What to look for in a weight loss dog food
Our experts recommend considering the following criteria when shopping for the best dog food for weight loss:
AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for adult maintenance or all life stages: The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a nonprofit organization that recommends nutritional profiles based on an animal’s life stage. AAFCO does not approve specific dog foods, but a dog food that meets AAFCO standards for maintenance or all life stages is complete and balanced to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. Churchill and Freeman say weight management diets are not suitable for puppies, so you won’t find any weight management foods labeled as meeting AAFCO’s nutritional standards for growth.
Ingredient list: Labels list ingredients by weight, so the first few ingredients usually make up most of the food’s weight. Our experts suggest looking for a few key ingredients in weight management diets, including salt to increase water intake, fiber to keep dogs feeling full longer, and additives like L-carnitine that can increase metabolic rate. While there are no specific ingredients to avoid, Dr. Emily Luisana, a veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, recommends avoiding grain-free foods. “Grain-free diets have been linked to DCM in dogs and the exact mechanism is still under investigation,” he said. She also recommends talking to your vet if you’re currently feeding your dog a grain-free diet.
Guaranteed review: Adult dog food should have a minimum of 18% protein and 5.5% fat to meet the dog’s nutritional needs. Our experts say the best weight management diets for dogs are low in fat and high in fiber. You can find the nutritional content of a particular food spoilage by checking the guaranteed inspection on a bag or can or by contacting the manufacturer.
Healthy extras: Healthy extras in weight management diets for dogs usually include sources of fiber, ingredients that increase the metabolic rate, and those that support the joints. Examples of these include powdered cellulose, L-carnitine, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Calorie content: Simply reducing the amount of food your dog eats may not lead to healthy weight loss. Instead, it can harm their health by causing nutritional deficiencies, Churchill said. Instead, your veterinarian may recommend switching to a diet that is lower in calories but well balanced in other important nutrients.
Breeding size: According to our experts, small and large breed seniors have different health risks and may require different calorie amounts and kibble sizes. Buying food specific to your puppy’s size ensures that they get a recipe formulated for their needs.
Tried feeding trial versus formulated foods: Some pet food labels will state that the food has been formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional standards for adult maintenance or all life stages or has undergone feed-trial testing. These labels confirm that the food meets or exceeds the recommended protein, fat, and nutrient requirements for adult dogs. While feed-trial testing is the gold standard for pet food testing, not all reputable companies can afford feed-trial testing of pet food, Welborn said.
Expert formulations: Based on our expert recommendations, the dog foods we recommend meet WSAVA guidelines. This means that pet food manufacturers not only meet various quality control standards but also employ a full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist and perhaps a PhD-level animal nutritionist.
Next level ingredients: Next-level ingredients refer to ingredients in dog food that are marketed as human-grade, organic, sustainably caught, or cage-free. For example, our fresh food recommendation is made with next-level ingredients. Pet foods with these types of ingredients tend to be more expensive than others, but this allows you to support a pet food company that values social and environmental responsibility.
