More than half of all dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese, according to statistics from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). Helping your pet lose weight - and keep it off - can extend their healthy years with you. 

With a raw diet, you can satisfy your pet’s cravings for real meat, control hunger between meals, and help them maintain muscle mass, all while helping your pet achieve or maintain a healthy weight. Read on to learn how feeding a raw diet can be a great way to fight weight gain and obesity in dogs and cats.
 

Why Do Dogs and Cats Become Overweight?

Our pets depend on us for every meal and every snack. Yet, they can still struggle to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. 

Excess weight gain and obesity boils down to our pets consuming more calories than their body can burn. Factors like activity level, endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease, and even spaying and neutering can affect how our pets burn calories and store body fat.

It’s not always as simple as feeding a pet too much. Reducing your pet’s meal portions can help reduce their calorie intake, but when done incorrectly, it can lead to unmet nutritional needs and excessive hunger.
 

Does Weight Management Pet Food Really Work?

For many, weight management pet foods help pets achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Those backed by feeding trials have been tested and proven to safely and effectively aid weight loss in dogs and cats. 

Most weight management pet foods work by limiting fat intake while increasing whole grain fiber intake, helping pets feel full and energized on fewer calories.

These traditional weight management pet foods, available in kibble and canned formulas, can work very well. Yet, some pet parents may instead choose to try raw pet foods to help manage their pet’s weight.
 

How Raw Food Can Help Your Pet Lose Weight

Raw pet foods contain moderate fat and little fiber, instead helping pets maintain and achieve a healthy weight with a high protein and low carbohydrate content.

“Just like people, many pets gain weight when they eat excess carbohydrates. Kibble is generally around 60% carbohydrates, so it definitely can promote weight gain,” says Dr. Gary Richter, DVM and founder of Ultimate Pet Foods.

Lean protein in raw pet food can help your pet feel sated on fewer calories. Protein also helps with muscle building and recovery, giving your pet the energy to burn more calories throughout the day.

Transitioning to raw is easy with Nutra Complete Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Dog Food. It’s made up of 95% organic lean chicken and beef to fuel your dog’s weight loss while appealing to their discerning taste buds.

“Food can be supplemented with chopped vegetables (cooked or raw) to help bulk up the food if your pet is looking for more to eat. Eliminate high-carb and high-fat treats in favor of veggies or freeze-dried or dehydrated pieces of meat,” adds Dr. Gary. 

“You can keep treats to a minimum by breaking them up into smaller pieces and feeding them throughout the day.  Remember, our pets get excited about getting a treat, not about the size of the treat.”

Try lean, single-ingredient, high-protein options like Ultimate Pet Nutrition Nutra Bites for high-value training rewards and snacks between meals.
 

Need Help With Your Pet’s Weight Loss?

With a successful weight loss plan, your pet can lose about 0.5-1% of their body weight per week. If you’re not seeing results, if your pet needs extra help, or if you need help organizing a healthy weight loss plan for your pet, talk to your veterinarian. Get answers today when you schedule a same-day televet appointment with VetLive.