ultra low fat diet for dogs
Best Low Fat Dog Foods
Annamaet Lean Reduced Fat is a grain-free dog food that contains high-quality ingredients with just 8% fat and 30% protein. This formulas main protein source is chicken meal, and it also includes added L-carnitine which helps promote a healthy weight while keeping your dogs mind sharp.
Annamaet is a moderately priced grain-free dog food for pups on a low-calorie diet. Its safe for dogs with GI issues and is formulated for breeds of all sizes.
Read our review of the full Annamaet Grain Free Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, field peas, lentils, potato, tapioca Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 30% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog has GI issues (inflammatory bowel type stuff) and was on expensive prescription dog foods for many years until I discovered this food. He has had no more active GI issues for a few years now and tolerates this food perfectly. We also had weight issues and this food helped make him a healthy weight again along with exercise! He loves it. Highly recommend."
Eagle Packs Reduced Fat Dog Food contains just 7% fat while still consisting of 24% protein. The primary ingredient is pork meal, a protein-rich meat product. Eagle Pack is not grain-free, but contains gluten-free grains such as brown rice and oatmeal. One of the biggest draws of Eagle Pack is its relatively low price compared to other high-quality lean foods.
Eagle Pack is a great choice for picky eaters and dog parents on a budget. At four stars, its a well-made lean dog food that is moderately priced.
Read our review of the full Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Formula (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Pork meal, de-hulled barley, peas, ground brown rice, oatmeal Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 24% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dogs seem to really love this... my 8 year old yellow Lab was recently diagnosed with pancreatic disease and was told to put her on a low fat diet... she seems to really love this food, plus it's not that expensive."
Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim Dog Food is top-rated, grain-free and low-fat dog food made up of only 8% fat with 30% protein. Its a great choice for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs, as the main proteins include cod, turkey meal and salmon meal. Pure probiotics help aid in digestion while L-carnitine promotes your pups metabolism.
Though Nulo is on the higher-priced side of our low-fat dog food options, the high-quality ingredients and animal-based proteins make it a top choiceone thats well worth the price tag.
Read our review of the full Nulo FreeStyle Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned cod, turkey meal, salmon meal, lentils, yellow peas Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 30% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes and after checking through Chewy I was so happy to find this food. My dog has a sensitive stomach, a chicken allergy, and needs a low fat food due to pancreatitis, so finding the right food seemed impossible. Thankfully my dog loves this food and it has really helped fo regulate her diabetes."
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management is specially designed to promote controlled weight loss. Its low fat content makes it a healthy option for dogs predisposed to pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal disorders.
The classic, grain-inclusive recipe gets the largest part of its meat protein from fresh chicken and poultry by-product meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 10% fat and 51% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 33%.
Pro Plan Weight Management offers a highly digestible formula containing no artificial flavors or coloring agents. A nutrient-rich, balanced recipe flush with potent antioxidants to support a healthy immune system.
Pro Plan Weight Management is a superior option that helps promote healthy weight in dogs of all ages. Its also easy on the budget and appealing to picky eaters.
Read our review of the full Purina Pro Plan Dog Food range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, rice, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal, corn germ meal Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 31% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I have 2 chihuahuas around 1.5 years old and a jack russell mix around 11 years old. I was feeding them the Pro Plan EN Vet formula due to some health issues last year with my old guy. I switched to this formula recently. I was impressed with the large chunks of chicken which is the first item in the ingredients. As far as the taste test, all three of my dogs love this brand. They eat it with no hesitation, so this was a good choice."
Merrick Healthy Weight is a grain-free, low-calorie dog food with 11% fat and 36% protein. Its main sources of protein are beef and chicken meal, but it also contains Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to help promote a healthy coat, especially for pets with skin allergies.
Made without gluten or artificial flavors, Merrick Healthy Weight is an ideal choice for anyone hunting for a grain-free and low-calorie dog food from a trusted brand.
Read our review of the full Merrick Grain Free Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned beef, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, turkey meal Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My 12 y o lab mix has struggled with skin problems for years...including a $118 monthly prescription. I changed to Merrick for other reasons but incredibly his skin problems resolved within a month of changing to this food and have remained resolved for months!"
Royal Canin Low Fat Dog Food is a professionally prescribed gastrointestinal dog food specifically formulated for sensitive stomachs. The recipe is not rated on this website due to its intentional therapeutic design.
RC Low Fat derives its protein from chicken by-product and is intended to help pups easily digest fat. It contains just 5% fat and 20% protein, and includes grains like brewers rice and wheat.
Royal Canin is a prescription solution for dogs with sensitive stomachs who could stand to drop a few pounds or could benefit from eating a pro-grade, low fat recipe. Its a smart solution for dogs who suffer from a variety of gastrointestinal issues.
Read our review of the full Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Gastrointestinal Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, wheat, barley, natural flavors Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 20% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dogs love this food and I can see a difference. My dog has been very sick from pancreatitis and since they started eating this food, within two weeks they have been so much better. No more throwing up and upset belly."
Wellness Core Reduced Fat Dog Food is a protein-rich, low-fat dry food thats both grain-free and optimal for sensitive stomachs. With 36% protein and 11% fat, this food will keep even the hungriest pups full until the next mealtime. The primary protein sources are turkey and chicken meal.
A premium quality product containing an unusually generous amount of protein. Consider Wellness Core for any dog with a big appetite and would also benefit from a premium-grade, low-fat recipe. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Wellness Core Reduced Fat Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, peas Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Our shih tzu has pancreatitis and we struggled with finding a food that will help her. As soon as we made the switch we noticed immediate improvement in her energy level. Wellness has now become our favorite brand and the dogs love it!"
Dr. Tims Metabolite is a tasty dry food that focuses on lean proteins, such as chicken meal, to fuel your pup while cutting calories. Its made up of 11% fat and 30% protein, and contains grains like brown rice and oats. Its a low-calorie dog food that doesnt sacrifice protein or carbs.
This kibble is not only low in fat, its also low in calories. So, if your dog has a lot of weight to lose or is suffering from a digestive condition requiring a special diet, an appetizing and protein-rich food like Dr. Tims is a great way to keep her feeling full.
Read our review of the full Dr. Tims Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, brown rice, whole oat groats, dried field peas, powdered cellulose Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive (brown rice, oat groats) Protein Percentage 30% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"5 months of feeding my dog Dr. Tims Weight Management Metabolite Dry Dog Food & cutting her food in half, shes lost 30 pounds! She went from weighing 88 pounds & being tired/lazy to weighing 58 pounds & being active/back to her original self before she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The vet is really proud of her & shes back at being the perfect weight she should be."
Natural Balance Fat Dogs gets the bulk of its meat protein from chicken meal and salmon meal. Dry matter label analysis shows the recipe contains 29% protein, 8% fat and 55% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 29%.
An affordable, fully-balanced grain-inclusive, option containing just 8% fat with no recalls and a solid safety reputation. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Natural Balance Fat Dogs (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, dried peas, oat groats Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 29% Blue Wilderness Healthy Weight Chicken is made with lean chicken to give your dog a healthy source of protein without added fat. Each serving contains 11% fat and 33% protein. It also contains added L-carnitine to boost your pets metabolism and help jumpstart weight loss.
Blue Wilderness Healthy Weight is ideal for picky eaters who need to shed a few pounds or dogs that could otherwise benefit from a low-fat diet. Though low in calories and low in fat, its also fairly high in protein so your pup wont go hungry.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo Dog Food range here
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, dried chicken, oatmeal, barley Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 33% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"We have always loved the Blue Buffalo food for our Rhodesian Ridgeback. We recently switched him to the healthy weight version, and he loves it. Our vet saw him recently and commented on how great his weight and health is for a dog who is nearly 9 years old. Great product!"
Nutritional Management of Protein-Losing Enteropathy
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a pathologic state with several etiologies. Although many underlying conditions can result in protein loss through the gastrointestinal tract, there are 3 main mechanisms to consider: mucosal injury, infectious disease, and lymphatic disease.1 Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL), the pathologic dilation of lymphatic vessels, is a common subset of PLE and affects almost half of dogs with PLE.1 IL can be congenital or secondary to inflammation and/or hydrostatic pressure changes within intestinal veins.2 Intestinal lymphatic vessels are critical for transporting most dietary fats. After digestion and absorption, fat molecules are packaged into chylomicrons within enterocytes. Chylomicrons do not readily enter the portal circulation but are carried through the intestinal lymphatic system before eventually entering the cardiovascular circulation.
Nutritional management of IL focuses primarily on reducing lymphatic pressure by lowering chylomicron formation through reduced fat consumption. Other dietary plans may include feeding novel, hydrolyzed, or amino acid protein sources in case IL is secondary to a food allergy and/or providing a higher protein content to offset intestinal losses. This article describes the nutritional management of PLE for a dog with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) and presumed IL.
Case History
The patient was a 7-year-old neutered male French bulldog presented in early July via a telemedicine appointment to the nutrition service at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center. He had an approximately 1-year history of unintended weight loss and reduced appetite, loose to watery stool, and occasional vomiting (FIGURE 1).
Figure 1. The patient approximately 6 weeks before initial nutrition consultation, weighing 8.8 kg (19.4 lb) with a body condition score of 2/9.
Endoscopic biopsies performed 9months before presentation identified a moderate to marked lymphoplasmacytic gastritis and enteritis with intestinal crypt abscesses in the jejunum. The client reported that the patients serum cobalamin was low, but values were not available at the time of consultation. In addition, the patient had a history of atopy that was controlled with occasional lokivetmab (Cytopoint; Zoetis, zoetisus.com) injections.
Relevant physical examination findings from the referring internal medicine specialist 3 weeks before the nutrition consultation reported that the patient weighed 8.8 kg (19.4 lb), had a body condition score (BCS) of 2/9, and exhibited mild muscle wasting. His estimated ideal weight was 12 kg (26.5 lb). Serum chemistry values from the same visit showed hypoproteinemia (4 g/dL), hypoalbuminemia (2 g/dL), hypocalcemia (8.2 mg/dL), and hypocholesterolemia (95 mg/dL). No protein was present in the urine. The diagnosis was PLE, presumably IL secondary to a CIE.
Therapies included psyllium powder ( teaspoon q12h), tylosin (100 mg PO q12h), vitamin B12 (250g SC q7d), folic acid (200 g PO q24h), prednisone (10mg [1 mg/kg] PO q24h; increased from 5 mg 2weeks earlier, initially prescribed 6 weeks before presentation to the nutrition service), maropitant (24mg PO q24h), and ivermectin (unflavored Heartgard; Boehringer Ingelheim, bi-animalhealth.com) monthly.
The patients diet was 1.5 cans of Royal Canin Selected Protein Adult PW loaf (royalcanin.com) per day (413 kcal/can; 42.5 g fat/1000 kcal), divided into 2meals. He had not been fed any additional treats in the 6 weeks before presentation. Previously, the patient had consumed a large variety of commercially available diets and treats with known protein content including chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, duck, bison, dairy, chickpeas, alligator, whitefish, pea, soy, and goats milk. His total calorie intake was 620 calories per day from the canned commercial food, which was about 37% above his calculated resting energy requirements for ideal weight (70 BWkg0.75).
Nutrition Recommendations
Initial Visit
To minimize dilation of intestinal lymphatic vessels, the authors formulated an ultralow-fat home-prepared diet with a fat content of 7 g/1000 kcal (5.8% metabolizable energy [ME]). In comparison, the fat content of common commercially available therapeutic low-fat diets ranges from 17 to 26 g/1000 kcal (16% to 22% ME) (TABLE 1).
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Because a possible cause of the patients CIE with IL was a food allergy, the diet was also formulated with a novel protein source. The ingredients used for the recipe included boiled shrimp, baked sweet potato, and cooked white rice, which were supplemented with psyllium, vitamins, and minerals. Shrimp was chosen as a low-fat novel protein source that can be readily purchased from most grocery stores. The combination of sweet potato and white rice was used to provide palatability and a relatively low amount of total dietary fiber (14 g/1000 kcal) . For comparison, the patients previous diet contained 27 g of total dietary fiber per 1000 kcal. The new diet was also formulated to be relatively high in protein (84g/1000kcal) to offset intestinal losses. With the exception of fatty acids, the remaining nutrients in the diet met the recommended allowances for adult dogs set by the National Research Council.3 The daily caloric goal for the patient was based on his resting energy requirements for an ideal body weight of 12 kg (26.5lb) multiplied by a life stage factor of 1.8 to promote weight gain, equaling approximately 800calories per day.
Follow-up Visits
Two weeks after starting the home-prepared diet, the patient was reported to have a ravenous appetite and near perfect stool quality. However, his weight remained static, and he was polyuric and polydipsic from increased prednisone. The calorie content of the diet was increased by 50% to 1200 calories per day. By the end of August, the patient continued to do well and had gained 1 kg (2.2 lb) and the referring veterinarian reported a BCS of 4.5/9. His albumin had increased to 2.6 g/dL, and his prednisone dose was reduced to 5 mg PO q24h. He was no longer receiving maropitant. Four weeks later, his albumin was 2.9 g/dL, and his weight had increased to 12 kg (26.5 lb). Prednisone was further reduced to 2.5 mg PO q24h. By mid-October, the patient weighed 13.2 kg (29.1 lb) and had a BCS of 6/9 and albumin level of 3.2g/dL. The prednisone dose was tapered to 2.5 mg q48h and eventually discontinued. He was weaned off of tylosin and remained in clinical and biochemical remission.
By December, the patient had reached 13.6 kg (30 lb) and his home-prepared diet was reformulated with fewer total calories and supplemented with a combination of flaxseed and walnut oil to meet minimal fatty acid requirements while maintaining a very low level of fat (13 g/1000 kcal; 12% ME). A year and a half after starting this homemade diet, the patient remains in remission and is doing well (FIGURE 2).
Figure 2. The patient 18 months after initial nutrition consultation, weighing 13 kg (28.6 lb) with a body condition score of 6/9.
Discussion
This case is an example of an ultralow-fat, novel-protein diet that induced remission in a dog with CIE and presumed IL. The client never challenged the dog with other protein sources to confirm the presence of a food allergy; therefore, it is difficult to determine whether feeding a novel protein had an effect. In addition, the simplicity of ingredients in a home-prepared diet can also benefit some dogs with CIE and may have influenced this patients response to dietary therapy. In a retrospective study of dogs with PLE, 85% (23/27) of dogs responded to an ultralow-fat homemade diet (3.5g/1000 kcal) with increased albumin and improved clinical severity scores. 4 The median time until dogs were considered responsive was 15 (range, 6 to 32) days.
Nutritional management of PLE can at times feel frustrating for clients and veterinarians; therefore, approaching the disease with the mindset that several diet trials may be needed is helpful. For some dogs, PLE can be well controlled with commercially available low-fat diets. Moderately low-fat hydrolyzed diets (e.g., Purina HA vegetarian dry, Purina EL Elemental dry [proplanvetdirect.com], Blue Buffalo HF canned [bluebuffalo.com]) and novel protein low-fat diets (e.g., Rayne Low-fat Kangaroo [raynenutrition.com]) are available and often a first-line choice for PLE patients. If a dog with PLE does not have a positive response to commercially available diets, a homemade diet trial is often indicated. For many patients, a good temporary (2 to 4 weeks) diet to test responsiveness contains a lean novel protein such as whitefish (e.g., cod, tilapia) combined with cooked sweet potato and white rice in 3 equal parts by weight. Due to nutrient imbalances of the temporary diet, follow-up with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (vetspecialists.com) is needed for long-term management.
Summary
Many dogs with PLE will have IL as a primary or secondary etiology, and the best management is a low-fat diet. Using a novel, hydrolyzed, or amino acid diet that is also low in fat is helpful for patients that may also have a food allergy. If a diet trial with commercially available products does not improve clinical signs, the next step may be an ultralow-fat homemade diet.
