At Mersey Raw, we’re often asked what the best raw dog food for weight loss is. If your dog is carrying a little bit of extra weight, now might be the time to adjust their diet. To explore some of the best raw dog options for weight loss, continue reading.
Is Your Dog Overweight?
If you suspect your dog is overweight, there are some handy methods to help you find out.
Size
Finding out whether your dog is overweight isn’t always difficult. In fact, it can be pretty easy, and some obvious cues could help you:
- Ribs: Run your hands down the side of your dog across their rib cage. There should be a thin layer of fat for protection, but if you can barely feel their ribs at all, your dog could likely be overweight.
- Waist: View your dog from different angles to gauge how wide their waistline is. If there’s no visible waistline and your dog's sides are curved outwards, it likely indicates too much additional fat.
- Belly: Stand to the side of your dog to check the size of their stomach. Your dog's stomach should be tucked upwards towards their legs with no sign of excessive fat.
Body Condition Score (BCS)
Body Condition Score (BCS) is a popular system used by vets alongside a visual weight check. In the UK, vets use a scale rated from 1-9 to decide if your dog is overweight. According to PDSA, a Body Condition Score between 4-5 indicates ideal weight, and anything over means your dog is overweight.
Behaviour
Dogs often experience more than just the physical symptoms of being overweight. Understandably, it’s not uncommon for dogs to experience low energy and reduced activity when they’re carrying extra weight around.
Potential Reasons Your Dog is Overweight
We understand it can be upsetting to see your dog become overweight. While you might think you’re doing everything right to prevent your dog from being overweight, there are several potential reasons your dog could be gaining weight without you realising.
1 - Wrong Diet
You may think your dog is on the correct diet, but it might not be providing everything they need, resulting in issues such as becoming overweight. Common dog food, such as kibble, is often full of carbohydrates and difficult to digest. When you opt for healthier, species-appropriate alternatives, like a raw diet, your dog could potentially lose excess weight and maintain it for longer.
2 - Overfeeding
It’s no secret that overfeeding can be harmful to your dog's weight. Whether it’s failing to feed the correct portion size at mealtime or just overfeeding treats and table scraps, overfeeding is no doubt a huge potential cause of obesity in dogs.
3 - No Exercise
If your dog isn’t getting exercised enough, they’ll likely put on weight. And unfortunately, the problems don’t stop there. Without exercise, not only will your dog probably become overweight, but they may also face other potential health issues due to the lack of movement.
4 - Medical Condition
Regular visits to the vet are important. Some medical conditions in dogs can be difficult to spot, and they could potentially be contributing to your dog's weight gain. If you’ve tried various methods to help your dog lose weight with no improvement, we advise speaking with a vet.
5 - Operation
Many factors can contribute to weight gain after an operation. From the decrease in activity levels to generally feeling unwell and having little appetite, operations can have quite an effect on our dogs and their bodies.
Health Risks of Obesity in Dogs
It’s no secret that obesity in dogs can sometimes cause serious issues, which can significantly impact their quality of life. The RSPCA states that obesity could potentially put your dog at higher risk of several conditions, including cancer, diabetes, respiratory issues, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
It’s certainly sad to see your dog overweight, but what matters most is taking action as soon as possible to prevent these types of issues from occurring.
Exploring the Best Raw Dog Food for Weight Loss
At Mersey Raw, we’ve had plenty of customers come to us for help with their overweight dogs. We believe that feeding raw benefits dogs most, especially regarding weight management. However, one of the main factors to consider when feeding a dog a raw diet with weight loss in mind is the protein source.
But why?
Lean protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, venison, rabbit, and fish, are typically low in fat, with the potential to support muscle mass. This makes them a great choice of protein for overweight dogs - and you guessed it, we offer all of these protein options at Mersey Raw!
In summary, the best raw dog food for weight loss should contain high-quality, lean protein and be clear of any processed or fattening ingredients.
Easy Portion Control With Raw Dog Food
If fed correctly, a raw diet can be beneficial for overweight dogs. At Mersey Raw, we’ve made it easier than ever to control portion sizes when it comes to mealtime for your dog. Underfeeding and overfeeding can be dangerous, and it’s important to feed the right amount of healthy, nutritious food to ensure a healthy weight.
Our handy calculator tool helps determine your dog's nutritional needs, protein, fat, and carb intake. If your dog needs to lose weight, our friendly team is available to offer tailored advice.
Maintaining Your Dog's Healthy Weight
If your dog does manage to lose weight, it’s important to reassess their diet. While providing a low-fat diet can be beneficial for dogs that need to lose weight, keeping them on it long-term can be harmful.
You’ll need to adjust your dog's diet to help them maintain their new and much healthier weight, rather than lose more. You can do this by switching between different protein options, adjusting their exercise routine, and monitoring their weight.
Low-Fat Protein Options at Mersey Raw
For the best raw dog food for weight loss, look no further than Mersey Raw! We pride ourselves on providing high-quality, healthy raw minces for dogs across the UK. We have all dogs in mind, including those trying to lose weight.
With extensive protein options available to choose from, we offer leaner meats to help with weight loss. If you’re unsure of the best types of proteins to consider as you make the switch to raw, our team can help.
Discover our wide range of raw minces to shop our lean protein options.