My dog is overweight. Can I feed him more with low-calorie food?

Many pets like Brees suffer from being overweight. If you are looking for an over the counter product, try Royal Canin or Hill Science Diet (both brand carry 'light' diets). In my opinion, the prescription food made by Royal Canin called Satiety Support is a great option because the portions are large (which most dogs like) but they still lose weight. The other things that could be contributing to his weight problem could be a condition called Hypothyroidism. This commonly makes dogs heavy and have problems losing weight. A doctor can determine Brees' thyroid status with a simple blood test. Medication is needed to regain normal metabolism.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend just changing to a lower calorie diet such as the one you mentioned. Other low fat or weight loss diets that I have had a very good experience with are Hills metabolic weight management diet and the Royal canin GI low fat diet. Good luck!

You can try science diet senior light formula with small bites as an option or try one of their prescription formulas such as metabolic. Purina also makes a prescription type called OM and has severe reduced calorie over the counter options. You will need to really regulate the amount of food she receives in a day more than anything. You can switch her potty treat to Cheerios--they are small and have few calories to add up. For a 10# dog to lose weight, you are looking at feeding her a little less than 1/2 cup of food a day total. It is not much, so you want to really measure it with a measuring cup. You can try to increase her activity level and play with her and add in walks to also help burn calories

First of all i would not recommend soaking any dog food in water. if she is just slightly overweight you can put her on an over the counter reduced calorie dry food, you can chose the same brand you are using at the moment or any other brand that you find in your pet shop. if she is more than a little bit overweight then she will need a prescription low calorie food from your vet. for each food the quantity will be different but it will be written on the food label with clear instructions.

Specialist weight loss diets are the most effective way to manage weight issues as they are designed to provide all nutrients required, promote fat loss and maintain muscle mass whilst also allowing the dog to feel full. Reducing weight on standard foods is very difficult and requires feeding of approximately two thirds of the recommended amount, based on target weight which can leave patients hungry

I would suggest regular exercise and a prescription diet for maximum effect. Ask your vet about prescribing one for Ellie. My top recommendations are Hill's Metabolic, Hill's R/D or Royal Canin low calorie.

I would stay with the light diet. Weight controls usually just controls his weight where it is at currently. You could try to decrease the amount being fed and replace it with canned green beans to help increase fiber and decrease calories. I would also ensure he is getting some daily exercise. I hope this helps!