[Dog Diet] How to Adjust Your Diet? Introducing Healthy Foods

01/22/2026 01/22/2026

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When you live with a pet dog, you might be tempted to give them lots of food and treats because they're so cute.

However, if your dog consumes too many calories from eating too many meals and treats, it could become obese.

Dogs can gain weight for a variety of reasons, including lack of exercise and stress. Regardless of the cause, it's important to maintain a healthy weight.

In this article,

"My dog seems much bigger than other dogs of the same breed."

"I thought it was just winter, but he's still plump even in spring."

"I'm worried because obesity seems bad for health."

For owners who are concerned about obesity in dogs, we'll provide information on obesity and recommended foods.

We've also introduced some popular and healthy dog foods, so please take a look.

Is your dog overweight? About Causes and Ideal Weight

If you suspect your dog may be gaining weight, it's a good idea to first check to see if it's within the ideal weight range.

From here,

Causes of Dog Obesity
A Healthy Dog Weight

We'll explain in detail.

What Causes Dogs to Obese?

The main reason dogs become obese is overeating. Just like humans, dogs will become overweight if their calorie intake exceeds their energy expenditure.

While it's best to feed your dog healthy, low-calorie dog food, you need to be careful about treats.

From a nutritional standpoint, dog food alone is generally fine for your dog.

However, treats are necessary for training and communication.

For your dog's health, make sure to give them low-calorie treats.

In addition to overeating, weight gain in dogs can also be caused by the following factors:

Lack of exercise
Stress
Hormonal changes
Aging
Illness
Genetics
Seasonal influences
Effects of spaying or neutering

Whatever the cause, controlling your dog's diet is essential to maintaining its health.

Be careful not to consume too many calories or carbohydrates.

Choose dog food and treats with nutritional balance and health in mind.

What is a dog's ideal weight?

To determine if your dog is obese, first determine its ideal weight.

To determine a dog's ideal weight, refer to the Ministry of the Environment's Body Condition Score (BCS).

BCS 1 (Thin)	The ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvis are easily visible from the outside. No fat is palpable. The waist is narrow and the abdomen is prominent.
BCS 2 (Slightly underweight)	Ribs are easily palpable. Viewed from above, the waist is clearly defined and the abdomen is clearly lifted.
BCS 3 (Ideal Weight)	Ribs are palpable without excessive fat. Viewed from above, the waist is clearly defined behind the ribs. Viewed from the side, the abdomen is clearly lifted.
BCS 4 (Slightly overweight)	Ribs are palpable, with some fat. Viewed from above, the waist is clearly defined but not clearly lifted.
BCS 5 (Obese)	The ribs are covered with a thick layer of fat and are difficult to feel. Fat is also deposited in the lumbar spine and tailbone. There is no waistline or it is barely visible. The abdomen is not lifted or is rather drooping.

Source: "Pet Food Guidelines for Owners: Maintaining the Health of Dogs and Cats" 4. Health Management

Body condition scores range from 1 to 5, with a score of 3 being ideal.

The weight required to achieve a score of 3 varies depending on the breed, so check with your veterinarian.

What is my dog's diet? How much and how often should I feed it?

Many owners think, "If my dog is overeating, I should just reduce the amount or frequency of meals." However, drastic reductions in meal size or frequency can be very stressful for dogs. Avoid doing so.

Instead, try the following:

Reduce your dog's daily energy intake and increase the frequency of meals
Adjust treats to 10% or less of your dog's daily calories

For example, if you normally feed your dog breakfast and dinner, split the number of meals into breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while keeping the same amount of food.

Even if your dog feels hungry on a low-calorie diet, increasing the frequency of meals will shorten the time they have to endure hunger.

This will help your dog feel less stressed.

If your dog's daily calorie intake is 100%, then dog food should make up 90% and treats should make up about 10%.

Although giving treats at around 10% will reduce the amount, your dog will be pleased if you increase the frequency of treats.

Try giving your dog smaller treats, but keep the same amount, to help prevent stress.

How do I choose a diet and food for my dog?

The most important nutrient in a dog's diet is protein. Be sure to choose foods high in protein.

For example, lean meat is high in protein and low in fat, helping to build quality muscle.

Other recommended foods include:

Raw vegetables (cabbage, bean sprouts, broccoli, cucumber, okra, etc.)
Chicken, chicken breast
Liver
Wakame seaweed
Mushrooms
Tofu
Onnyaku (soybean jelly)
Okara (soy pulp)

Okara, in particular, is often used in homemade diet dog food recipes.

Reference: Homemade Dog Diet Recipes

Okara (soybean curd) helps suppress sugar absorption, keeps you full, and reduces hunger.

However, because it is rich in dietary fiber, feeding it in large quantities may cause indigestion, so be careful.

5 Recommended Dog Foods for Obese Dogs

Here, we will introduce five dog foods recommended for obese dogs.

① Perorico Dog Food Light

② Piccolo

③ Moguwan

④ Pon Pon Deli

⑤ Yum Yum Yum! (Senior & Light Chicken Dry Type)

These are well-balanced and ideal for dieting, so be sure to check them out!

①Perorico dog food light

Source: Perolico Dog Food Light Official Website

Perolico Dog Food Light is a low-calorie, low-fat dog food ideal for dieting. Prices start at ¥3,766 (tax included) for a subscription course.

Made with ingredients like chicken, duck, and white fish, this formula is rich in animal protein, allowing you to eat a healthy diet without reducing your intake.

Furthermore, by incorporating coconut oil and salmon oil, the fat content is kept to 8%.

It also contains over 30 types of vegetables (sweet potato, carrot, etc.) and herbs, allowing you to supplement with minerals and vitamins.

It is grain-free and contains no artificial flavorings or colorings, making it extremely safe.

② Piccolo dog food

Source: Piccolo Dog Food Official Website

Piccolo Dog Food is a dog food that is low in calories and fat. Prices start from ¥3,766 (tax included) for a subscription course.

It's packed with nutrients and low in calories and fat, making it perfect for dieting.

In addition, 70% of the ingredients are chicken and salmon, ensuring ample protein intake.

It's formulated with palatability in mind, so your dog will enjoy it and won't feel stressed.

Although it's labeled "for seniors," it's safe to feed to adult dogs.

③Mogwan

Source: Mogwan Official Website

Mogwan is a high-protein dog food that's packed with vegetables and fruit. Prices start at ¥3,484 (tax included) with a subscription.

Made with chicken and salmon, this food contains over 50% animal protein.

Your dog will enjoy it more and feel less stressed while dieting.

It also contains plenty of carefully selected vegetables and fruits to balance the meat.

It contains plenty of nutrients to help your dog stay healthy while dieting, such as apples, pumpkin, and seaweed.

④Pon Pom Deli

Source: POM POM DELI Official Website

Pom Pom Deli is a low-fat, low-calorie dog food for small dogs, designed with your dog's intestinal environment in mind. Prices start from ¥2,970 (tax included) for a limited time only.

Ponpon Deli's greatest priority is maintaining a healthy intestinal environment for your dog.

We use plenty of ingredients that are designed with the intestinal environment in mind, such as fructooligosaccharides and purple sweet potato.

This promotes digestion and may also help with weight loss.

In addition, bonito flakes and chicken broth are used, making this a favorite with your dog.

In consideration of food allergies, wheat, corn, and other ingredients are not used.

⑤ Yum yum yum! (Senior & Light Chicken Dry Type)

Source: Yum Yum Yum! Official Website

Yum Yum Yum! (Senior & Light Chicken Dry Type) is a low-fat, high-protein dog food suitable for dieting. Prices start at ¥2,154 (tax included).

Contains a generous amount of domestically raised chicken breast, ensuring ample protein.

It's high in protein and low in fat, making it perfect for dogs on a diet.

It also contains dried bonito flakes, shiitake mushrooms, kelp, and other ingredients, and the aromas will make your dog enjoy eating it.

Basic Information About Obesity in Dogs & What You Can Do Aside from Diet

From here, we'll introduce some basic information about dogs and obesity.

What are the risks of pet obesity?
Can swimming pools be used for dog dieting and rehabilitation?
Is lymphatic massage effective for dogs?

We'll also touch on dieting methods other than diet, so please take a look.

What are the risks of pet obesity?

Obesity in pets such as dogs and cats poses the following risks:

Development of lifestyle-related diseases
Joint pain
Respiratory problems
High blood pressure
Susceptibility to diabetes
Susceptibility to weakened immune system

Joint pain is something you should be particularly careful of. Overweight dogs are prone to joint pain.

This is because excessive weight puts a great strain on joints such as the knees and elbows.

In fact, it's been said that obese dogs are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is painful, so your dog may become reluctant to go for walks and become physically inactive.

Obesity carries various risks, so be sure to carefully manage your dog's weight.

Can swimming pools be used for dog weight loss and rehabilitation?

Swimming is a gentle exercise for the joints, allowing even overweight dogs to exercise with minimal strain.

Recently, the number of dog-specific pools has been increasing.

Diet for obese dogs
Relieving lack of exercise
Relieving stress
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Increasing muscle strength and athletic ability

Personal trainers are available to provide guidance for these and other purposes.

If you don't have a dog-specific pool near your home, you can also use a makeshift pool or bathtub at home to help your dog lose weight.

If you have a swimming pool at home, please keep an eye on your dog at all times to make sure he doesn't drown.

It's best to have a dog life jacket just in case.

Long-term exercise can tire your dog, so limit exercise to about 20 to 30 minutes.

Is lymphatic massage effective for dogs?

While lymphatic massage for your dog isn't directly effective in helping it lose weight, it can help prevent obesity by preventing waste buildup.

In addition, lymphatic massage flushes out waste products, which can help your dog recover from fatigue and relax.

Furthermore, lymphatic massage also provides a way to have physical contact with your dog.

Since you'll be interacting with your dog on a daily basis, you'll be more likely to notice even the slightest changes in their physical condition or shape.

Please note that lymphatic massage should be avoided after meals or when your dog is not feeling well.

Also, refrain from giving your dog lymphatic massage if your dog shows signs of dislike.

Encourage your dog to have physical contact while giving a lymphatic massage to help relax him.