October is World Pet Obesity Month, the perfect time for pet owners to look beyond how much they feed their pets and consider, more importantly, the nutritional quality of what goes into their fur babies’ bowls.
While overfeeding and a lack of exercise can contribute to weight gain, simply reducing the amount of food a pet receives is not always the answer. What that food contains, particularly the quality and source of its protein, matters just as much.
“Weight management is not simply about feeding less. It is about making every bite count,” says Sonja Maricevic, Chief Operations Officer at Pack Leader. “When a pet needs to lose weight, we want it to lose excess fat while maintaining muscle, healthy skin, coat condition and overall wellbeing. That means paying close attention to the quality of its food, not just how much goes into the bowl.”
It’s not just about how much they eat
Dogs and cats are naturally meat eaters and are designed to thrive on a diet high in animal protein, with low carbohydrates. While they can digest and use carbohydrates to limited degrees, they have no specific dietary requirement for them. Yet many commercial pet foods rely heavily on carbohydrate-rich ingredients and lower-quality plant protein sources, which do not provide the same nutritional benefits as quality animal protein.
The concern is not simply how many calories a food contains, but where those calories come from and what nutritional value they provide. Diets high in rapidly digested carbohydrates and lower-quality ingredients are not compatible for supporting long-term metabolic health and weight management.
“Pet owners need to look beyond the volume of food in the bowl and ask whether it is genuinely nourishing their animals,” explains Maricevic. “Quality animal protein and whole food ingredients should be a priority. Avoid foods containing unnecessary fillers, artificial additives or ingredients that add bulk without providing meaningful nutritional value.”
Why protein matters
When calorie intake is reduced, adequate protein becomes particularly important. It supplies the building blocks needed to maintain muscle, helps pets feel satisfied after eating and supports their overall condition while they lose excess fat.
Losing muscle alongside fat can affect strength, mobility and the body’s energy needs. A more appropriate approach to weight management is therefore to provide sufficient quality protein and essential nutrients while carefully controlling total calories and fat.
This is also why simply feeding smaller portions of a pet’s usual food can be problematic. Less food means fewer calories, but it can also mean less protein, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.
“During weight loss, every bite counts,” says Maricevic. “We want pets to lose fat, not muscle or overall condition. A diet that prioritises appropriate levels of animal protein while controlling calories can help support this, rather than simply reducing food intake.”
Less food should not mean less nourishment
A lower-calorie food is not automatically the best choice for weight loss if its nutritional composition does not meet the individual pet’s needs.
“Some traditional weight loss pet foods restrict calories without necessarily increasing protein from animal sources by increasing fibre bulk. This approach tricks the body into feeling full, reducing food intake but deprives pets of the required nutrient intake their bodies need,” says Maricevic.
The aim should be to manage calories without compromising nutrition. This requires considering the quality of the ingredients and the amount of food appropriate for the individual animal.
Pet owners should also remember that even a good-quality diet can contribute to weight gain if portions are too large or treats and table scraps add too many extra calories. Activity levels, age, breed, health and sterilisation status can all influence a pet’s needs.
Turn the bag around
Making informed choices starts with understanding what is in the food being purchased. Rather than relying solely on packaging claims or pictures on the front of a bag, pet owners should examine the ingredients and nutritional information.
“Turn the bag around and read the ingredients,” advises Maricevic. “Look for clearly identified animal protein sources and whole food ingredients. Choosing a more natural, nutrient-dense diet is about prioritising nourishment, not just fullness. The aim is to choose a complete and balanced food that provides the appropriate nutrition for your pet, rather than simply one that fills the bowl.”
Ultimately, helping pets maintain a healthy weight is not about putting them on restrictive diets. It is about making informed choices, feeding appropriate portions, keeping treats in check, providing regular activity and, importantly, understanding whether the food in their bowl is meeting their nutritional needs.
“This World Pet Obesity Month, I encourage pet owners to look beyond how much they feed and consider what they feed. The goal is to nourish our pets while helping them maintain a healthy weight and enjoy a better quality of life,” concludes Maricevic.
