56% of dogs in the US are overweight or obese, it is really one of the serious problems in dogs! If your Golden Retriever is overweight and has gained some non-essential fats on the body, I can help your overweight Goldie! Feed good nutrition and go for a proper weight management diet for your elegant looking dog. Choosing the best weight loss dog food for Golden Retrievers is really tough but I’ve done the hectic part for you!
Health risks for an overweight dog are serious and every pet parent should know it! Diabetes, damage in joints, orthopedic problems, heart disease, and increased blood pressure are a few health problems caused by dog obesity.
This can reduce their quality of life and potentially shorten it too.
Don’t get stressed out! In fact, 63% of Golden Retriever are overweight, according to the data collected by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
You are not alone there are more than 63% overweight Goldens on the globe and few of them have loosed their weight and I’m sure your Golden will also lose his/her weight!
There’s a solution for your overweight Golden, here’s it:
- Keep your dog active.
- Limit treats.
- Monitor your Golden’s weight.
- Go for a Weight-Management diet.
- Feed fewer carbohydrates and more protein.
Now there are numerous brands out there representing themselves as the best weight-management dog food but I’ll be genuinely listing out the best weight loss dog food for golden retrievers.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers (Overview)
| Editor’s Picks | Brand |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult, Perfect Weight for Weight Management, Chicken Recipe |
| Runner Up | Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food & Wet Dog Food |
| Great Pick With A Special Weight Loss Ingredient | Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dry Dog Food for Overweight Adult Dogs |
| Best Overall (Not for Sensitive Dogs) | Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food |
| Best Grain Free Pick | Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food |
Overview Of The Best Picks
Are you in a HURRY?
Wait, and have a look at this table! I hope that this would save much time of yours. You can be assured, we only choose the Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
For a detailed product review with (pros and cons), you can jump directly to the following third section or keep reading for more details!
How Do I Know If My Golden Retriever Is Overweight?
You should be able to feel your Golden Retriever’s rib without a thick layer of fat over them, chest should be wider than the abdomen with a noticeable tuck-up from chest to stomach. Even standing yourself behind your golden and observing the abdomen whether it is round and bulgy, if yes you have an overweight Golden Retriever.
If you have a doubt when you notice your Golden be overweight, go for a veterinary visit. This will help you to know the potential causes with the proper treatment solutions
Also, if your Golden Retriever’s body weight is 10%-15% above a healthy body weight then your Golden is obese. Overweight dogs have no waist and no distinction between the chest and stomach!
Veterinary visit is recommended after you notice your dog be overweight.
How Can I Help My Overweight Golden Retriever?
Have a watch on daily caloric intake, don’t unnecessarily give them treats, this can be problematic!
More Exercise, yes exercise your Golden more than you used to or have never exercised! Don’t go for a long 6-mile-run the next morning this can lead to injuries in your pooch. Start slowly with short-distance walks and then you can increase it gradually.
Use Weight Management Dog Food, once you go for a checkup and you get to know that your Golden is obese you’ll also be recommended by the vet to use ‘weight loss dog food’! Now, there are lots of weight loss dog food in the market but I’ve mentioned some of the best ones in this article! So, go ahead and check them out!
Visit your vet, yes sometimes you can’t get all the actual knowledge on the web, sometimes it can be some medical problems and that’s why you should take the help of your vet first, he’ll properly guide you.
Measure everything your Golden eats.
5 Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
As 56% of dogs in the US are overweight or obese, these can lead to some serious health problems!
Once you are sure that your Golden is Overweight and you want them to get back to lean body, there are plenty of ways to do that!
Food does play a significant role while losing your Golden Retriever’s weight. Here are the Top 5 Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers. They can definitely help you!
1. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult, Perfect Weight for Weight Management, Chicken Recipe
- Breakthrough adult dry dog food clinically proven for weight management
- Over 70 % of adult dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this safe & effective weight...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best weight management adult dry dog food with clinically proven results. It is safe and effective for your Golden Retriever, weight loss with visible results within 10 weeks.
Veterinarian recommended and will help your overweight Golden to maintain a healthy weight with this diet of dry dog food by supporting and maintaining your Golden’s muscles.
70% of dogs have lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition – HillsPet
There are a few cheap dog foods that practice adulteration which fewer down’s the quality of the food but this product has, no artificial flavors, no synthetic colors, and not artificially preserved.
Chicken Recipe is the main ingredient following Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pea Fiber, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, and more.
I always recommend that go for dog food with the ingredient ‘Taurine’ which helps to keep your dog’s heart healthy and ‘Taurine’ is also there in this dog food, great!
Overweight dogs have different biology than lean dogs and keeping the overweight dogs in mind Hills’s Pet has come up with this product.
Healthy weight maintenance and long-lasting weight support are some of the key features of this dog food.
Pet parents like you find this product to be easily palatable for their Golden Retrievers. As it is made of natural ingredients it is perfect for your Golden’s bowl.
2. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food & Wet Dog Food
- Protein-to-fat ratio is optimized to maintain muscle mass during weight loss
- High protein formula, with real chicken as the first ingredient
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Purina is one of the top dog food brands in the market and especially for overweight and less active adult dogs they have come up with this product with a weight management formula.
With high-quality protein including real chicken as the first ingredient. 25% less fat than Pro Plan SAVOR Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula for adult dogs.
During the weight loss, your Golden Retriever will require more high-level of protein to protect their muscles, and this product ‘Purina Pro Plan Weight Management’ has got it, with 28% of protein.
To promote digestive health for total well-being, natural prebiotic fiber is used which is sourced from wheat bran. Additionally, for healthy skin and shiny coat Vitamin A and linoleic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid is used.
There’s a daily feeding chart at the backside of the product so while feeding your golden you can refer to that for calorie reduction, according to your vet’s advice.
It has both dry and wet dog food style with 3 different flavors and 4 different sizes, this premium dog food supports your dog’s overall health and wellness!
Formulated to give 100% complete and balanced nutrition for overweight and less active adult dogs, with optimal protein to fat ratio for ideal body condition.
3. Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dry Dog Food for Overweight Adult Dogs
- CHICKEN MEAL IS THE FIRST INGREDIENT providing essential protein and amino acids to help...
- TARGETED NUTRITION Formulated with quality protein, wholesome grains, added vitamins, and...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Is your Golden Overweight? Still, he craves for a great taste? This product from ‘Natural Balance’ would help you in weight management and healthy digestion.
L-carnitine is a vitamin-like compound made in the body from amino acids and recent scientific studies show that it can help to reduce weight in overweight dogs. L-carnitine promotes weight-loss in overweight dogs.
This dog food is made with targeted levels of L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight.
Contains special fiber and protein for your golden to feel full and satisfied.
To promote healthy digestion in your Golden Retriever, it contains wholesome grains with fiber, with additional vitamins E, C, and zinc to support healthy immune!
Chicken Meal and Salmon Meal are the primary ingredients. Founded in 1989, Natural Balance is still serving dogs like yours one of the trusted brands out there and also available on Amazon, but hard to get at local stores.
For complete and balanced nutrition for an overweight adult Golden Retriever, this is good to go dog food!
Want to give it a try? Check today’s price on Amazon.
4. Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
- Contains one (1) 15 lb. bag of NUTRO ULTRA Adult Weight Management Dry Dog Food with a...
- Features trio of protein from chicken, lamb, and salmon—chicken is the #1...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rich trio source of protein, chicken, lamb, and salmon. Real Chicken is the number 1 ingredient. Nutro has specially put together this product for overweight adult dogs by helping them to manage their healthy weight.
It provides high-quality ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients which comprehensively provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs.
Made with high-quality protein and other quality ingredients like blueberries, sunflower oil, protein from the egg, chia, kale, coconut, and more than 15 vibrant superfoods.
With non-GMO ingredients and no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
It is crafted nutritionally for your dog’s weight management, good digestion, healthy teeth and bones, radiant skin, and coat.
Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food is made with quality ingredients as Nutro itself pledge for quality ingredients on most of the food bag’s cover! Sourced from the trusted network of farmers and suppliers.
Goldens too deserve to enjoy their food as we do, this Nutro ULTRA weight management dog food will help your obese Golden for weight loss!
5. Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- GRAIN-FREE ADULT DRY DOG FOOD: Premium protein from responsibly sourced turkey is expertly...
- LEANER BODY MASS AND MUSCLE TONE: Based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs thrive on...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is one of the best grain-free protein-rich nutrition for overweight Golden Retriever.
It focuses on whole ingredients like Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, and Chicken Meal recipe. Designed to support lean body mass and overall healthy weight including 42% high-quality protein ingredients.
Turkey is the number 1 ingredient.
Highly concentrating on protein from fresh meat ingredients. 25% Less fat compared to Wellness Core Original for perfect weight management. With glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate it supports hips and joints.
With guaranteed levels of omega fatty acids from ingredients like salmon oil and flaxseeds which supports your dog’s skin and coat. No meat by-products, fillers, artificial colors, or flavors.
There are 2 separate feeding guidelines for weight maintenance and weight loss, choose the one you need and start feeding your pooch, and do monitor your Golden’s weight for 2-3 weeks, to notice the amount of weight your doggy has lost!
If your dog gets constipated, you can also mix this food with wet dog food with grains.
For well-being and whole-body health, it is supported by omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, and probiotics.
Being grain-free and gluten-free it makes an excellent option for dogs with sensitive stomachs too!
How to Choose The Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers?
There are a lot of factors to consider when you choose dog food and in this case, not only weight management would solve your problem. You have to look for high-quality ingredients and their sources, rich in protein, weight loss/weight management formula, taurine for a healthy heart, and no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and more few things.
You should also focus mostly on your dog’s needs as advised by your vet. The dog breed, age, size, are they going under any health issues, are they active or not, and few more such factors.
I’ll be going to the main factors that you should look at, let’s learn more about it!
Ingredients
One of the important factors, you need to know! Always check that the dog food you’ll be getting should help your obese dog to lose weight. As losing weight is the salient feature of these dog foods, you should also know that what your dog loves and what he dislikes.
There are different flavors of these dog food, you should know what flavor your dog hates and loves so that you don’t order the one he/she hates.
Few dogs are affected by ingredients like soy, wheat, corn, gluten, grain-free products. It would be harmful to a few dogs so be sure that you don’t pick these.
Age
An adult dog food would not be perfect nutrition to grow a puppy. You must be sure about your dog age and getting the respective weight loss/management dog food would be effective.
There are a few diet food brands who serve for all dog ages, in that case, no worries but mostly the brands mention the age in the description of the product so it’s better to refer to the age before ordering one!
Breed
You can’t choose a small breed dog for a large breed dog! The kibble size also matters, but rather than that, a few dogs can develop joint problems from a high-calorie diet, and Golden Retrievers can help one of them.
If your Golden has Joint Problems, you can have a look at these 5 Best Joint Supplement For Golden Retrievers.
After you are sure that this dog food bag would be best for my Golden Retriever, you can also discuss it with your vet about it! If he says yes to the product you are going then no problem.
For a healthy and fit life for your Golden, you should be sure to match the metabolism and other few aspects according to your dog’s need.
Calories
Whichever dog food you choose should cause weight loss in at least 10 weeks. The number of calories in every cup of food that you’ll be feeding should be enough to keep your Golden Retriever from being hungry.
Don’t Miss This, About Weight Loss Food Brands
There are plenty of dog food brands out there, but you need to know the best one and I’ve mentioned the best ones above, you can take the help of those to decide the best weight management dog food for your Golden Retriever.
Test it out for your Golden and then see whether it is suitable and your Golden, go for a small bag of food first.
Don’t forget that there’s a transition period, I’ve mentioned some super-duper helpful tips about how to transition your dog food in the FAQ section below, do check that!
FAQ
How Can I Transition To Weight Loss Dog Food For My Golden Retriever?
I have not gone through the overweight problem but yes I have gone through the skin allergies for Max and at that time, I had got a new food by hillspet and that had a transition guide on the product, which was like this:
Day 1 to Day 2 – I served him 80% Old Food & 20% New Food
Day 3 to Day 4 – I served him 50% Old Food & 50% New Food
Day 5 to Day 6 – I served him 20% Old Food & 80% New Food
Day 7 – I served him 100% New Food
This helped me a lot, I gradually changed the food and that worked out for me, you can also transition your weight management food in this way!
How Many Calories Does A Golden Retriever Need?
There’s a calorie chart on PlatoPetTreats which is linked by me many times, and you can also check out that calorie chart it’s beneficial additionally they have a calorie counter on that page too! Have a look at the calorie chart and calorie counter here – A Dog’s Daily Calorie Calculator
What Are A Few Tips For An Overweight Golden Retriever?
Always keep these things in mind when you want to lose out your Golden’s weight:
1. Be specified on how much you are feeding
2. Increase Exercise Safely
3. Avoid High-Fiber Foods
4. Measure everything you feed
5. Feed the right fats to your pooch
6. Monitor your Golden’s weight Everyday
7. Don’t feed the unwanted treats
Conclusion
I hope that I was helpful throughout the post? Did you found the dog food that you were in search of?
Out of the 5 best weight loss dog food for Golden Retrievers, you might have got the one you were finding for your overweight golden.
As you know that nearly 63% of Golden Retrievers are overweight, a variety of problems can disturb you and shorten the lifespan of your Golden, so take care of your Golden and rethink the treat you feed.
If still your dog doesn’t start to lose weight after eating the weight management or weight loss dog food, have a consultation with your vet on feeding amount and guidance, as all dogs are “different”.
Related – Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Skin Allergies
