole grain oats Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 29% AAFCO Standards Unspecified Best For All dogs (including small breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I have three small dogs who need to watch their calorie and fat intake. I use this dry food along with wet food to manage their weight. The kibble size is small and I use it as a treat also. They seem to really like the taste!"
How we review dog foods
We read the label.
This may sound simple, but there are thousands of dog foods on the market, and the label is the only source of reliable, standardized and government-regulated data available on every one of them. This includes the AAFCO nutrient profile, the Guaranteed Analysis and the ingredients.
We use our algorithm.
We take the data and enter it into our unique algorithm to produce a different set of figures, including the Dry Matter Analysis (the nutrient levels after water has been removed). This algorithm gives us a base score range on our five-star rating system.
We refine the score.
We take into account other factors, such as the quality of ingredients and the nature of the first few ingredients on the list (and therefore the most prevalent in the food), and narrow the score. The key ingredients are explained in-depth in the review.
Our expert nutritionist takes over.
At this point, our expert pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, goes through the review to check and approve it. She has the authority to make small discretionary changes to the star-rating based on her judgment of a food. We now have our final star-rating.
What other information do we include for dog parents?
Each dog food review includes sample consumer reviews and links to other reviews. It also includes the brand’s recall history. Our Best Dog Food pages also include consumer reviews.
Why we don’t just feed foods to our dogs.
Despite what other dog food review sites claim, simply giving a food to a dog and seeing if they eat it is completely unscientific and has little value as a review method. If you give a kid candy, they’ll happily eat it, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for them. And no one food suits every dog.
It’s also dangerous for dogs. We rate every dog food, good and bad. Why would we deliberately feed a dog bad dog food?
That said, we understand that personal experience of a food is important to dog parents and include consumer reviews on our pages.
What about lab-testing dog food?
Lab-testing dog food can provide useful, in-depth information, but as mentioned, there are thousands of dog foods on the market. We’d love to test them all, but there isn’t a facility in the country that could. Therefore, it’s impossible to have a fair universal rating system using lab tests.
It’s worth noting that dog food brands carry out their own testing. This ensures compliance with AAFCO and FDA pet food standards, as well as checking for pathogens.
Why you should trust our dog food reviews
Dog Food Advisor has been impartially reviewing dog food since 2008. We are the most trusted dog food review site in the United States, with a 4.9-star TrustPilot rating.
Here's why:
We do not accept money, gifts, samples or any other incentives in exchange for special consideration in writing our reviews.
We rate every dog food in the same way, using the only information we believe is equally available for all foods, reliable and therefore fair: what’s on the label. It’s the only way for any review site to rate every dog food on the market.
We focus on ingredients, nutrient profiles and recipes. We look at the ingredients used, including their quality, and review the nutritional analysis and macronutrient balance. We take into account any controversial or harmful ingredients.
Every review is expertly checked and approved by our highly qualified in-house animal nutritionist, Laura Ward.
We report all dog food and dog treat recalls through our Dog Food Recall Alert service, no matter the brand.
For more information, read our How We Rate Dog Food and Disclaimer and Disclosure pages.
More Top Picks
To view more top dog foods by category… click the link below that best meets your personal feeding needs.
More Top Picks
To view more top dog foods that can help with weight loss… click the link below that best meets your feeding needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight loss food should I feed my dog?
Since it’s impossible to predict the exact serving size that’s “perfect” for each overweight dog… or for each brand.
So, start with the feeding instructions printed on the package… or the amount suggested by our dog food calculator.
Then, over time…
Adjust that serving size up or down… to reach and maintain your dog’s ideal weight.
How can I determine my dog's ideal weight?
A 2002 landmark study6 found that…
Dogs fed an amount of food to maintain their ideal body condition lived 1.8 years longer… than other dogs.
That’s nearly 2 extra years of life.
The video below explains how to use the concept of “body condition” to determine and maintain your dog’s ideal weight.
What's the safest rate of weight loss for an overweight dog?
A dog that loses weight too quickly can develop serious health problems.
Which is why…
It’s important to keep the rate of weight loss to about 1-2% of your dog’s total body weight per week.7
For example…
If you’re feeding an overweight, 100-pound German Shepherd, your pet should be able to safely lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week.
What's the best way to switch my dog to a weight loss food?
To minimize the risk of digestive upset…
It’s best to transition from regular dog food to a weight loss food gradually.
Take your time. Don’t rush.
Start by mixing about 25% of the “new” weight loss food… with 75% of the regular food. Then, slowly increase that amount to a full 100%… over the next 5 to 7 days.
What are the best low fat dog foods?
Finding a quality, low fat dog food can be difficult.
That’s because most tend to contain too little meat… with more potatoes and cereal grains.
However, in contrast…
Better low fat recipes contain not only lower fat… but also a significant amount of meat-based protein.
With that goal in mind…
Our research team has created a list of dog foods that meets these specific guidelines.
You can get access to a list of The Dog Food Advisor’s most recommended low fat dog foods here.
Final word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
