Best Dog Food for Weight Management

Updated September 2020
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food
Hill's Science Diet
Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food
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Bottom Line

A trusted brand that's often recommended by veterinarians and a recipe that has earned praise by many dog owners for the results it provides in their pets' diets.

Pros

Known to produce weight loss in dogs when fed according to directions. Most dogs are attracted to the flavor. Contains antioxidants, whole grains, and chicken as the first ingredient. Doesn't have preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Cons

Contains some animal by-product and fillers, but is balanced with lots of high-quality ingredients. Some reports of loose stools until dogs get use to eating it.

Best Bang for the Buck
Pedigree Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
Pedigree
Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
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Bottom Line

A popular brand that has nutritious ingredients and flavor most dogs enjoy. Though not premium, it provides good results for most canines without breaking your budget.

Pros

Earns praise for being enticing to most dogs that try it, and resulting in weight loss with regular feedings. Doesn't contain artificial flavors or sugar. Falls on the lower end of the price spectrum for weight management dry dog food.

Cons

Contains fillers, including corn, and animal by-products. May cause a bit of stomach upset, such as gas, in some dogs.

Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro
Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
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Bottom Line

This is a nutrient-rich dog food made with quality ingredients; but you may have to pay close attention to portion sizes to for optimal weight loss.

Pros

A limited-ingredient recipe that doesn't contain wheat, corn, soy, or by-products. No artificial ingredients. Blended with quality protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Most dogs love the flavor. Comes in small and large dog kibble, and several bag sizes.

Cons

Not all dogs lost weight after eating it, and some gained weight. A few reports of stomach upset. Pricey.

Iams ProActive Health Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Chicken
Iams
ProActive Health Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Chicken
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Bottom Line

This weight management dog food comes with some desirable features; but some others on our list offer similar results and better ingredients.

Pros

Formulated with quality chicken protein for optimal flavor. The addition of fiber and prebiotics aids digestion, which is beneficial for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. Many owners are pleased with how well their dogs eat it and the weight loss as a result.

Cons

Contains corn as the number one ingredient and has by-products. Some owners voiced concern about formula changes.

Pedigree Weight Management Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food
Pedigree
Weight Management Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food
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Bottom Line

Whether you want to mix it with kibble or your pooch will only eat canned food, this is a good option for dogs on a diet.

Pros

A low-fat canned dog food with a flavor many dog owners say that their pets love. Contains ingredients that are easy to digest, such as rice.

Cons

Consistency is somewhat thick and "clumpy" for canned food – some consumers wish it had more gravy. Contains by-products.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

39 Models Considered
8 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
667 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Dogs gain weight just like humans. Just like us, being overweight can lead to a number of dangerous health issues. An overweight dog can experience ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, to name a few. Luckily there is a wide variety of weight-loss dog food available to help your hefty pup. Always look for a weight loss food that has a low caloric count, but is high in fiber. This will ensure your dog feels full after eating. Another thing to look for is food with probiotics. Probiotics help prevent an upset stomach during the transition between brands, which can sometimes be hard.

Other Products We Considered
The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.
Purina ONE
SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula Dog Food
Hill's Science Diet
Perfect Weight, Small & Mini Breeds
PURINA Pro Plan
Weight Control High Protein Dry Dog Food
Hill's Science Diet
Perfect Weight Canned Dog Food
Blue Buffalo
Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Dog Food
The team that worked on this review
  • Jennifer
    Jennifer
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
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Nutro

Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro

Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food

This is a nutrient-rich dog food made with quality ingredients; but you may have to pay close attention to portion sizes to for optimal weight loss.

$59
×

Hill's Science Diet

Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food

Hill's Science Diet

Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food

A trusted brand that's often recommended by veterinarians and a recipe that has earned praise by many dog owners for the results it provides in their pets' diets.

$37
×

Pedigree

Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food

Pedigree

Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food

A popular brand that has nutritious ingredients and flavor most dogs enjoy. Though not premium, it provides good results for most canines without breaking your budget.

$13
×

Iams

ProActive Health Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Chicken

Iams

ProActive Health Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Chicken

This weight management dog food comes with some desirable features; but some others on our list offer similar results and better ingredients.

$37
×

Pedigree

Weight Management Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food

Pedigree

Weight Management Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food

Whether you want to mix it with kibble or your pooch will only eat canned food, this is a good option for dogs on a diet.

$10

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