Dog Diets For Weight Loss — Essentials

Successful dog weight loss requires 60-70% diet management and 30-40% exercise, with precise calorie control being more important than increased activity alone

High-protein, low-carbohydrate therapeutic diets preserve lean muscle mass while promoting fat loss better than standard calorie-restricted diets

Dogs should lose 0.5-2% of body weight per week through gradual calorie restriction under veterinary supervision to avoid nutrient deficiencies

Medical conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease must be ruled out before starting any weight loss program

Pet obesity has reached epidemic proportions, with over 56% of dogs in the United States carrying excess weight. This alarming statistic represents millions of beloved companions at risk for serious health complications, reduced quality of life, and shortened lifespans. When your dog needs to lose weight, the path forward requires more than simply cutting back on portions or switching to a “light” food from the pet store.

Effective weight management for dogs demands a comprehensive approach that combines veterinary-supervised therapeutic diets, precise calorie control, appropriate exercise protocols, and ongoing monitoring. Unlike human weight loss, where countless options exist, dogs require specialized nutritional formulations designed specifically for their metabolic needs during weight reduction.

This guide provides evidence-based strategies for helping your dog achieve and maintain a healthy weight safely. From understanding the critical differences between therapeutic weight loss diets and commercial alternatives to implementing practical daily management techniques, you’ll discover how proper veterinary partnership and scientific nutrition can transform your dog’s health and extend their life.

Understanding Dog Obesity and Its Health Risks

The prevalence of obesity in dogs mirrors troubling trends in human populations, with rates ranging from 38.8% to 65% across developed countries. This excess weight carries devastating consequences that extend far beyond appearance. Obese dogs face significantly increased risks of osteoarthritis, with joint stress leading to chronic pain and mobility limitations that profoundly impact their daily activities and overall happiness.

Metabolic complications from carrying extra weight include insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, conditions requiring lifelong management and substantially reducing life span. Respiratory disease develops as excess pounds restrict lung capacity and increase breathing effort, particularly problematic during exercise or in warm weather. Even more concerning, research demonstrates clear links between obesity and certain cancers, with overweight pets showing higher incidences of mammary tumors, bladder cancer, and other malignancies.

The inflammatory cascade triggered by excess body fat creates a state of chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the dog’s body. This persistent inflammatory response affects organ function, accelerates aging processes, and contributes to the development of serious health issues including cardiovascular disease and kidney dysfunction. Chronic inflammation can severely compromise the dog's body, leading to a range of health complications that diminish overall well-being. Studies consistently show that obese dogs live approximately 1.8 years less than their normal weight counterparts, representing a significant portion of their expected lifespan.

Quality of life deteriorates as dogs struggle with basic activities like climbing stairs, playing, or even breathing comfortably during rest. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for the dog's health and can greatly improve the dog's life by increasing longevity and happiness. The psychological impact should not be overlooked either, as reduced mobility and chronic discomfort can lead to behavioral changes, decreased social interaction, and depression-like symptoms in affected animals.

Assessing Your Dog’s Weight

Regularly assessing your dog’s weight is a vital step in maintaining their overall health and preventing serious health issues associated with excess weight. One of the most effective ways to evaluate your dog’s weight is by using the body condition score (BCS) system. This system allows you to visually and physically assess your dog’s body by feeling their ribcage, checking for a defined waistline, and observing the abdominal tuck. A BCS of 4 or 5 out of 9 typically indicates a healthy weight, while scores above this range suggest your dog may be carrying excess weight or even be obese.

Monitoring your dog’s food intake and adjusting their dog food portions as needed can help prevent unwanted weight gain. It’s important to remember that even small increases in daily calories can lead to gradual weight gain over time. Regular check-ups with your veterinary healthcare team are essential for tracking your dog’s progress, identifying any early signs of health issues, and developing a weight loss plan tailored to your dog’s unique needs. By staying proactive and attentive to your dog’s body condition score, you can help them achieve and maintain a healthy weight, supporting their long-term well-being.

Body Condition Score assessment provides an objective method for evaluating your dog’s current status and establishing realistic target weight goals. This standardized system, typically using a 9-point scale, helps veterinarians determine how much weight your dog needs to lose and whether the excess represents primarily fat accumulation or other factors. The BCS evaluation examines rib coverage, waist definition, and abdominal tuck to create a comprehensive picture of body composition.

Medical screening becomes essential before implementing any weight loss plan, as conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome can make weight reduction extremely difficult or even dangerous without proper treatment. Blood tests evaluate thyroid function, cortisol levels, and other hormonal factors that directly influence metabolism and weight regulation. Additionally, screening helps identify diabetes, kidney disease, or liver dysfunction that could affect dietary recommendations or require modified approaches.

Calculating your dog’s specific caloric needs requires professional expertise using Resting Energy Requirement formulas that account for current body weight, target weight, age, activity level, and metabolic factors. This precise calculation typically results in feeding recommendations of 60-80% of maintenance energy requirements, with adjustments based on individual response and progress monitoring. Monitoring your dog's dietary intake is essential to ensure the plan is effective and supports healthy weight loss.

Regular progress monitoring through clinic visits every 1-2 weeks initially allows for prompt adjustments to the weight loss plan. These frequent check-ins help identify potential complications early while ensuring steady, healthy progress toward the target body weight. Following a structured diet plan and reassessing it regularly with your veterinary team is crucial for long-term success. As your dog approaches their goal, monitoring intervals may extend to bi-weekly or monthly assessments while maintaining accountability and support.

Therapeutic Weight Loss Diets vs. Commercial Foods

Understanding the fundamental differences between therapeutic weight loss diets and over-the-counter “weight management” foods could determine the success or failure of your dog’s weight reduction efforts. Choosing the right dog's food is essential for effective weight management, as it ensures your pet receives the proper nutrition while supporting healthy weight loss. Commercial pet store foods labeled for weight management are actually adult maintenance diets with slightly reduced calories, typically achieving only 10-15% calorie reduction compared to standard formulations. These products lack the specialized nutritional profile necessary for safe, effective weight loss while maintaining essential nutrients.

Veterinary therapeutic weight loss diets undergo rigorous clinical testing and contain precise formulations designed specifically for losing weight. These specialized foods typically provide 20-40% fewer calories than maintenance diets while incorporating metabolism-boosting nutrients, enhanced protein levels, and carefully balanced fiber content. Therapeutic diets are specifically formulated to promote weight loss while maintaining your dog's health and body composition. The calorie restriction achieved through these formulations allows significant weight reduction without the nutrient deficiencies that often result from simply feeding less of a regular diet.

High-protein, low-starch formulations represent the gold standard in therapeutic weight loss, with successful diets containing up to 48% protein and only 15-16% starch content. This macronutrient profile preserves lean body mass during weight reduction, ensuring that lost pounds represent fat rather than valuable muscle tissue. Maintaining muscle mass proves crucial for sustaining metabolic rate and preventing the weight regain that often follows rapid or poorly managed weight loss.

Special ingredients in therapeutic diets provide additional benefits beyond basic calorie restriction. Omega-3 fish oil reduces inflammation associated with obesity while supporting joint health and cognitive function. Soy isoflavones may help preserve muscle mass and support healthy metabolism during caloric restriction. Enhanced fiber content from sources like beet pulp or psyllium increases satiety, helping dogs feel satisfied with smaller meal portions while supporting digestive health.

Available formats accommodate various preferences and feeding situations, with dry kibble offering convenience and dental benefits, while wet foods provide increased satiety and palatability for finicky eaters. Many therapeutic diets offer multiple flavor options, ensuring that even selective dogs can find an acceptable option for their weight loss journey.

Calculating and Managing Daily Calories

Precise calorie management forms the cornerstone of successful canine weight reduction, requiring accuracy that extends far beyond general portion guidelines. Your veterinary team calculates specific daily caloric intake based on your dog’s current body weight, target weight, age, activity level, and individual metabolic factors. Knowing exactly how many calories your dog needs each day is crucial for safe and effective weight loss, as it helps prevent underfeeding or overfeeding. This calculation typically results in feeding approximately 75% of baseline maintenance energy requirement, with potential reduction to 60% if initial progress proves insufficient.

Kitchen gram scales become essential tools for accurate portion measurement, as volume-based measurements using cups or cans introduce significant variability that can undermine weight loss efforts. A digital scale accurate to 1-2 grams allows precise measurement of both dry and wet foods, ensuring consistent daily caloric intake throughout the weight loss program. This level of accuracy becomes particularly crucial for small dogs, where even minor measurement errors can represent substantial percentage changes in daily calories.

Maintaining a detailed food diary before beginning the weight loss plan helps identify current caloric intake and feeding patterns that may contribute to excess weight. Record all meals, treats, table scraps, and any other food items consumed over a typical week. This baseline assessment often reveals surprising sources of extra calories that owners may not have considered significant contributors to their dog’s weight gain.

Weekly adjustments to calorie amounts ensure continued progress toward target weight goals while preventing plateaus that commonly occur during extended weight loss periods. If your dog loses less than 0.5% of body weight weekly after the initial adjustment period, calorie reduction of 10-15% may be necessary. If your dog is not losing weight, it may be because they are consuming more calories than needed, so further adjustments should be made to reduce intake. Conversely, weight loss exceeding 2% weekly suggests the need for slightly increased portions to prevent excessive muscle loss or nutritional stress.

Monitoring techniques extend beyond simple weight tracking to include body condition assessment, energy level evaluation, and appetite patterns. Successful weight management requires balancing adequate nutrition with calorie restriction, ensuring your dog maintains vitality and health throughout the process while achieving steady progress toward their ideal weight.

The transition process begins with offering small amounts of the new therapeutic diet in a separate food bowl alongside the current food. Start with approximately 25% new food and 75% current food for the first week, increasing the proportion of therapeutic diet every 2-3 days. This gradual approach minimizes the risk of digestive upset while allowing you to monitor your dog’s acceptance and any adverse reactions to the dietary change.

Dogs without gastrointestinal sensitivities or food allergies may tolerate faster transitions, potentially completing the changeover within 7-10 days. However, rushing this process rarely provides advantages and may result in food refusal or digestive complications that delay the start of the weight loss program. Patient, gradual transitions typically yield better long-term compliance and fewer complications.

Address food refusal promptly by consulting your veterinary team rather than supplementing with treats or returning to the previous diet. Alternative flavors, different feeding schedules, or temporary feeding strategies may help encourage acceptance without compromising the weight loss goals. To prevent overeating and support weight management, do not leave food out for extended periods—remove uneaten food after 20–30 minutes instead of leaving food available all day. Some dogs benefit from warming wet food slightly or mixing small amounts of low-sodium broth to enhance palatability during the transition period.

Reassessment within one week of beginning the transition allows early identification of any concerns and adjustment of the approach if necessary. This early check-in ensures that the weight loss program begins as planned while addressing any feeding difficulties before they become established patterns of food refusal or inadequate intake.

Healthy Treats and Snack Management

Strategic treat management balances the emotional and training benefits of food rewards with the strict calorie control necessary for effective weight loss. Limiting treats to a maximum of 10% of total daily calories ensures that 90% of nutrition comes from the balanced therapeutic diet, preventing nutrient dilution while maintaining the caloric deficit required for losing weight. This approach allows continued use of food rewards for training and bonding without sabotaging weight loss efforts.

Low-calorie alternatives provide satisfying options that won’t derail your dog’s progress. Baby carrots offer satisfying crunch with only 4 calories per medium carrot, while green beans provide fiber and nutrients with virtually no caloric impact. Sliced cucumbers, small pieces of apple (seeds removed), and fresh blueberries create variety in treat options while contributing beneficial antioxidants and vitamins to your dog’s diet.

Creating a “treat budget” involves calculating the exact calorie allowance for rewards and measuring treats just as precisely as meals. For a dog receiving 300 calories daily, the treat allowance would be 30 calories maximum. This budget can be divided among training sessions, interactive toys, or special bonding moments throughout the day. Keeping pre-measured treat portions in small containers helps maintain accuracy while providing convenient access during training or play.

Avoiding high-carbohydrate, processed treats becomes crucial during weight loss, as these products often contain concentrated calories with minimal nutritional value. Commercial dog treats, biscuits, and especially human food items like cheese or lunch meat can quickly exceed the daily treat allowance with just small portions. Reading labels and calculating calories per treat helps identify problematic options that should be eliminated during the weight loss period.

Behavioral strategies help manage the social aspects of treat-giving that often complicate weight loss efforts. When your dog approaches an empty food bowl with begging behavior, redirect this attention toward play, petting, or a small drink of fresh water rather than additional food. Consistent responses to food-seeking behaviors help establish new patterns that support long-term weight management success.

Exercise Guidelines for Weight Loss

Exercise planning requires veterinary consultation before implementation, particularly for obese dogs whose cardiovascular systems and joints may not tolerate sudden increases in physical activity. Morbidly obese pets face significant risks from excessive exercise, including joint injury, respiratory distress, and cardiac stress that could result in serious complications. Your veterinarian can assess your dog’s current fitness level and provide specific guidelines for safe activity progression.

Target exercise protocols typically recommend 20-30 minutes of daily aerobic activity, ideally divided into two sessions to prevent fatigue while maximizing metabolic benefits. This duration provides cardiovascular conditioning and calorie burning without overwhelming dogs who may be significantly deconditioned due to prolonged inactivity. For optimal calorie burning and weight management, maintaining an average pace of 20 to 25 minutes per mile during walks is recommended, as this brisk, controlled pace helps induce a slight sweat and ensures effective aerobic exercise. The exercise intensity should maintain a brisk walking pace that elevates heart rate while allowing normal breathing and enthusiasm for continued activity.

Progressive increases of 10-20% weekly help dogs lose weight safely while building stamina and strength gradually. Begin with shorter sessions if your dog shows signs of fatigue, excessive panting, or reluctance to continue. Some severely overweight dogs may initially tolerate only 5-10 minute walks, requiring several weeks of conditioning before reaching target exercise duration. Patience during this building phase prevents injuries and ensures long-term exercise compliance.

Brisk walking provides an ideal foundation for most dogs, offering controlled intensity that can be easily modified based on individual capabilities. Using a short leash maintains consistent pace while preventing stops for sniffing or marking that reduce aerobic benefits. Consistent verbal encouragement and positive reinforcement help maintain your dog’s enthusiasm for exercise while building positive associations with physical activity.

Alternative activities accommodate dogs with joint problems or special needs that prevent traditional walking exercise. Swimming and hydrotherapy provide excellent cardiovascular conditioning with minimal joint stress, particularly beneficial for dogs with arthritis or hip dysplasia. Interactive play sessions, puzzle toys, and varied activities add mental stimulation that can increase overall energy expenditure while preventing boredom that sometimes accompanies repetitive exercise routines.

Managing Begging and Food-Seeking Behavior

Behavioral modification becomes essential for long-term success, as established patterns of begging and food-seeking can undermine even the most carefully planned weight loss program. Understanding that begging behavior often represents learned responses to previous reinforcement helps guide effective intervention strategies. Every time food is provided in response to begging, the behavior becomes stronger and more persistent, creating cycles that grow increasingly difficult to break.

Consistency in new feeding rules requires commitment from all family members, as mixed messages confuse dogs and slow behavioral change. Establish clear guidelines about when, where, and how food is provided, then maintain these boundaries regardless of pleading looks or persistent demands. Dogs excel at identifying the family member most likely to provide food rewards, so unanimous adherence to new rules becomes crucial for success.

Redirection strategies provide positive alternatives when dogs engage in food-seeking behaviors near meal times or around empty food bowls. Instead of providing treats or extra attention that reinforces begging, redirect this energy toward play, training exercises, or affection that satisfies social needs without involving food. A brief walk, interactive toy, or simple obedience practice can effectively interrupt begging cycles while strengthening your relationship.

Feeding small, frequent meals may help manage hunger and reduce the intensity of begging behavior, particularly during the initial adjustment period. Dividing the daily calorie allowance into 3-4 smaller portions provides more frequent satisfaction while maintaining the same total intake. This approach can be particularly helpful for dogs who seem constantly hungry during the early weeks of caloric restriction.

Professional guidance becomes valuable when begging behavior proves particularly challenging or when multiple pets complicate feeding management. Veterinary behaviorists or certified dog trainers can provide specific strategies tailored to your household dynamics while ensuring that behavioral interventions support rather than interfere with weight loss goals.

Therapeutic weight loss diets can serve as maintenance food for normal-weight dogs when fed in larger portions calculated for their metabolic needs. This approach simplifies household feeding routines while ensuring that all dogs receive high-quality nutrition. The increased protein and reduced carbohydrate content of therapeutic diets often provides superior nutrition compared to standard maintenance foods, potentially benefiting the entire household.

Designated feeding areas help establish clear boundaries and reduce confusion during meal times. Whether using separate rooms, crates, or simply different locations within the same space, consistent feeding spots help dogs understand where and when eating occurs. This structure supports training efforts while preventing the chaos that can occur when multiple hungry dogs compete for attention and food.

Timed feeding schedules with food removal after 15-30 minutes prevent grazing behaviors that make calorie tracking impossible. Free-choice feeding systems must be eliminated during weight loss programs, as they prevent accurate measurement of individual consumption. Using timers or scheduled feeding times helps establish routines that work for both pets and their human family members.

Avoiding self-feeders in favor of measured portions ensures that weight loss goals remain achievable. Automated feeders that dispense specific predetermined amounts can be useful tools, but they must be programmed correctly and monitored regularly to prevent malfunctions that could provide excess food. Manual feeding provides the most control and allows daily assessment of appetite and food acceptance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Dog Diets for Weight Loss

Helping your dog lose weight can be challenging, and there are several common mistakes that can hinder progress. One frequent error is not providing a balanced diet that meets all of your dog’s nutritional needs. Feeding table scraps or offering too many high-calorie treats can quickly lead to weight gain and may cause nutrient deficiencies. Another pitfall is failing to monitor your dog’s daily caloric intake—without careful measurement and portion control, it’s easy to overfeed, even with healthy foods.

It’s also important to avoid rapid weight loss, as losing weight too quickly can result in loss of lean body mass, malnutrition, and other health issues. Instead, aim for gradual weight loss of about 1-2% of your dog’s body weight per week to ensure safe and sustainable progress. Choosing healthy treats like baby carrots and green beans instead of calorie-dense snacks can help keep your dog satisfied without sabotaging their weight loss efforts. By focusing on a balanced diet, monitoring daily caloric intake, and prioritizing gradual weight loss, you can help your dog reach a healthy weight and avoid the risks of nutrient deficiencies and other health problems.

Monitoring Progress and Long-Term Success

Target weight loss rates of 0.5-2% of body weight per week provide safe, sustainable progress while preserving lean muscle mass and preventing nutritional complications. This gradual approach ensures that lost weight represents primarily fat tissue rather than valuable muscle, maintaining metabolic rate and preventing the rapid weight regain often seen with more aggressive programs. Faster weight loss may seem appealing, but it frequently results in muscle loss, fatigue, and metabolic adaptations that make long-term maintenance more difficult.

Regular weigh-ins every other week until target weight is reached provide objective assessment of progress while allowing timely adjustments to diet or exercise protocols. These frequent evaluations help identify plateaus early and distinguish between normal fluctuations and concerning trends that may require intervention. Consistent weighing conditions, such as the same time of day and same scale, improve accuracy and reliability of progress tracking.

Home weighing options using accurate bathroom scales can supplement veterinary visits for owners who want more frequent monitoring. However, pet scales or veterinary clinic scales typically provide greater accuracy, particularly for smaller dogs where pound or even ounce differences represent significant percentages of body weight. Regardless of the weighing method chosen, consistency in technique and timing improves the reliability of progress assessment.

Individual response variations require flexibility in program adjustments, as some dogs may lose weight more quickly initially then slow down, while others may show steady linear progress throughout the program. Factors including age, breed, starting weight, underlying health conditions, and individual metabolism all influence the rate and pattern of weight loss. Successful programs adapt to these individual differences rather than rigidly adhering to predetermined timelines.

Transitioning to maintenance feeding once target weight is achieved requires careful planning to prevent weight regain while meeting long-term nutritional needs. This transition typically involves gradually increasing daily calories until weight stabilizes at the desired level. Many dogs benefit from continuing therapeutic diets at maintenance calorie levels, as these formulations often provide superior nutrition compared to standard adult foods.

When Medical Issues May Be the Cause

Underlying medical conditions can significantly impair weight loss efforts, making proper diagnosis and treatment essential before implementing dietary interventions. Hypothyroidism, one of the most common causes of weight gain in dogs, reduces metabolic rate and makes losing weight extremely difficult despite appropriate calorie restriction. Dogs with untreated thyroid disease may show minimal progress even with strict adherence to therapeutic diets and exercise protocols.

Cushing’s syndrome, characterized by excess cortisol production, creates metabolic changes that promote weight gain and make weight reduction challenging. Affected dogs typically display characteristic symptoms including increased appetite, excessive urination, panting, and a pot-bellied appearance. Proper diagnosis through specialized blood tests allows targeted treatment that can dramatically improve weight loss success when combined with appropriate dietary management.

Common symptoms that suggest underlying medical conditions include persistent lethargy despite adequate rest, hair loss or coat changes, frequent urination or excessive thirst, and difficulty losing weight despite strict adherence to calorie restrictions. These signs warrant comprehensive medical evaluation before attributing weight problems solely to dietary factors or lack of exercise.

Diagnostic testing may include complete blood chemistry panels, thyroid function tests, cortisol measurements, and sometimes specialized hormone stimulation tests. These evaluations help identify treatable conditions that may be contributing to weight problems while ruling out other health issues that could affect dietary recommendations or exercise protocols.

Concurrent medical treatment often dramatically improves weight loss success when underlying conditions are properly managed. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroid dogs frequently results in improved energy levels, better exercise tolerance, and more responsive weight loss. Similarly, appropriate treatment for Cushing’s syndrome can restore normal metabolism and make dietary interventions far more effective.

FAQ

---

How long does it typically take for a dog to reach their target weight?

Weight loss duration varies significantly by individual dog and may take several months to over a year depending on how much weight needs to be lost. Dogs should lose 0.5-2% of their body weight per week, so a 60-pound dog needing to lose 15 pounds would take approximately 15-30 weeks with consistent diet and exercise. Factors like age, breed, starting condition, and adherence to the program all influence the timeline.

Can I use a regular commercial dog food and just feed less of it for weight loss?

No, simply reducing portions of regular dog food can lead to nutrient deficiencies since your dog won’t be getting adequate vitamins, minerals, and protein. Veterinary therapeutic weight loss diets are specially formulated to provide complete nutrition while restricting calories, often with metabolism-boosting ingredients that regular foods lack. This specialized formulation makes therapeutic diets far more effective and safer than portion restriction alone.

What should I do if my dog seems constantly hungry on the weight loss diet?

This is normal initially as dogs adjust to smaller portions. Try feeding smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, adding low-calorie vegetables like green beans to meals for bulk, ensuring adequate exercise to tire them out, and redirecting begging behavior with play or attention rather than food. The hunger sensation typically decreases after 2-3 weeks as dogs adapt to the new feeding routine.

Are there any dog breeds that have more difficulty losing weight than others?

Yes, certain breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles are genetically predisposed to weight gain and may require more strict calorie management. Additionally, spayed and neutered dogs of all breeds typically need 20-30% fewer calories than intact dogs due to hormonal changes affecting metabolism. Age-related changes also affect metabolic rate, with senior dogs often requiring modified approaches.

How do I know if my dog is losing weight too quickly or too slowly?

Healthy weight loss should be gradual at 0.5-2% of body weight per week. If your dog is losing more than 2% weekly, increase calories slightly to prevent muscle loss. If losing less than 0.5% weekly after 2-3 weeks, decrease calories by 10-15% or consult your veterinarian about program modifications. Rapid weight loss can cause muscle loss and nutritional deficiencies, while too-slow progress may indicate the need for medical evaluation or program adjustments.

Conclusion

Supporting your dog to lose weight and maintain a healthy body condition requires a thoughtful, comprehensive approach. Utilizing a therapeutic weight loss diet, establishing a structured weight loss plan, and carefully monitoring daily caloric intake are all essential steps. Collaborating with your veterinary healthcare team ensures that your dog’s weight loss journey is safe, effective, and tailored to their individual needs. Avoiding common mistakes—such as overfeeding, choosing the wrong foods, or allowing rapid weight loss—will help protect your dog from serious health issues linked to obesity in dogs.

Remember, a balanced diet and healthy treats are key to promoting weight loss while preserving your dog’s overall health. With patience, consistency, and the right support, you can help your dog achieve a healthy weight, reduce the risk of health issues, and enjoy a longer, happier life. By following these weight loss tips and working closely with your veterinary team, you’re taking important steps toward pet obesity prevention and ensuring your dog’s well-being for years to come.