Want to know how to make a weight loss treat for dogs?
Then you are in the right place.
According to research conducted in 2018 by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56% of dogs in the United States are obese.
Obesity is a huge headache to pet parents because it comes with other health problems.
Let’s dive in.
Low-Fat Organic Dog Bones
This easy and fun recipe will help your dog shed those unhealthy pounds and maintain a good weight.
Ingredient
- ½ cup organic spinach
- ½ cup organic pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 eggs
- 2 ¾ cups organic whole wheat flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Blend the spinach, pumpkin, eggs, salt, and water until smooth.
- Place this mixture in a large bowl and add the wheat flour. Knead until smooth.
- Roll the dough to ½ inch thick. Cut using dog bone cookie cutters.
- Place in a baking sheet and prick the middle of each piece using fork tines.
- Bake one side for 20 minutes, then flip and bake for an extra 20 minutes.
Watermelon Carrot Pupsicles
Do you wish your dog could go back to its previous healthy weight? Then you should try this simple recipe. It requires few ingredients and is easy to make:
Ingredient
- 2 medium-sized carrots
- 3 cups watermelon
Directions
- Clean and cut the carrots into small cubes, then cut the watermelon into chunks
- Pulse the carrots in a blender until finely chopped
- Add the watermelon and blend until smooth
- Pour into molds and freeze for 2 hours
Spinach, Carrot and Zucchini Dog Bones
This nutritious dog treat is an excellent weight loss recipe that will bring back your dog’s agility.
Ingredient
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 carrot peeled, shredded
- 1 zucchini, shredded
- 1 cup baby spinach, chopped.
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In an electric mixer, mix pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and eggs until well combined.
- Add the oats gradually until well incorporated, then add the wheat flour.
- Knead until smooth, then add the carrots, zucchini, and spinach and continue kneading until well-combined
- Roll into ¼ inch thickness and cut to desired shapes.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown
Kale Apple and Oat Dog Treats
This nutritious, healthy, and easy-to-make dog treat is the perfect choice for your obese dog as it promotes weight loss.
Ingredient
- 3 cups oats
- 2 apples
- 2 cups kale, chopped.
- 2 tablespoons of honey.
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grind 2 cups of oat flour in a food processor until it has a flour-like texture.
- Pour the oats into a large bowl.
- Chop the apples, remove the seeds and core and grind to form applesauce.
- Add the remaining oats, kale, applesauce, and honey to the large bowl.
- Roll into ¼ thick inch and cut into desired shapes.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
Salmon Brittle
This is the best treatment for weight loss. Besides being nutritious, salmon brittle is tasty, so your dog will enjoy it.
Ingredients
- 1 large can of salmon
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 eggs
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a big bowl, mix the can of salmon and flake it apart using a fork.
- Add the flour and eggs and mix until smooth.
- Roll into ¼ inch thick and cut into desired shapes
- Bake for 30 minutes
Pumpkin Dog Treat
This pumpkin dog treat will make your dog’s taste buds dance with ecstasy, and they will come for more and more. This treat comes with a bonus as it also helps with weight loss.
Ingredients
- ¾ cups pumpkin puree
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Mix pumpkin, peanut butter, and egg yolk until well-combined using an electric mixer.
- Mix the powder and flours in another bowl and gradually add this mixture to the pumpkin while kneading.
- Roll out the dough into ¼ inch thick and cut into lovely shapes.
- Bake for 20 minutes
Carb-Free Dog Food Recipe
This recipe is an excellent choice for weight loss as it is 100% free from carbs. The main ingredients, chicken thighs, apple, and vegetables, make this special diet a low-calorie treat.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds boneless chicken thighs
- ½ cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup canned green beans, diced
- 1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
Directions
- In a large pot, boil the chicken for 35 minutes, then pour all but 1 cup of broth.
- Chop the chicken into small pieces.
- Add the carrots, beans, and apple.
- Stir and combine
- Refrigerate or freeze for summer.
Chicken & Turkey Weight Loss Dog Food
This meal is rich in proteins for a muscular look, and it comes with the added advantage of aiding with weight loss.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds ground chicken
- 2 ½ pounds ground turkey
- 4 cans mixed vegetables
- 1 ½ cups brown rice
- 1 bunch parsley
Directions
- Drain the liquid from the canned vegetables and boil them in an oven over a stove.
- Add the rice and continue boiling over low heat for 45 minutes.
- Cook the chicken or turkey in a frying pan until completely done.
- Place the chicken or turkey in the sink to drain excess liquid.
- Add the meat to the rice, stir, and then add the vegetables while stirring.
- Add the parsley and mix thoroughly.
- Serve or refrigerate for future use.
Chicken and Tuna Dog Food Recipes
This recipe gives your dog a healthy appearance as it is packed with protein and is great for loss.
Ingredients
- 290 g chicken breast, skinless
- 577 g canned tuna in water or brine, drained
- 145 g brown rice
- 46 g broccoli
- 46 g peas
- 46 g carrots
- 2 ½ teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons psyllium powder
Directions
- Cook rice until tender
- Steam broccoli, carrots, and peas until tender
- Steam or microwave chicken
- Mix the chicken and vegetables with rice
- If using tuna, break the tuna before mixing it with the rice and vegetables
- Add the extra virgin oil and psyllium powder
- Mix evenly and serve
6-Ingredient Raw Dog Food
A raw diet delights your dog’s taste buds as it mimics wild dog food. You should try this fun and easy raw dog food for your dog’s overall wellness.’
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken, chopped
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 apple, cored, peeled, and chopped
- 1 cup spinach, shredded
- 2 eggs, with shells
- 1 tablespoon cod liver oil
Directions
- Cut the chicken, cabbage, apple, and spinach into bite-sized pieces
- Add the eggs and oil and serve
Read our article on Is Raw or Cooked Dog Food Better for Frenchies?
Chicken & Potato Dog Food
This is an excellent treat for your dog. Besides being grain-free, it is packed with proteins and supports weight loss.
Ingredients
- 7 ounces chicken, cooked
- 1 ½ cups potato, cooked
Directions
- Boil the chicken until tender, then cut into bite-sized chunks
- Boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes or until tender
- Mix the potatoes and chicken
- You can add dog vitamins when completely cooled
What are the health problems associated with overweight dogs?
Canine obesity comes with loads of health problems for your dog. Here are the main health risks associated with overweight dogs:
Problems with the joints, bones, and ligaments
As your dog becomes heavier, much pressure is exerted on the joints and bones. This results in hip dysplasia and arthritis. The extra load also affects the ligaments, which are highly prone to tears and strains. This causes instability while moving.
Diabetes mellitus
Obesity leads to increased insulin production due to the higher levels of blood glucose levels and the greater amounts of body tissue. When the demand for insulin is greater than the body’s ability to produce more insulin, diabetes mellitus develops. The prolonged need for insulin can make the cells that produce insulin overwork, thus causing diabetes.
Heart problems and increased blood pressure
Obesity is a recipe for high blood pressure. The excess body tissues strain the heart. The heart must pump blood to all the body tissues. Overworking the heart over a long period results in congestive heart failure, which is fatal and leads to death.
Difficulty breathing
Obese dogs have extra fat in the chest, which constricts the lungs, thus preventing them from functioning properly. In addition, the fat in the abdomen pushes against the diaphragm causing less space for the lungs to expand and supply oxygen.
How can I tell if my dog is overweight?
There are many tell-tale signs that your dog is overweight. Here’s what to look for:
Check your dog’s body shape.
This is the easiest way to determine whether your dog is overweight. If you observe your dog from above and notice that the pup is oval, then your dog is obese. However, if your dog has a defined waist towards the rear and a straight build down the side, they are healthy.
Feel your dog’s ribs
If your dog’s ribs are not too pronounced and you can easily feel them, your dog has a healthy weight. However, it is hard to feel your dog’s ribs if they are overweight, as lots of fat surround the ribs.
Check for fat pads
Excess fat is a sign of obesity. Your dog will have fat sacks between its legs, making it hard to walk well. You should inspect your dog’s hips for fat pads that accumulate in the hip area.
The wrong way to feed a dog
To minimize the risk of obesity, proper feeding is paramount. Here are some wrong ways to feed your dog:
Leaving your dog’s kibble out all the time
Dogs have no self-control, and they will eat until they finish everything. Eating lots of food at once is a recipe for obesity.
Giving too many treats
Although treats are a great mechanism to reward your dog, too many are harmful as they cause obesity.
Failure to measure your dog’s food
You should serve your dog based on its body weight. Failure to measure their food means eating too much or too little. These are harmful as they cause obesity or low weight.
How to monitor your dog’s weight loss
After starting a weight loss program for your dog, proper monitoring is important as it helps you determine your dog’s progress. Below is a process that helps with monitoring your dog’s weight loss journey:
- Weigh your dog at least every month. This will help in determining whether they are losing weight. In addition, it ensures that your dog would not lose more weight than necessary as you will be weighing them until the ideal body weight is achieved.
- Since dogs are different, you may need to adjust your dog’s diet or routine according to their unique needs.
- If your dog is not losing weight, you should modify the whole program.
What homemade food can I give my dog to lose weight?
Homemade foods with fruits and vegetables are great for weight loss. Broccoli, apples, and carrots are low-calorie treats hence perfect for weight loss. Combining vegetables with chicken or turkey also helps.
Read our article on Dog-Friendly Snacks That Your Frenchie will Love Anytime
What treats can I give an overweight dog?
An overweight dog needs low-calorie treats. Fatty diets are harmful to obese dogs as they add more fat, thus escalating it. Go for fruits, vegetables, and meat sources with fewer calories.
What is the fastest way for a dog to lose weight?
The fastest way for a dog to lose weight is to switch to a low-carb, high protein diet and exercise daily. This lowers weight gain and burns excess fat.
How much should I feed my dog if I want him to lose weight?
Feed your dog two to four times daily. Avoid feeding one large meal as it contributes to obesity. In addition, you should avoid free-feeding as it leads to overfeeding.
What foods fatten up a dog?
Foods with lots of proteins and fats fatten up a dog. Healthy fats and proteins help with a healthy weight. Adding sweet potatoes and pumpkin boosts your dog’s weight.
Read our article on: How to Fatten Up a French Bulldog:10 Helpful Tips
What human food will put weight on a dog?
Most human food will put weight on a dog. Some of the best human food for weight gain include canned tuna, non-fat plain yogurt, skinless chicken, and plain canned pumpkin.
What meat should dogs not eat?
Dogs should not eat meat with lots of fat or sodium as it causes problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Harmful meat includes bacon, bacon grease, ham, and meat trimmings.
Over to You
There you have it.
You should not worry about your dog’s weight gain. Our weight fun and easy weight loss treat for dogs are your dog’s first step towards a healthy weight.
Try these recipes and combine them with frequent exercise for long-term benefits.
The best weight loss foods are those with fewer calories and more proteins. Proteins keep dogs full for longer and ensure dogs maintain their muscle strength.
Although our guide is an excellent way for weight loss, it doesn’t substitute your vet’s advice.
Before beginning your weight loss journey, consulting the vet is vital as diseases cause some weight problems.
