Pet Obesity: Why Cutting Carbs, Not Fat, Is the Key to Weight Loss

Pet obesity is one of the fastest-growing health crises facing our companion animals today. In the U.S., 59% of dogs and 61% of cats are classified as overweight or obese. In the UK, half of dogs and nearly half of cats are carrying excess weight, while in Australia the figures reach 41% of dogs and 32% of cats. Alarmingly, studies show that between 17% of kittens and up to 53% of older cats fall into the overweight or obese range.

This isn’t simply a cosmetic issue. Obesity significantly shortens lifespan, increases the risk of diabetes, arthritis, urinary issues, heart disease, and cancer, and reduces overall quality of life. Despite this, many guardians don’t recognise their pet as overweight — normalising the “fluffy” look and sometimes even confusing it for health. In reality, they may be killing them with kindness through food and treats.

The Real Culprit: Carbohydrates in Kibble

While it’s easy to assume obesity is caused solely by “overfeeding,” the bigger problem lies in what pets are eating:

• Dogs and cats have zero biological requirement for carbohydrates.
• Yet, the majority of kibble — whether premium, budget, or grain-free — is made up of at least 50% carbs.
• By law, manufacturers are not required to list carb content on pet food labels. To calculate it, simply add up the percentages of protein, fat, moisture, and ash — then subtract from 100. The remainder is the carbohydrate percentage.

These high-carb foods spike insulin, create sugar highs and crashes, and ultimately drive fat storage. By contrast, when pets consume diets higher in protein and fibre, with minimal to no carbs, they stay fuller for longer, experience steadier energy, and avoid dangerous weight fluctuations.

Why “Weight Loss” Kibble Doesn’t Work

Many pet guardians turn to “low-fat” or “weight loss” kibble, but these are often misleading and the animal ends up only being able to eat a very small; portion of the biscuits to see any weight shift.

Can you imagine eating biscuits each and every day, no fresh whole foods and expecting to lose weight and be healthy?

• The issue isn’t fat — healthy fats are essential for dogs and cats.
• Instead, these diets often remain carb-heavy, which only worsens the problem.
• Just as in humans, carbs and sugars are the real drivers of weight gain.

Feeding more natural, fresh foods with lean proteins (such as turkey, fish, kangaroo, buffalo, or certain cuts of beef and lamb) is far more effective. This approach allows pets to enjoy larger, more satisfying meals while reducing caloric overload from carbs.

Practical Strategies for Healthy Weight Loss

1. Cut the Pasta and Rice
   Eliminate unnecessary carbohydrates. They provide no nutritional value, contribute to weight gain, and can trigger skin and gut issues.
2. Switch Away from Kibble
   Reduce or eliminate dry kibble. Replace it with balanced, whole-food meals emphasising lean proteins and vegetables (for dogs).
3. Structured Meal Times
   Avoid free-feeding or “buffet-style” grazing. For adult dogs, one or two meals per day is best. Cats will do better with two smaller, structured portions per day.
4. Stop buying cheap highly processed treats and swap for healthy and minimally processed lean meat based treats
5. Exercise and Enrichment
   Regular movement is crucial. Gentle daily walks, food or treat searches in the yard for dogs, and climbing opportunities for cats all help burn calories and keep pets mentally stimulated.
6. Monitor Progress
   Use regular weigh-ins and Body Condition Scoring (BCS) to ensure steady progress. Involve an animal nutritionist or integrative veterinarian to adjust as needed and rule out medical causes of weight gain.

Conclusion: Food Is Medicine

The quickest, easiest, and most effective way to help an overweight pet slim down is simple: reduce carbs, increase fresh whole foods, avoid constant grazing, and swap to healthier, cleaner treats. Just as in people, the right diet combined with movement dramatically improves health outcomes.

By making thoughtful changes today, pet guardians can give their dogs and cats not only a leaner body, but also a longer, happier, and healthier life.

References

• Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (2022). Pet Obesity Survey Results – prevalence of overweight dogs and cats in the U.S.
• Canine Arthritis Management. Pet Obesity: Serious Health Risks – prevalence in the UK and globally.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (2019). Carbohydrate requirements in canine nutrition.
• Oxford Academic (2024). Carbohydrates in pet nutrition: biological role and non-essentiality.
• British Veterinary Nursing Association (2023). Kitten nutrition and carbohydrate metabolism.
• The Canine Review (2023). Obesity as a metabolic disease in companion animals.
• Three Happy Hounds (2023). Carbohydrate content in kibble and calculation method.
• Food Research Lab (2022). Pet physiology and metabolism: dietary adaptations for weight management.
• 3P Naturals (2022). High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets in cats with diabetes.