10 Best Dog Food for Weight Loss 2024: Top Picks

Obesity is among the most common health issues for dogs. It can lead to heart problems, joint pain, and many other medical complications.  If your couch potato has become a couch watermelon, you need to look for healthier dog food. But finding the right meals can be a real challenge.

Low-quality commercial dog food can contribute to dog obesity. It contains fillers that provide bulk and calories but little nutritional value. Premium foods portioned out to suit your dog’s nutritional and caloric needs are the best dog food for weight loss.  

I’ve come up with a list of the best dog food delivery services for weight loss diets after exploring the many services available. My picks are great options for dog owners who want to help their companion get back into shape. 

My top choice is The Farmer’s Dog. Its fresh, human-grade meals contain all the nutrients your dog needs and come in convenient pouches for easy portion control. But all the meals on this list can help your dog shed those unhealthy pounds. Read on to find out more! 

The Best Dog Food for Weight Loss Reviewed

1. The Farmer’s Dog – The Best Dog Food for Weight Loss 2024

The Farmer's Dog uses only premium, human-grade ingredients, and it has a great on-site meal personalization quiz for you to tailor the best possible diet for your dog.

What's on Offer?

You start your subscription with a comprehensive quiz. First, you answer questions about your dog’s breed, sex, weight, activity level, and allergies or medical conditions. Then, The Farmer’s Dog uses this information to tailor a meal plan that’s perfect for your pet’s weight-loss journey. 

The Farmer’s Dog also offers a DIY Nutrient mix and recipes. So if a dog food subscription for your pudgy pet is beyond your budget, you can prepare your own human-grade food at home and add the DIY Nutrient mix. This way, your pet can get a fully balanced meal that helps them lose those extra pounds.  

The company’s meals contain no bone meal, soy, or artificial preservatives. All meats are antibiotic-free, and all vegetables used are non-GMO and gluten-free. And because it is nutrient-dense, your dog needs less food to feel full. 

What Makes It Special?

With The Farmer’s Dog, you know you’re giving your pet just what they need. Overfeeding can be a significant hurdle when trying to manage your dog's weight. Each box comes with a set number of bags you keep in the freezer. You defrost as necessary and feed your pet the recommended portion. 

The Farmer’s Dog is also environmentally conscious. All packaging is designed with the earth in mind. Shipping boxes and insulation are fully recyclable and compostable. The food storage containers are degradable, and the food is packed in non-toxic, BPA-free materials.

Is It Good Value?

Meals are designed in collaboration with board-certified veterinary nutritionists. They make sure that your dog gets all the nutrients and minerals they need to stay healthy. We noted that all The Farmer’s Dog meals meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards in our tested review.

If your dog doesn’t like the food, The Farmer’s Dog offers a full refund on your first order. All they ask is that you donate the unopened food to a local pet shelter so that other dogs in need can enjoy healthy meals. 

The Farmers Dog has very reasonable prices, starting at just $2/day. Your first order is a 2-week trial run to see how your pet feels about their new meal plan. Future orders will arrive every 3-8 weeks, so make sure you have room in your freezer! 

2. Spot & Tango – Great Healthy Fresh and Dry Dog Food

Spot & Tango stands out for pet owners who feed their pups fresh and dry meals. The service's unique Fresh Dry™ option offers a hybrid of both. It also has a great meal personalization quiz, which is  on par with The Farmer's Dog's , in my opinion.

What's on Offer?

Spot & Tango Fresh recipes are made with turkey, beef, and lamb, plus healthy ingredients like red quinoa, millet, brown rice, eggs, and blueberries, each providing fiber and important nutrients. Fresh meals are small-batch cooked in a USDA-approved facility and are all gluten-free.

UnKibble is made with beef, turkey, chicken, cod, and salmon. It may also contain brown rice, sweet potatoes, barley, carrots, and pumpkin, depending on the recipe. It is prepared with whole fresh ingredients using Spot & Tango’s Fresh Dry™ process, giving you the benefits of both fresh and dry dog foods.

UnKibble remains fresh for up to 12 months when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, it's best if your dog consumes them within 8 weeks. Spot & Tango fresh food can stay for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and is freezable for up to 6 months.

What Makes It Special?

A balanced diet is essential to keeping your dog’s weight down. Spot & Tango Meals consist of 50% muscle and organ meats, 30% starch, and 20% fruits and vegetables. We thought that Spot & Tango meals were a much healthier alternative to commercial dog foods. Find out more in our review. 

Protein plays a pivotal role in muscle building and weight maintenance. All Spot & Tango recipes are high in protein, especially the Turkey recipe, which stands out at almost 14%. This is ideal if you want to ensure your flabby dog builds healthy muscles.

Is It Good Value?

Spot & Tango's ingredients are of the highest quality. All produce is certified non-GMO and sourced from the US. Meats are USDA-approved human-grade and free from any hormones or antibiotic treatments. There are no artificial preservatives, colors, additives, or flavors.

Pricing starts at <$1 per meal. UnKibble is around 40% cheaper than Fresh meals, and shipping is free. You can get a 2-week Starter Pack for your pup, and if they don’t like it, Spot & Tango will give you a full refund.

3. Ollie – Best Selection of Human-Grade Food and Treats

Ollie meals are formulated by veterinarians to ensure they're packed with all the vitamins and minerals your overweight pet needs. Each meal is carefully slow-cooked in a USDA-certified kitchen to kill bacteria while preserving vital nutrients. 

What's on Offer?

The primary ingredient in Ollie recipes is meat. A diet higher in meat and lower in empty calories and filler can help make your hound less round. Ollie also adds fresh superfoods like carrots, blueberries, and kale to cover all your dog’s dietary needs.

The fresh meals feature human-grade chicken, beef, turkey, pork, and lamb. In addition to its fresh meals, Ollie offers baked meals in chicken and beef varieties. The pet food delivery service’s meals are high in protein, so they’re great for overweight dogs who need to regain muscle mass. 

Subscribers get access to Ollie’s treats and supplements. Replacing table scraps with healthy Ollie treats is a big step toward slimming down your dog. Ollie’s supplements include a Hip and Joint Supplement chew that can help soothe the joint issues that can arise from dog obesity.

What Makes It Special?

Ollie offers a Half Fresh plan that covers 50% of your dog’s dietary needs. You can start your dog on the road to fitness by giving them a taste of fresh, healthy food. We tested Ollie and found the Half Fresh plan was a great way to improve your dog’s eating habits.

Ollie provides a portion-serving spoon that helps you measure meals accurately. You also get an air-tight storage container to keep thawed Ollie food fresh and a feeding guide to ease your dog’s transition to its new diet.

Is It Good Value?

There are no artificial flavors or harmful fillers in Ollie meals, and you won’t find common allergens like corn, wheat, or soy. And when you take the Ollie quiz, mentioning any sensitivities your dog has means Ollie will only recommend items without that ingredient.

Ollie’s prices start at $4-$8 per day. You can choose between Fresh, Half Fresh, or Mixed plans. 

4. The Pets Table – Best Dog-Tested Food for Weight Loss

The Pets Table has meals that may help your dog lose weight. Also, you can take the dog food delivery service's quiz to calculate the right amount of food for your pet. 

What's on Offer?

The Pets Table provides 5 dog meal options, 4 of which are grain-free. And according to the info on the website, the fresh meals are a hit with finicky eaters.

The Beef & Berries air-dried meal is great for your dog’s vision and shiny coat, and if your dog doesn't mind food containing cereals, Chicken & Sweet Potato is good for immunity and gut health.

Available fresh meal options include Turkey Casserole with Broccoli, Chicken Casserole with Green Beans, and Beef Stew with Carrots. Extra ingredients in these dishes may include chickpeas, eggs, spinach, and apples. For a larger assortment of fresh dog meals,  check out The Farmer's Dog .

What Makes It Special?

The Pets Table presents 4 subscription plans to suit different dietary preferences and budgets. These are Air-Dried, Fresh, Mixed, and Half of Fresh. The Half of Fresh plan is an excellent choice if you're not ready to fully transition from your dog's current diet, but would like to incorporate new options. Read our full review to learn more about the company's plans.

This dog food subscription service is unique in that dogs directly taste-test its meals. As a result, every meal The Pets Table ships has been approved by their 4-legged experts: a cavapoo, a shihchon, and a bernedoodle.

You can take a meal personalization quiz to tailor your dog's mealtime. Pay special attention to the What's (your dog's name) weight? and How would you best describe (name) body? questions. Upon completion of the questionnaire, you'll get food recommendations. 

Is It Good Value?

The Pets Table incorporates premium, human-grade ingredients in its fresh dishes. Its air-dried meals undergo a gentle baking process, rendering them more nutritious than the offerings of many conventional services. Moreover, the provider's recipes cater to dogs at every stage of life.

You can try The Pets Table risk-free thanks to a money-back guarantee. Opt for a trial box to take advantage of this policy. Should your dog dislike its food, reach out to customer service within 30 days to receive a full refund or credit.

The price tag of the service's meals starts from $1.59 per meal. Prices vary depending on your dog's breed, size, activity, and other factors. You can order the company's recipes anywhere in the contiguous US.

5. We Feed Raw – Best Raw Dog Food Delivery Service

We Feed Raw offers meals that replicate a dog's ancestral diet, with single- and multi-protein recipes on offer. What’s more, you can take a meal personalization quiz to tailor your bulky dog's mealtime. 

What's on Offer?

Your meal suggestions are customized based on your dog’s dietary requirements, age, and breed. We Feed Raw offers venison, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and duck. All meats used in making We Feed Raw food are human-grade. The service uses high-pressure processing (HPP) to eradicate pathogens while maintaining its nutritional value.

Each recipe includes natural ingredients containing important vitamins and minerals. The Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids found in flaxseed are important for dog hearts, brains, and immune systems. Riboflavin and folic acid help with circulation and blood, while calcium carbonate promotes strong bones.  

Many dogs find a raw diet easier to digest. Easier digestion often means more efficient nutrient absorption, which can aid in your dog’s weight management. If your dog is gaining weight on their current feeding regimen, a raw diet might help them lose weight and feel better.

What Makes It Special?

We Feed Raw delivers portioned dog meals directly to your doorstep. With We Feed Raw, you don’t have to stress about meal prepping for your dog. Just thaw and serve the food. We tried We Feed Raw and found that it provides a no-fuss, easy-to-use experience for newcomers to raw dog food. 

Puppies and senior dogs alike can enjoy a We Feed Raw diet. The diet is designed by a PhD animal nutritionist and is suitable for dogs at all life stages. If your old dog has piled on the pounds, a We Feed Raw diet can not only help with weight loss but also leave your senior pet looking happier and more energetic. 

Is It Good Value?

Each We Feed Raw packet consists of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% edible bone. If you’re looking for a natural approach to dog weight management, this blend mirrors what dogs would naturally eat in the wild.

We Feed Raw prices start at $6.59/lb, and you can order between 30 and 120 pounds of frozen patties. 

6. Nom Nom – Best Gently Cooked Meals for Your Dog

Nom Nom specializes in gently cooked food for dogs. Besides nutritionally balanced recipes, it has a couple of health-promoting supplements on offer. What’s more, veterinary experts formulate the company's dog meals. 

What's on Offer?

Nom Nom offers 4 recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, and Turkey Fare. Each meal packs a hearty dose of meat complemented by fresh vegetables that provide fiber and nutrients. There is a minimum of 7% protein in each meal. 

Every piece of meat and vegetable in a Nom Nom meal is cooked individually. They are then mixed in batches to retain essential nutrients, boosting the food's digestibility, which is crucial for dogs needing to shed some weight. Our review provides more details about how we thought Nom Nom was a great way to improve your dog’s diet.

You can also choose between several Nom Nom Probiotic supplements. These supplements not only improve your dog's stomach health but can be particularly beneficial for obese dogs, as they help ensure efficient digestion and nutrient absorption.

What Makes It Special?

Nom Nom provides a complete ingredient listing on its website, giving you a clear nutritional breakdown of every meal component. This allows you to choose meals with the right nutritional balance for effective weight loss and to discover any ingredients that your pet may be allergic to. 

Nom Nom is backed by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. All its recipes are meticulously crafted based on scientific research and data to make sure that your dog gets nutritionally balanced meals.

Is It Good Value?

Nom Nom uses genuine ingredients without adding preservatives, fillers, and other dubious extras. The brand cooks its components at controlled, low temperatures before combining and freezing them. This process guarantees high quality, great taste, and safety for shipping.

Prices start at $5/day per day. Your Nom Nom subscription offers 1, 2, or 4-week delivery options. If you wish to test the waters before subscribing, buy a Sampler Pack, which contains 200g of each company's fresh meal.

7. JustFoodForDogs – Best for Obese Dogs With Other Conditions

JustFoodForDogs boasts a good range of fresh frozen and wet options. There are plans specifically designed for puppies and senior dogs, as well as meals catering to both small and large breeds. No matter how old your overweight dog companion is or what size they are, JustFoodForDogs can provide them with healthy meals. 

What's on Offer?

All meals from JustFoodForDogs are handmade with professional oversight. They are formulated and crafted by veterinarians, food safety specialists, and nutrition consultants in kitchens that are open to the public. You can drop by during working hours and see for yourself their high quality standards.

JustFoodForDogs also offers treats and supplements. You can find Pork Treats and Beef Liver Bark Treats and Joint Care and Calm supplements, among others. You can also buy DIY Homemade meals if you prefer preparing nutritionally balanced meals for your dog at home.

JustFoodForDogs uses only top-tier, USDA-certified ingredients and buys all its produce directly from local farms in California. It also donates regularly to animal shelters and rescue organizations and offers a discount program for both service dogs and military working dogs. 

What Makes It Special?

A pre-purchase questionnaire helps you tailor a meal plan for your pet. Once you've filled out this form detailing your dog's needs, you'll receive a meal plan customized for their specific requirements. 

Chunky dogs get all the protein, nutrients, and minerals they need without excess calories. Our JustFoodForDogs review states that the questionnaire was very helpful for choosing meals for his dog’s needs.

Is It Good Value?

For dogs with special health needs, JustFoodForDogs provides prescription diets. These diets are tailored to address conditions like allergies, kidney disease, and diabetes. If you have a pet with any of these health concerns and are also aiming for weight loss, JustFoodForDogs is a great choice.

Prices start at $6.45 per pack. JustFoodForDogs gives you the option to subscribe to the auto-ship program. You then choose the frequency of delivery from weekly to every 12 weeks. Autoship subscribers also get 5% off every order, and shipping is free with a $99 order of either dry or frozen food. Otherwise you pay a steep $19.99 shipping fee. Because they ship in different packaging, you can’t mix and match frozen and dry foods to meet that $99 requirement.

8. PawFoods – Gluten-Free Dog Food for Weight Management

PawFoods emphasizes that its meals are great for various aspects of dog health, including weight management. It doesn't have a large assortment, but where it lacks in quantity it makes up with quality. And you can test its offerings risk-free. 

What's on Offer?

PawFoods gently steams its meals to eliminate pathogens while retaining essential nutrients and flavor. The company incorporates proteins, vegetables, fruits, and superfoods into each recipe, and all the offerings are gluten-free.

Choose from Steak Sensation, Chicken Feast, and Under the Sea recipes. All contain only natural ingredients and are free of meat by-products, fillers, and preservatives. They come in conveniently sized trays for different dog sizes. Check out our in-depth review to learn more about PawFood’s offerings. 

What Makes It Special?

This dog food subscription service includes Salmon, Fruity, and Minty Paws organic treats in its lineup. Opt for Salmon Paws to enhance your dog's coat and skin health, Fruity Paws to support immune health and joint function, and Minty Paws for fresher breath. 

Note that Steak Sensation and Chicken Feast contain grains, namely brown rice. If you feed your dog cereal-free meals for any reason, your only PawFoods option is the Under the Sea Recipe. Alternatively, consider subscribing to Nom Nom, which has 3 gently cooked, grain-free recipes on offer. 

Is It Good Value?

PawFoods offers great value for your investment, prioritizing high-quality ingredients and meticulous food processing methods. Still, if your dog is particular about food, you might need to explore other services due to PawFoods' somewhat limited variety. If unsure, start with a one-time purchase to test the waters before committing long-term. 

The cost of the provider's meals starts at $2.86 per meal. The exact cost of your dog's diet, however, depends on its age, activity level, breed, and other factors. PawFoods ships nationwide free of charge if your order exceeds $25.

9. Raised Right – Great Human-Grade Family-Owned Dog Food

Raised Right merges years of experience in farming and ranching with the insights of expert veterinarians and pet food scientists. As a family-owned, human-grade pet food company, Raised Right is committed to providing safe, fresh, nutrition-dense recipes tailored for your dog.

What's on Offer?

Variety is at the heart of Raised Right's offerings. It provides 4 protein options: chicken, beef, pork, and turkey. Each of these meals is formulated to be low in carbohydrates and high in protein, ensuring your dog gets the optimal diet for healthy weight management.

The company uses human-grade, ethically sourced ingredients. It prioritizes real meat such as chicken, beef, and fish as the primary protein source, ensuring that your pet is eating as well as you do. You can check the map on the website to determine exactly where every ingredient in your dog’s food came from.

Raised Right also offers Meat Bites and Shake a Flakes treats for your pet. They are available in beef, lamb, and turkey liver flavors, and the Meat Bites have a pork liver option. You can replace your chunky dog’s fattening table treats with nutritious, lower-calorie snacks they will love.

What Makes It Special?

Raised Right makes recommendations based on your dog's specific weight goals. It adjusts recipes based on whether you want your dog to maintain, lose, or gain weight. If you’d like to get your 100-pound Golden Retriever back to a svelte 70, Raised Right will recommend portions suited to their activity level.

Upon subscribing, you can receive your preferred quantity of dog food anywhere from weekly to every 28 weeks. Note that the minimum purchase for subscribers is set at 16 bags, with each bag weighing 1 lb, regardless of whether you’re buying food for a puppy or an adult dog.

Is It Good Value?

Our review speaks highly of Raised Right’s transparency in sourcing and the high quality of its ingredients.

You can choose between 4-bag (Sample Box) and 16-bag orders. The price is $9.99/bag, and subscriptions or 1-time purchases are available. Shipping is free for full boxes (16 bags), but if you order a sample box, you’ll pay a $9.99 fee. 

10. Open Farm – Best Sustainable Dog Food for Weight Loss

Open Farm partners with small family farms for ingredients. These farms prioritize sustainable and ethical farming practices, ensuring that the meat used in its products is humanely raised. An Open Farm diet isn’t just healthier for your chubby friend, it also supports responsible farming. 

What's on Offer?

You get many choices when choosing your dog’s new weight loss diet with Open Farm. Options include dry, wet, freeze dried raw, gently cooked, and raw mix. The pet food subscription service also offers supplements, bone broth, and treats to complement your pet’s primary diet. 

Open Farm’s RawMix is a nutrient-dense kibble coated in bone broth and freeze-dried raw blend, and topped with raw meat chunks. It's a perfect way to transition your kibble-loving dog to a weight-conscious diet.

Most meals are grain-free. These alternatives contain ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and menhaden fish as substitutes for whole-grain barley. For those with dogs suffering from severe protein allergies, Open Farm also offers hypoallergenic plant-based and insect kibble formulations. 

What Makes It Special?

The Open Farm website lets you filter recipes by food type, dietary requirements, and even low-carbon options. Open Farm also offers puppy, senior, and small breed formulations. 

All Open Farm shipments use packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials. Open Farm doesn’t just support sustainable farming, it also works hard to reduce waste and shrink its carbon footprint. Check out our review to find out why we thought that Open Farm was a great choice for eco-conscious pet owners. 

Is It Good Value?

You’re sure to find something healthy to get your dog back into shape. The company is transparent about its ingredient sourcing and it audits its providers to ensure only top-quality ingredients. And if you also have an overweight cat, Open Farm offers cat food, too.

Prices start at $7/day . Open Farm gives you a range of subscription plans, but if subscriptions aren't for you, 1-time shipments are also an option. Open Farm's commitment to premium ingredients and sustainable practices means that its products can be a bit more expensive than some other dog foods.  

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Dog Food for Weight Loss 

Here are some of the things you need to look at when searching for the best dog food for weight loss. Putting your dog on a diet is a big change for everyone, and these pointers will help both of you make the transition more smoothly. 

• With weight loss food, less is more: Your pet will feel more full if they eat a meal that is rich in nutrients, protein, and fiber like the recipes at The Farmer’s Dog. Commercial food has more empty calories and fewer nutrients, so your dog has to eat more to meet their nutritional needs. 

• Consider your budget: Dog food delivery services can be expensive, especially if you’re trying to slim down an overweight giant breed dog like a St. Bernard. Ollie’s Half Fresh plan lets you replace part of your dog’s current diet with nutrient-dense lower-calorie food.

• Check your freezer capacity: Fresh dog food needs to be stored frozen, which may become an issue if you don’t have the freezer space. Spot & Tango’s UnKibble can be stored at room temperature, which means you can keep it in your closet or pantry unopened for up to 12 months. 

• Don’t be afraid to try a few providers: Finding the right dog food for weight loss can be tough if your dog is a picky eater. If your dog has a preference for a particular type of food, Open Farm offers various alternatives, including wet and dry meals.

FAQ

Can I just feed my dog less of his regular food?

When you reduce portions, make sure your dog is getting enough nutrients. If you’re feeding your pet cheap commercial dog food, they may already have a vitamin deficiency. It’s better to feed your dog smaller, nutrient-dense meals from a company like The Farmer’s Dog.  

How can I stop my dog from begging for table scraps?

The best way to stop table-begging is by providing your pet with healthy dog treats. Table scraps are a leading cause of dog obesity. Ollie’s selection of dog treats are lower in calories and better for your pet’s health.  

What makes raw dog food good for weight loss?

Raw dog food is packed with lean protein and rich in nutrients. This means your dog gets full faster and gets essential vitamins and minerals they might miss on a commercial food diet. We Feed Raw offers raw meals that are great for overweight dogs.  

Best Dog Food for Weight Loss in 2024 — Final Score