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Best Low-Fat Dog Food 2025
Written by Wag! Staff
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 08/23/2023, edited: 03/03/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
There are lots of reasons why your dog might need low-fat dog food. The most obvious is if your pup is carrying too many pounds and you need to help get them back into a healthy weight range. A low-fat diet may also be recommended if your dog suffers from pancreatitis or if they have a sensitive stomach.
But which is the best low-fat dog food for your pet? There are lots of products to choose from, so to help make choosing a dog food easier, we’ve put together this guide to the best low-fat dog foods on the market right now.
You might also want to check out our guide to the best dog foods for overweight dogs.
Overview
Merrick Healthy Grains Healthy Weight
5
Vet recommended
Merrick’s Healthy Grains Healthy Weight Recipe offers wholesome nutrition for your fur-baby.
This low-calorie recipe features deboned chicken as the first ingredient, and contains optimal fiber for healthy digestion. Omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids help maintain skin and coat health, while glucosamine and chondroitin are included to promote strong joints.
Merrick is also a brand that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends to her clients. “Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors,” says Dr. Jeremiah.
Grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and oatmeal support a healthy digestive system, while taurine is added to ensure a healthy heart and immune system. So, if you’re searching for a low-fat diet for your dog, this Merrick recipe is well worth adding to your shopping list.
To dig deeper into this dog food brand, hop over to our Merrick dog food review.
Merrick Healthy Grains Healthy Weight
Why Wag! loves Merrick
- Recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and Wag! veterinary consultant
- Cooked in the USA
- Supports healthy joints, which is important for dogs that may sometimes be a little overweight.
- No corn or soy
Considerations & concerns
- There are cheaper foods available
- Not suitable if your dog has a chicken allergy
- Some picky eaters don’t like this food
What pet parents say about Merrick Healthy Grains Healthy Weight
“I am happy with this weight loss formula. My 11yo female Lab had hit 79 pounds after she started slowing down with age. She has just finished 2 bags and lost 4.5 pounds in that time. Had her into [the] vet today and [the] vet said she could see the difference and there was no deficit to her coat, which is still in great condition. Dog likes the food. No trouble switching over, but she was on the same Merrick formula previously, just not the weight loss version.”
“My chunky Labrador had ballooned up to 106 pounds and needed to lose some serious weight, and my Dachshund is prone to a fat belly as well. The calories in this food are much less than regular food so I was able to still feed the same amount with less calories. I'm happy to report that they are both looking thinner. I feed it to all my pups since they are getting older and a little more sedentary. Even my GSP eats this food and doesn't seem to need the extra calories as she's maintaining her girlish figure nicely, although I do give her cheese on a regular basis for her twice daily medicines!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight
4.5
Vet recommended
We think Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight is the best low-fat dog food for a range of reasons.
Featuring deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this low-calorie diet is designed to help dogs with a tendency to carry excess weight to stay in a healthy weight range.
“Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”
This recipe features antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like carrots, cranberries, and blueberries, and it includes all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs for a strong immune system. And because it’s available in bag sizes ranging from 3 pounds to 30 pounds, it’s designed to suit a wide range of pet parents and their pups.
For the full scoop on this furrific dog food brand, check out our Blue Buffalo dog food review.
Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight
Why Wag! loves Blue Buffalo
- Recommended by Dr. Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and Wag! veterinary consultant
- Small- and large-breed recipes also available
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Features Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits to provide essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
Considerations & concerns
- Not suitable if your dog has a chicken allergy or intolerance
- On the pricey side when not bought in bulk
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight
“I started giving my chubby girl this food about 2 years ago. All our friends can tell she’s gone from 82lbs to 75lbs and has maintained it. I even put a little wet food with it. She manages our steps much better now.”
“I am someone who takes forever to make a decision when purchasing anything for my girls because I do SO much research. I just want to make sure I am making the best, most educated decision for them as possible since they cannot make these decisions for themselves. So ingredients and benefits are the most important thing I look for, but it has to be within reason price-wise. This Blue Buffalo food seemed to have great, natural ingredients but also would not break the bank. And my girls absolutely love this food! They get so excited at meal time and it seems to be slowly but surely helping them get to a healthy weight since that is the reason I purchased it. Thankfully it has never given them what I call soupy poopy, and they seem to be losing their excess weight at a nice slow pace. They also seem to have a bit more energy. They nap less and play more which I love and obviously also helps with getting them to and maintaining a healthy weight. So I highly recommend this food and have since put it on auto ship for my babies.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
Wellness Core Reduced Fat
4.5
Best grain-free option
Formulated with 25% less fat than Wellness Core Original, this reduced-fat dog food recipe has lots to offer for pet parents looking to help their dog cut out the calories. This grain-free recipe is high in protein to promote lean muscle mass, with deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal its first 3 ingredients.
This recipe is high in fiber but low in calories to help your pup stay in shape, and it also features probiotics to promote healthy digestion. Glucosamine and chondroitin help ensure that your dog has strong joints, and omega fatty acids will keep your fur-baby’s coat looking its best.
This food is available in 4-pound, 12-pound, and 24-pound bags, so look for it next time you’re stocking the pantry for your pup.
And if you'd like to sniff out more info on this brand before buying, dig into our Wellness dog food review.
Wellness Core Reduced Fat
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents complain about the amount of crumbs/dust in this food
- Pricier than some alternatives
- Some pet parents prefer grain-inclusive dog foods
What pet parents say about Wellness Core Reduced Fat Dog Food
“My small, picky dog loves this food. We switched him to this from puppy food and it's the first food he actually wants to eat. We even use it as treats on walks and in training and he's all in. I was worried the pieces were too big for him at first, but not at all!”
“This past July we brought our dog Champ to the vet and we’re shocked to learn his weight was pushing 90 lbs. He is a 5 yo male golden retriever and keeping his weight down has always been a struggle, but 89.5lbs was a shock. Our vet recommended looking into a lower-calorie or weight-loss food from the same brand we were already using. We cut back the table scraps somewhat, but overall we didn’t change much other than Champ’s food. We brought him to the vet just to get weighed a month ago and HE LOST 10 LBS!!!!! We had started to notice his energy level was a little higher but we never would have thought he lost 10 lbs. This food definitely works! We are continuing to use it for now until he sheds a few more pounds but we could not be happier with the results!!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company.
Canidae Pure Goodness Healthy Weight
4.5
Vet recommended
Next on our list of the best low-fat dog foods is this Pure Goodness recipe from Canidae.
“Canidae dog food is made with high-quality animal protein sources, providing essential amino acids, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can trigger allergies,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants.
This limited-ingredient diet features chicken as the first ingredient and a small selection of easily recognizable wholesome ingredients. This makes it a good choice if your fur-baby has a sensitive stomach, and there’s no corn, wheat, or other fillers to worry about.
This recipe also features Canidae’s HealthPLUS blend of probiotics for gut health, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health. So if you’re searching for a low-fat dog food with limited ingredients, Canidae Pure Goodness Healthy Weight is well worth a closer look.
To learn more about this brand, check out our Canidae dog food review.
Canidae Pure Goodness Healthy Weight
Why Wag! loves Canidae
- Recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and Wag! veterinary consultant
- Made in the USA
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Probiotics for a healthy gut microbiome
Considerations & concerns
- The fact that it’s grain-free won’t please everyone
- There are cheaper foods on the market
- Some pet parents report that this food causes an upset stomach
What pet parents say about Canidae Pure Goodness Healthy Weight
“I have a Husky with weight issues and a Frenchie with allergy issues. We've been using this food for about a month now and both seem to like it. They moved to it easily and seem to like the taste. So far I'm happy with it!”
“My 10 year old female Staffordshire terrier loves this food. In all fairness, she loves ALL food, but at least this one has high-quality ingredients.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Canidae.
Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management
4.5
Best for multiple protein sources
If you’re searching for a high-protein, low-fat food that will have your dog licking their lips, look no further than this Superfood Plate Weight Management recipe from Nutro's Ultra line.
Featuring chicken as the first ingredient and also including chicken meal, lamb meal, and salmon meal, this formula is packed full of goodness for your fur-baby.
The word “superfood” in its name refers to the fact that this recipe includes ingredients like chia, kale, and coconut.
It’s low in fat to help your pup stay in a healthy weight range, and there are no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or other nasties to worry about.
If your overweight adult dog needs help staying in shape, Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management could be the “pawfect” fit.
Nutro Ultra Weight Management
Why Wag! loves Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Features glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Considerations & concerns
- The use of multiple protein sources won’t suit all dogs
- There are cheaper foods available
- Some complaints about upset stomachs
What pet parents say about Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management
“I wanted to find another good weight control choice as my dog gets burnt out eating the same thing for too long. In her senior years she has become very picky. She loves the flavor and the kibble size.”
“My Vet recommended this food years ago when my dog needed to loose some weight. Bonnie Blue loves it! I love how all that is put in the food is natural and no fake foods. I recommend Nutro to everyone who asks what kind of food they should feed their dogs!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare, Inc.
NutriSource Weight Management
4.5
Vet recommended
NutriSource may be one of the lesser-known brands featured in this guide, but it offers high-quality nutrition for dogs of all shapes and sizes.
“NutriSource offers convenient and affordable kibble varieties for dogs of various life stages,” explains Dr. Georgia Jeremiah.
This Weight Management Recipe features chicken, chicken meal, and pea fiber as its first 3 ingredients, and it's been formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines for all life stages.
It features the nutrition of wholesome grains to provide the prebiotics and probiotics your dog needs for a healthy gut microbiome.
And with supplements like L-carnitine, taurine, choline chloride, and more included, it offers everything your pet needs to stay happy and healthy.
NutriSource Weight Management
Why Wag! loves NutriSource
- Recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and Wag! veterinary consultant.
- Features omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Chicken is the first ingredient.
- Promotes good gut health.
Considerations & concerns
- Not as widely available as some other brands.
- Not cheap.
- Not a hit with some picky eaters.
What pet parents say about NutriSource Weight Management
“#1 My dog likes it. #2 She did lose weight. She looks healthier. And she is happy.”
“I ordered this version of my dog’s food when the vet said he should take off a few pounds. After a few months he did just that. He loves the taste. I will admit that my Golden loves all things edible :) His coat has remained nice and he seems satisfied after eating. So, I have been very happy with this food.”
Read more reviews on Amazon.
Image sourced from Amazon. Copyright Tuffy's Pet Foods.
FAQ
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