Best Feeding Schedule for Overweight Dogs
Over half of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. If your dog is carrying extra weight, adjusting their feeding schedule is one of the most effective things you can do — often more impactful than increasing exercise alone.
Weight loss feeding schedule
| Current Weight | Meals/Day | Suggested Times | Calorie Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-25% overweight | 3 | 7am, 12pm, 5:30pm | 80% of ideal weight maintenance |
| 25%+ overweight | 3-4 | 7am, 11am, 3pm, 6pm | 70% of ideal weight maintenance (vet supervised) |
Why more meals, not fewer
It's counterintuitive, but feeding an overweight dog more frequently (with smaller portions) is more effective than reducing to once daily. Here's why:
- Steadier metabolism — frequent small meals keep metabolic rate higher than one big meal
- Less begging — the dog is never as desperately hungry, reducing the sad eyes that break your resolve
- Better blood sugar control — prevents the insulin spikes that promote fat storage
- Thermic effect — digesting food burns calories; more meals = more digestion events
Calculating the right calorie target
First, determine your dog's ideal weight — your vet can help with this. Then calculate the resting energy requirement (RER) for that ideal weight:
RER = 70 × (ideal weight in kg)^0.75
For weight loss, feed 80% of the maintenance calories for their ideal weight, not their current weight. For a dog whose ideal weight is 50 lbs (22.7 kg), that works out to about 750-800 calories per day for weight loss.
What to feed an overweight dog
- Weight management formula — these have fewer calories per cup but maintain adequate protein and nutrients
- Higher fiber — helps dogs feel full on fewer calories
- Higher protein, lower fat — preserves muscle mass while reducing fat
- Green beans — a popular vet-approved filler. Replace up to 25% of kibble volume with plain canned green beans for a low-calorie way to keep the bowl looking full
Eliminate hidden calories
The feeding schedule won't matter if hidden calories undermine it. Common culprits:
- Treats — a single dental chew can be 100+ calories. Switch to baby carrots (5 cal each) or small training treats (2-3 cal each)
- Table scraps — even small amounts add up fast. A quarter of a hot dog is 50 calories for a 25-lb dog — equivalent to a 200-calorie snack for a human
- Other family members — make sure everyone in the house is on the same page
Safe weight loss rate
Target 1-2% of body weight per week. For a 60-lb dog, that's about 0.6-1.2 lbs per week. Faster than that risks muscle loss and nutritional deficiencies. Weigh monthly and adjust portions if weight loss stalls or moves too fast.
Use our feeding calculator to get personalized portions for your dog's target weight.
Get personalized feeding amounts → Feeding Calculator