Luckily, low-fat dog foods enable us to feed our dogs tasty food that, when combined with regular exercise, can help them reduce their weight and lead happier, healthier lives. With so many low-fat foods available today, it can be hard to choose one.
We gathered a list of the best low-fat dog foods and provided reviews on each to help you find the right one for your dog.
In this article
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2025 Update)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food |
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Best Value
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Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food |
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Premium Choice
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Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food |
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Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food |
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Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food |
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The 7 Best Low-Fat Dog Foods
1. Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
| Fat Content: | 6.5% |
| First Ingredient: | Pollock |
| Calories: | 330/cup |
Our best overall choice for low-fat dog food is the Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food. The fat content is one of the lowest per serving, coming in at 6.5%. It is specially formulated for healthy weight management. It is full of easily digestible carbs, like sweet potatoes and pea fiber. To support gut health, Solid Gold has live probiotics and omega fatty acids.
Pollock and pollock meal are the primary protein sources and the first ingredients, so even though the formula is low in fat, it won’t leave your pup feeling hungry. While most kibble is round, these bite-sized squares are ideal for dogs of all breeds and sizes. However, there were complaints about the kibble’s shape.
- 6.5% fat content
- Live probiotics
- Easily digestible carbs
- Kibble is square-shaped
2. Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food — Best Value
| Fat Content: | 9% |
| First Ingredient: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 307/cup |
Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food is the best low-fat dog food for the money. The brand is vet-trusted and uses tailored nutritional formulas to target dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes. You won’t find any fillers or artificial preservatives in these bags. This low-fat kibble is made with healthy fiber and prebiotics. L-carnitine is added, which supports your dog’s metabolism.
Protein from chicken and eggs supports healthy muscles and energy levels. The downside to this food is that it is made with corn. However, Iams changed the recipe and now uses chicken as the first ingredient. Corn used to be the first ingredient in the old formula. While it’s still included in the ingredients, there is less of it than there used to be.
- No filler or preservatives
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Vet-trusted brand
- Recipe uses corn
3. Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food — Premium Choice
| Fat Content: | 9% |
| First Ingredient: | Deboned chicken |
| Calories: | 324/cup |
The Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is made with deboned chicken as the first ingredient. It also has a low-fat content and low calories to help dogs slim down. Like other formulas from Blue Buffalo, it contains LifeSource Bits, which are little balls of nutrition. They are made of seven antioxidant-filled ingredients.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are added for joint health, and the omega fatty acids support healthy skin and fur. The protein combined with L-carnitine works to support lean muscle development. The kibble size is small, which some owners of large dogs don’t like. The Healthy Weight formula is meant for dogs of all sizes but may be more suitable for smaller pups.
- LifeSource Bits
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Small kibble size
4. Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
| Fat Content: | 7% |
| First Ingredient: | Deboned lamb |
| Calories: | 240/cup |
The low-fat formula in Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food meets your dog’s requirements for nutrition without all the extra calories. The deboned lamb is the first ingredient, and it is a high-quality protein. Antioxidants and natural fiber keep your dog’s immune and digestive systems healthy while supporting healthy weight loss.
This flavorful food is made with non-GMO ingredients and has no corn, wheat, or soy. It is suitable for dogs of all sizes. The food has a strong, earthy smell to it that some dog owners don’t like. It’s also said to be so full of fiber that dogs are pooping twice the amount that they used to. There may be an adjustment period for dogs that aren’t used to food full of healthy fiber.
- Deboned lamb is the first ingredient
- Non-GMO ingredients
- 7% fat content
- High fiber content may take some getting used to
- Strong odor
5. Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
| Fat Content: | 9% |
| First Ingredient: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 409/cup |
The Canidae PURE Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is made of nine key ingredients for healthy weight loss and maximum nutrition. It has chicken, turkey, and sweet potatoes, so your dog gets the protein and fiber they need wrapped in a low-fat kibble. No corn, wheat, or soy are in this formula. Real vegetables provide vitamins and minerals that can be digested faster than those added synthetically.
A blend of Canidae’s HealthPLUS probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids is added for immune, skin, and digestive health. This is a good formula for less active dogs that need to lose weight.
- Made with nine superfood ingredients
- No soy, corn, or wheat
- Not suitable for dogs with poultry allergies
6. Natural Balance Original Ultra Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food
| Fat Content: | 7.5% |
| First Ingredient: | Pollock |
| Calories: | 315/cup |
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food is specially formulated to help overweight adult dogs drop pounds in a healthy way. It is low in fat and calories but still nutritionally balanced. It’s high in fiber for healthy digestion. The high protein content will keep your pup feeling full without excess calorie consumption. Natural Balance tastes great and has been reported to be a good choice for even the pickiest eaters.
Like other low-fat formulas, Natural Balance is more effective if your dog gets daily exercise to help them lose weight. However, after a month, some dog owners have reported no significant weight loss in their dogs.
- Complete nutrition
- High in fiber
- Low calories
- Food alone will not help facilitate weight loss
7. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Dry Dog Food
| Fat Content: | 9% |
| First Ingredient: | Chicken |
| Calories: | 330/cup |
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Dry Dog Food consists of dry kibble and tender, shredded pieces. The texture is enticing to dogs and full of flavor. Real chicken is the first ingredient, combined with prebiotic fiber and probiotics for digestive health.
This formula is made to support and maintain muscle mass during weight loss in dogs. Omega fatty acids and vitamin A are included for a healthy coat. Pro Plan is highly digestible and easy on dogs’ sensitive stomachs. Purina has changed the Pro Plan recipes recently, and some owners do not like the new texture of the food. There are also reports of the food being crushed into dust inside the bag.
- Enticing texture
- Supports muscle mass
- Prebiotic fiber
- Crushed pieces of food in the bag
- New recipe
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Low-Fat Dog Food
The amount of fat a dog needs in their diet will vary depending on their age, health, and activity level. Young, highly active dogs can eat more fat than less active, older dogs that don’t move as much. If you’re unclear if your pup needs a low-fat formula, keep reading for a few tips.
Why Is Too Much Fat Unhealthy for Dogs?
Just like too much fat in a human’s diet can cause problems, the same is true for dogs. Obese dogs are at an increased risk of diabetes, pancreatitis, heart disease, and joint/mobility problems. This can shave years off their lifespan. Keeping your dog slim and healthy is one way to ensure that they live a long, happy life.
Why Choose Low-Fat Dog Food?
Formulas with more than 20% fat are considered high fat and less healthy for your adult dog. Dog owners are encouraged to feed their dogs a low-fat diet to keep their pups as healthy as possible and avoid unintentional weight gain. Low-fat foods can also be helpful for dogs with specific health issues because they are usually lower in carbohydrates, too.
Dogs should have some fat in their diet, but it should make up no more than 10%–15% of the nutritional content. A fat content lower than 10% will help dogs lose weight without sacrificing nutrition. No dog owner wants their dog to go hungry, however. With low-fat dog food, your dog is automatically getting fewer calories.
Before buying any new food for your dog, consult a vet first to ensure you’re feeding them what they need for their age, health status, and activity level.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Our Selection Process For Low-Fat Dog Foods
To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog foods we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog foods. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog foods to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog foods. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.
Conclusion
Our best overall choice for low-fat dog food is the Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food. It has a low-fat content of only 6.5% and probiotics for healthy digestion. For the best value, we like the Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food. It has a 9% fat content and uses chicken as the first ingredient. Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is our premium choice, with its LifeSource Bits of added nutrients. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. We hope our reviews have helped you find a low-fat food your dog loves.
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Featured Image Credit: Anastasiya Tsiasemnikava, Shutterstock
