What Is Metabolic Dog Food?

Obesity is a growing problem in dogs, just as it is in humans. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. If your dog is overweight or obese, you may be wondering what you can do to help them lose weight. One option is to switch to metabolic dog food.

Metabolic dog food is specially formulated to help dogs lose extra weight and maintain a healthy weight. These foods typically contain high levels of fiber, which helps dogs feel full and satisfied after eating. They may also contain other ingredients that help boost metabolism, such as L-carnitine and green tea extract.

Benefits of Metabolic Dog Food

Benefits of metabolic dog food for a dog’s weight management include:

• Helps dogs lose weight and maintain a healthy weight
• Contains high levels of fiber, which helps dogs feel full and satisfied after eating
• May contain other ingredients that help boost metabolism, such as L-carnitine and green tea extract
• Is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of overweight and obese dogs

Things to consider about metabolic dog food:

• Can be expensive
• Not all metabolic dog foods are created equal, so it’s important to do your research
• If you overfeed your dog, they may not lose weight or may even gain weight

If you’re considering switching your dog to a prescription diet food, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you determine if metabolic dog food is right for your dog and can also help you develop an effective weight loss plan.

Choosing the Right Weight Loss Plan

There are a number of different metabolic dog foods on the market, so it’s important to do your research to find one that is right for your dog. Some factors to consider include your dog’s age, breed, activity level, and existing health conditions (if any).

If you’re thinking about switching your dog to metabolic dog food, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian. They can help you determine if metabolic dog food is right for your dog and can also help you develop a weight loss plan.

Second, it’s important to make sure that you’re feeding your dog the correct amount of food. Overfeeding can actually sabotage your dog’s weight loss efforts.

Finally, be patient. It takes time for dogs to lose weight, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. With the right diet and exercise, your dog can reach and maintain a healthy weight.

What to Look for in Metabolic Dog Food

A recent University of Illinois study found that the best dog food for weight loss is a high protein, high fiber diet. The study, reported in the Journal of Animal Science, found overweight dogs fed a reduced-calorie, high-protein, high-fiber diet for 24 weeks lost weight and decreased inflammatory markers.

Pet parents may gravitate towards commercial brand dry dog food like Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management, but aren’t aware of the amount of cheap fillers (like powdered cellulose) and by-products used — and what that means for pet nutrition.

In fact, the first two ingredients of this Hill’s Science diet are corn-based (whole-grain corn and corn gluten meal). Corn is used in almost everything because of its accessibility, but it is heavily used in kibble simply because it’s cheap to produce, not because it has high nutritional value.

The third ingredient is chicken by-product meal. This is what’s left of slaughtered chicken (like brains, blood, fecal matter, and intestines) after the parts fit for human consumption have been removed.

To find a truly healthy, well-rounded diet for your adult dog’s unique metabolism, do some research. Consider a veterinary diet for weight control that offers authentic nutritional value starting at ingredient No. 1.

Healthy, Fresh Dog Food for Metabolic Support

The JustFoodForDogs Metabolic Support Diet is formulated to support a healthy metabolism for overweight or diabetic dogs through the right balance of high protein, fiber-forward, and controlled carbohydrates that help your dog thrive.

As Dr. Oscar Chavez, BVetMed MRCVS MBA, explains in the video below, he found that giving dogs with diabetes the Metabolic Support Diet was actually “supporting the natural physiology of the dog so that they are treating their own diabetes more effectively and relying less on [their humans] to give them insulin.”

Our Metabolic Support diet is made using 100% fresh, whole-food ingredients approved for human consumption. It meets the key nutritional factors for the nutritional management of diabetes mellitus, metabolic disease, and obesity in dogs.

It contains:

• restricted complex carbohydrates and extremely low simple sugars
• increased fiber to improve satiety and help maintain a more steady blood glucose absorption with insulin therapy
• restricted fat
• carefully controlled protein
• USDA inspected and approved ingredients
• No preservatives
• No fillers
• No by-products

Nutrition of metabolic diets like JFFD’s is specially formulated. It is hand-prepared in open kitchens using turkey breast, oats, beta-carotene-rich butternut squash, beef liver, whole psyllium husk, and omega-3-rich fish oil. The Nutrient Blend consists of key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Coconut Oil, Taurine, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A, and Folic Acid.

Calorie Content (Calculated):
1818 kcal ME/kg; 52 kcal ME/oz
936 kcal ME/18 oz; 3744 kcal ME/72 oz

Feeding Guide for Canine Weight Loss

Whether you feed your dog fresh dog food, wet dog food, or kibble brands like Royal Canin and Hill’s, it’s important to follow the feeding instructions provided for a successful weight loss journey. Small breeds and large breeds won’t be eating the same amounts, nor will dogs with certain sensitivities be able to eat just any new food.

Other ways to help your dog lose weight

Not all dogs that need help getting to their ideal weight need to eat metabolic dog food. There are several easy lifestyle changes you can implement in your dog’s day-to-day to help them get to a healthy weight.

Other strategies for weight reduction in dogs include:

• Increase your dog’s exercise.
• Limit your dog’s treats and table scraps.
• Feed your dog at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Choose high-quality dog food that is formulated for overweight or obese dogs.

You can also opt for healthy dog food that does not require a prescription. Our Chicken & White Rice recipe, for example, uses real chicken (not chicken flavor or chicken meal) and is a good lean protein option. Checkout our grain-free Fish & Sweet Potato recipe, which is another good choice for maintaining a healthy weight.

With the right diet and exercise plan, your dog can reach and maintain a healthy body weight.

This content is for informational use only and does not replace professional nutrition and/or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for and should not be relied upon for specific nutrition and/or medical recommendations. Please talk with your veterinarian about any questions or concerns.

Yates, Diana. n.d. “Overweight Dogs Respond Well to High-Protein, High-Fiber Diet.” News.illinois.edu. Accessed June 11, 2024. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/2053895670.