The 7 Best Dog Foods For High Triglycerides
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Many individuals are unfamiliar with the term "high triglycerides." But, because you're reading this, your vet has undoubtedly told you that your dog has high triglycerides and that you need to take action. It's not what you wanted to hear, but something can be done about it.
Simply simply, high triglycerides indicate that your dog has a lot of fat in his blood. Some fat is beneficial, but too much fat can cause major health concerns, particularly with the heart.
Consider it like a blocked sewer. When you take a shower, you expect the water to flow freely from the shower head down the drain. If it doesn't, the water stays in the tub, leaving behind a foul residue that accumulates over time. If the problem is not addressed, this might happen to your dog's body. Fortunately, a few simple lifestyle modifications can help.
A low-fat diet with no more than 10% fat is an excellent place to start. BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has made a list of the best dog foods for high triglycerides within this range because there are so many to choose from.
Let us investigate.
How to Choose the Best Dog Food for High Triglycerides
What to Look for When Buying Pet Food
We’ve given you nine different food options to pick from; now it’s time to show you how to feed your dog.
The Fat Content
The first item to go is the fat content. According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials, adult dogs require at least 5% of their diet, while pups require at least 8%. With a few exceptions, the majority of the foods mentioned above have a fat level of 10% or less. Ideally, you should not exceed this %.
Fiber
Fiber reduces fat and sugar absorption in the lower intestine. A high-fiber diet can also keep your dog fuller for longer. Because many low-fat foods are also low-calorie, a high fiber diet will protect your dog from feeling hungry or losing weight when it doesn’t need to.
Taurine
Because hyperlipidemia affects the heart, taurine is an excellent element to search for in your dog’s diet. Taurine is a kind of amino acid that may be found in meat, fish, and dairy products. This amino acid aids the metabolic process as well as the cardiovascular system.
Even if their recipe contains genuine meat, most dog meals include it to enhance the quantity of taurine.
Counting Calories
Not every dog with hyperlipidemia needs to lose weight, although some need in order to lower their triglyceride levels.
It’s a waste of time to look at the calorie count of your dog’s food. Many dog owners are unaware that their dog’s food is high in calories and that they are overfeeding them, resulting in extra fat. Check how many calories your dog should consume every day and remain within that range.
How Does Pet Food Reduce Triglyceride Levels?
We explained before that the cardiovascular system functions similarly to a drain. If it becomes blocked, all waste accumulates in the body. A nutritious diet, in a similar way, operates like Drano, cutting through fat and decreasing excess waste that might cause major health problems.
Extra fat in the blood simply signifies that the body is using more energy than it can. The body saves that energy in the hope of using it later. A better, more balanced diet often results in reduced fat consumption overall, and hence lower triglycerides.
It is also important to consider the sort of fat your dog consumes. Saturated and unsaturated fats are the two types of fats.
Butter is a nice example of saturated fat. At room temperature, this kind of fat thickens. Unsaturated fats are healthy fats. These fats, such as olive oil and canola oil, stay liquid at room temperature. These are the foods that your dog (and you) should eat.
Cholesterol vs. Triglycerides
Let’s put the brakes on our dietary choices for a bit and talk about triglycerides. We said previously that elevated triglycerides indicate that your dog has too much fat in his blood. But isn’t it the definition of high cholesterol?
You’re heading in the correct direction. Triglycerides and cholesterol are two kind of fatty compounds known as lips. Triglycerides, on the other hand, are a form of fat present in the blood that the body uses for energy.
Cholesterol, on the other hand, is a waxy molecule generated by the liver. It has the appearance of fat, but it is created by a separate portion of the body and has a distinct purpose.
Triglycerides are used by doctors to assess heart health. High triglycerides indicate that there is too much fat in the blood, also known as hyperlipidemia.
What Causes High Triglycerides in a Dog?
So, what brought us here in the first place? What happened to increase the amount of fat in your dog’s blood? There are three possible causes of elevated triglycerides in dogs, and they can occasionally coexist. Let’s have a look at what they are.
Diet
It can be discouraging to learn that your dog has high triglycerides. We adore our dogs and want to provide them the best life possible. We sometimes go too far and stuff our dogs’ bellies with snacks and table scraps, causing their blood to become fatty and their hearts to become unhealthy.
Some dog owners provide their canines a nutritious food, but they overfeed, causing fat to build in the blood.
In any instance, this reduces their life expectancy, which is the last thing we want for our beloved pets.
Breed
A poor diet is not usually the source of hyperlipidemia. Some dog breeds, such as Schnauzers, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Collies, are predisposed to high triglycerides. If you have one of these breeds, your dog’s parents may have had hyperlipidemia as well.
Illness
Triglycerides in dogs can sometimes be elevated due to sickness. If your dog is otherwise healthy but has high triglycerides, it might be a sign of the following:
- Diabetes Type II
- Syndrome Metabolique
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing’s Syndrome
Other Methods for Lowering Your Dog’s Triglycerides
Exercise is an excellent approach to help keep your dog’s hyperlipidemia under control. Exercise aids in the burning of calories and the utilization of stored fat for energy.
If your dog isn’t used to exercising, begin slowly. Simple walks and ball throwing in the backyard go a long way. Any type of movement will be beneficial. As your dog becomes stronger, you may increase the challenge level. When combined with a nutritious, well-balanced food, your dog will be unstoppable.
You should also avoid fatty snacks and table scraps. You may need to eliminate them entirely until your dog’s statistics are within a healthy range.
Conclusion
Ollie fresh dog food is our best overall choice. It’s human-grade fresh food tailored to your dog’s specific requirements. It’s low in fat and high in nutrients, but it’s costly. Check out Wag for a low-cost meal. Amazon does an excellent job of providing dry food with high-quality ingredients that isn’t too heavy in fat.
Our favorite premium choice is Nulo’s Adult Trim recipe. It’s high in protein, grain-free, and the majority of the protein comes from animals. Just by looking at the kibble, you can know it’s high in nutrients and flavor.
Choose The Honest Kitchen for pups. It has more fat than the other alternatives, but pups normally require more fat.
Finally, our veterinarian recommends Royal Canin’s GI formula. It has just 5.5% fat and is excellent for digestive disorders. Examine it out.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes our evaluations and guide assist you in finding the best dog foods for high triglycerides.
Reviews
Best Value: Dry Dog Food Wag Wholesome Grains
- Lamb, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Grain Sorghum are the main components.
- 22.5% protein content
- 14% fat content
- 346 kilocalories per cup
The Wag Lamb & Brown Rice dish is the most economical. Previously, you had to be an Amazon Prime member to order this meal, but now anybody can. This is Amazon’s own dog food brand, and we have to say, it’s not terrible.
What we appreciate about this dish is that it is reasonably priced, simple to order, and the ingredients are of high quality. It’s also devoid of artificial colors, preservatives, and tastes.
However, because it is prepared in the same facility as other pet meals, it may include trace quantities of by-product, wheat, maize, or soy.
The first two elements are a meat product and a vegetable product (real meat being the first ingredient). It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are beneficial to joint health. This Wag recipe contains grains, but there is also a grain-free variation.
The most significant disadvantage of this recipe is the high fat content. Wag’s Lamb recipe contains 14% fat, which is greater than the other selections on this list. However, if you need to extend your budget, we recommend this brand.
Pros
- Affordable
- Available to all Amazon customers
- High protein content
- There are no artificial colors, preservatives, or tastes in this product.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are present.
Cons
- Affordable
- May contain by-products, wheat, corn, soy
Recipe for Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim
- Deboned fish, turkey meal, salmon meal, lentils, and yellow peas are the main components.
- 30% protein content
- 7% fat content
- 368 kilocalories per cup
Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim Recipe is the finest option if you’re willing to spend a few additional money on your dog. Nulo is well-known as a high-protein, grain-free pet food brand, however they do offer an ancient grain mix.
Their Adult Trim product is used in this recipe. It contains 30% protein, which is much higher than the average seen in most dog food products. The first three components are all meat-based, with deboned cod serving as the predominant protein source.
Because about 74% of the protein content is animal-based, you can be confident that your dog is getting a solid natural supply of taurine.
We also appreciate the addition of vegetables. Because dogs are omnivores, they require some plant materials in their diet. This diet also includes L-carnitine1, an amino acid that may aid in fat burning. If your dog has to lose weight to decrease its triglyceride levels, this might be an excellent alternative.
The price is, of course, a disadvantage. However, it is less costly than Ollie’s fresh dog food and has superior components. So, if you want to spend some money on your dog, we highly recommend Nulo.
Pros
- 74% protein derived from animals
- The first three components are all made from meat.
- L-carnitine is present.
- Vegetables were added.
- Excellent for weight loss
Cons
- Expensive
Best for Puppies: Whole Grain Honest Kitchen
- Dehydrated chicken, organic barley, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, organic oats are the main components.
- 24.5% protein content
- 14% fat content
- 485 kilocalories per cup
Because certain breeds are susceptible to high triglycerides, it’s comforting to know that there are low-fat puppy recipes available. The Honest Kitchen’s Whole Grain Chicken dish is our favorite.
This recipe contains more fat (14% fat) than most of the other options on this list because puppies require more fat in their diet. Nonetheless, it is lower than in many other puppy foods.
The fact that this meal is dehydrated jumps out the most. All you have to do is add warm water and serve it like a handmade dinner. Easy. The biggest package yields around 40 pounds of food.
The price is a touch pricey, but considering the quality of the ingredients and how simple it is to prepare, it’s not too awful.
We also like that this dish contains EPA and DHA, two omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to the brain, heart, and immune system.
This dish also includes a delicious combination of fresh veggies and taurine for added nourishment. There are no artificial chemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), preservatives, or fillers.
Pros
- Fat content: 14%
- EPA and DHA listed
- Formulation dehydrated
- a good variety of vegetables
- Non-GMO
- Ingredients that are safe
Cons
- This item has the highest fat content on the list.
- Pricey
Dry Dog Food Nutro Ultra Weight Management
- Ingredients: chicken, chicken meal Whole grain brown rice, whole grain sorghum, and whole grain barley are all examples of whole grains.
- 26% protein content
- Fat content: 9%
- 335 calories per cup
Nutro’s Ultra Weight Management Chicken, Lamb, and Salmon dish ranks sixth on our list. With only 335 calories per cup and only 9% fat—not too much, nor too little—this grain-inclusive meal is great for weight control.
This dish, however, is not excellent for weight reduction. If your dog needs to lose weight, check out some of the other recipes on this page.
This dish is free of artificial ingredients, non-GMO, and manufactured in the United States. The first ingredient is real meat, followed by chicken meal, which is a wonderful source of protein.
Although the package claims that any breed size may enjoy this kibble, several owners have reported that the kibble seems larger than before. If you have a little dog, bear in mind that they may have adjusted their kibble sizes.
Pros
- There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in this product.
- Non-GMO
- Made in the United States
- The first component is real beef.
- A good protein variety
- Suitable for all breed sizes
Cons
- Not intended for weight loss.
- Kibble sizes look to be larger than previously.
Merrick Grain-Free Weight Loss Recipe
- Deboned beef, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and turkey meal are the main components.
- 32% protein content
- 10% fat content
- 354 calories per cup
Merrick’s Grain-Free Healthy Weight dish ranks seventh on our list. This is a high-protein dish with animal protein accounting for 80% of the protein. On a dry matter basis, the fat level is no more than 10%, and the calorie amount is typical.
This recipe also includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, as well as salmon meal, which contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Merrick’s is well regarded by us and its devoted clients. Nestle Purina Pet Care, however, purchased them in 2015. As a result, many of its materials are likely to be supplied from other nations, particularly China. Overall, we think Merrick’s is a solid brand.
Pros
- High protein content
- Animal protein accounts for 80% of total protein consumption.
- Fatty acid-rich salmon dinner
- Beneficial for weight loss
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are present.
Cons
- Not intended for weight loss.
- Nestle Purina Pet Care purchased
Grain-Free Reduced Fat Dry Food from Wellness Core
- Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, and peas are the main components.
- 33% protein content
- 10% fat content
- 366 kilocalories per cup
The grain-free Turkey and Chicken Reduced Fat dish from Wellness Core ranks eighth on our list. This dish offers 33% more protein and double the fiber of the original recipe. We enjoy this since reduced fat and calorie foods are often less satisfying.
Overall, 74% of the protein in this meal comes from animal sources, with genuine meat as the first ingredient. This is great because, in addition to high-quality protein, your dog is getting a natural dose of taurine. There are no fillers, byproducts of meat, or artificial substances.
You get about 4 cups of food per pound of kibble, and the kibble size is about the size of a chickpea.
This dish contains GMOs, so if that’s a concern for you, you should check at some of the other recipes on this list. Furthermore, some of the components are obtained from other nations.
Pros
- The first component is real beef.
- 74% of protein comes from animal sources.
- fat content is reduced by 25%
- Increase the fiber by double.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are present.
Cons
- Some components are obtained from other nations.
- GMOs are present.
Lite Holistic Health Extension
- Organic deboned chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, oatmeal, and chicken fat are the main components.
- 24% protein content
- 9% fat content
- 288 calories per cup
Number nine on our list is Holistic Health Extension Lite. This recipe’s major protein source is organic deboned chicken, and it’s devoid of GMOs, artificial colors, and preservatives.
This recipe contains 50% less fat than the original Health Extension recipe and has a greater protein level than conventional dog diets.
It’s also low in calories. This might be beneficial for dogs that need to reduce weight in order to have lower triglyceride levels. This may not be a suitable option for energetic dogs because you will have to provide extra food.
One pound of food yields around four cups of kibble. The major disadvantage is the size of the kibble. It’s about the size of a pea and could be too small for larger breeds. So, if your dog is naturally larger, keep that in mind.
Pros
- Non-GMO
- Excellent for cardiovascular health
- There are no artificial colors or preservatives.
- Low caloric intake
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are present.
Cons
- Kibble may be insufficient for big breeds.
- Not suitable for energetic dogs.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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