It can be hard to get an overweight dog to shed some pounds, but it’s the best thing for them. Obesity in dogs can lead to other health issues, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. As much as we love our pups and don’t want to deny them the treats that they enjoy, sometimes we must choose to put their health first.
Luckily, low-fat dog foods enable us to feed our dogs tasty food that when combined with regular exercise, can help them reduce their weight and lead to happier, healthier lives. With so many low-fat foods available today, it can be hard to choose one.
We gathered a list of the best low-fat dog foods and provided reviews on each to help you find the right one for your dog.
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2023 Update)
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Product
Details
Best Overall
Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food
Our best overall choice for low-fat dog food is Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food. The fat content is one of the lowest per serving, coming in at 6.5%. This is specially formulated for healthy weight management. It’s full of easily digestible carbs, like sweet potatoes and pea fiber. To support gut health, it has live probiotics and omega fatty acids. Chicken is the main protein source and the first ingredient, so even though this food is low in fat, it won’t leave your pup feeling hungry.
While most kibble is round, these bite-sized squares are ideal for dogs of all breeds and sizes. That said, there were complaints about the kibble’s shape.
Pros
6.5% fat content
Live probiotics
Suitable for all dog breeds and sizes
Cons
Kibble is square-shaped
2. Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food — Best Value
Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food is the best value choice for the money. The brand is vet-trusted and uses tailored nutritional formulas to target dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes. You won’t find any fillers or artificial preservatives in these bags.
This low-fat kibble is made of fiber and prebiotics. L-carnitine is added, which supports your dog’s metabolism. Protein from chicken and eggs supports healthy muscles and energy levels.
The downside to this food is it’s made with corn. However, Iams changed the recipe for this food. It now uses chicken as the first ingredient. Corn used to be the first ingredient in the old formula. While it’s still included in the ingredients, there is less of it than there used to be.
Pros
No filler or preservatives
Chicken is the first ingredient
Vet-trusted brand
Cons
Recipe uses corn
3. Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food — Premium Choice
The recipe in Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is made with deboned chicken as the first ingredient. It also has a low-fat content and low calories to help dogs start slimming down. Like other formulas from this brand, the food contains LifeSource Bits, which are little balls of nutrition. They are made of seven antioxidant-filled ingredients. This food is blended to help dogs lose weight and keep it off.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are added for joint health. Omega fatty acids support healthy skin and coat. The protein combined with L-Carnitine works to support lean muscle development.
The size of the kibble is small, which some owners of large dogs don’t like. This food is meant to be for dogs of all sizes, though, so the kibble size should work for everyone.
Pros
LifeSource Bits
Glucosamine and chondroitin
Cons
Small kibble size
4. Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
The low-fat formula in Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food meets your dog’s requirements for nutrition without all the extra calories. The first ingredient of deboned lamb gives this food high-quality protein content. Antioxidants and natural fiber keep your dog’s immune and digestive systems healthy while supporting healthy weight loss.
This flavorful food is made with non-GMO ingredients and has no corn, wheat, or soy. It is suitable for dogs of all sizes. The food has a strong earthy smell to it that some dog owners don’t like. It’s also said to be so full of fiber that dogs are pooping twice the amount that they used to. For dogs that aren’t used to food full of healthy fiber, there may be an adjustment period.
The recipe used in Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is made of nine key ingredients for healthy weight loss and maximum nutrition. It has chicken, turkey, and sweet potatoes, so your dog gets the protein and fiber that they need wrapped in a low-fat kibble. No corn, wheat, or soy are in this formula. Real vegetables provide vitamins and minerals that digest faster than those that are added synthetically.
A blend of Canidae’s HealthPLUS probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids is added for immune, skin, and digestive health. This is a good formula for less active dogs that need to lose weight or maintain a healthy one.
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food is specially formulated to help overweight adult dogs drop pounds in a healthy way. This food is low in fat and calories but still nutritionally balanced. It’s high in fiber for healthy digestion. The high protein content will keep your pup feeling full without excess calorie consumption. This food tastes great and has been reported to be a good choice for even the pickiest eaters.
This food should be eaten in a combination with a healthy exercise routine for your dog. Increased walking or running each day will help this food work faster so you see results.
After a month, some dog owners have reported no significant weight loss in their dogs. Exercise will help speed the process along, though.
Dry kibble and tender shredded pieces make up Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Dry Dog Food. The texture is enticing to dogs and full of flavor. Real chicken is the first ingredient, combined with prebiotic fiber and probiotics for digestive health.
This formula is made to support and maintain muscle mass during weight loss in dogs. Omega fatty acids and vitamin A are included for a healthy coat. This food is highly digestible and easy on dogs’ sensitive stomachs.
This food has changed recipes recently, and some owners do not like the new texture of the food. There are also reports of the food being crushed into dust inside the bag.
Pros
Enticing texture
Supports muscle mass
Prebiotic fiber
Cons
Crushed pieces of food in the bag
New recipe
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Low-Fat Dog Food
The amount of fat that a dog needs in their diet will vary depending on the individual dog. Young, highly active dogs can eat more fat than less active, older dogs that don’t move as much. Age, metabolism, activity level, and health status all factor into what each dog needs.
Why Is Too Much Fat Unhealthy for Dogs?
Just like too much fat in a human’s diet can cause problems, the same is true for dogs. Obese dogs are at an increased risk of diabetes, pancreatitis, heart disease, and joint/mobility problems. This can shave years off their lifespan. Keeping your dog slim and healthy is one way to ensure that they live a long, happy life.
Why Choose Low-Fat Dog Food?
Diets with more than 20% fat are considered high fat and less healthy for your adult dog. Dog owners are encouraged to feed their dogs a low-fat diet to keep their pups as healthy as possible and avoid unintentional weight gain. Low-fat foods can also be helpful for dogs with certain health issues because they are usually lower in carbohydrates too. Dogs should have some fat in their diet, but it should take up no more than 10%–15% of the nutritional content. Fat content lower than 10% will help dogs lose weight without sacrificing nutrition.
No dog owner wants their dog to go hungry, though. With low-fat dog food, your dog is automatically getting fewer calories. This means you don’t have to give your dog less food to have them eat less fat and calories.
Before buying any new food for your dog, always consult your vet first to make sure you’re feeding them what they need for their age, health status, and activity level.
Conclusion
Our best overall choice for low-fat dog food is Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food. It has a low-fat content of only 6.5%, along with probiotics for healthy digestion. For the best value, we like Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food. It has a 9% fat content and uses chicken as the first ingredient. Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is our premium choice, with its LifeSource Bits of added nutrients. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. We hope that our reviews have helped you find a low-fat food that your dog loves.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
