Can amino acids help your dog lose weight?

You can think of your dog as another child of the family. Like children, you have to make sure what they’re eating is keeping them healthy. Dogs that weigh over 10% of their ideal body weight are considered overweight. This can lead to many health complications, including arthritis, pancreatitis and kidney disease. Even active dogs can have trouble losing weight once they’ve gained it. One way to help your dog lose weight is by introducing a diet with the right combination of amino acids.

What Are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are blocks of proteins and polypeptides that make up the major components of the muscles and tissue of animals. They play an essential role in the bodily processes of animals — and a lack of amino acids can cause medical complications.

Therefore, adjusting your dogs’ diet to include the amino acids they might be missing is an excellent way to help them lose weight. Also, Your dog’s body cannot produce certain amino acids alone — they must be introduced through food. These include:

• Phenylalanine
• Valine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Isoleucine
• Methionine
• Histidine
• Leucine
• Lysine

These amino acids are essential for certain functions of the body. For example, phenylalanine powers neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain and nervous system. Isoleucine, valine and threonine are responsible for the metabolism of fats and cholesterol into energy.

Since these amino acids play an essential role in your dog’s well-being, it’s important to choose the right foods and supplements. Before you decide to buy just any cheap dog food, make sure you look at the back of the label to check the nutritional information. This way, you ensure you get the right foods to meet your dog’s needs.

Amino acids are also crucial to humans’ health and well-being — they are essential for building muscle and functions of the brain and nervous system. Humans get amino acids from meat, seafood and foods like nuts, lentils, vegetables and whole grains.

How Amino Acids Can Help Your Dog Lose Weight

Among their numerous benefits, amino acids can also help dogs lose weight. One amino acid in particular — L-carnitine — is beneficial to dogs. L-carnitine promotes heart health and brain and muscle function by turning fat in the body into energy.

L-Carnitine is produced naturally in a dog’s liver, brain and kidneys, but the amount produced varies between each dog. Genetics, age and breed all play an essential factor. Dogs with certain liver or kidney diseases may also have problems producing L-carnitine.

Dogs can receive L-carnitine through a protein-rich diet. However, supplements are also available to increase their amino acid intake.

Protein and Amino Acid Rich Dog Foods

Knowing what kinds of dog food are rich in amino acids combined with lots of exercise is the fastest way to help your dog lose weight and keep them healthy. Here are some dog food brands you and your dog can try.

Merrick Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Dog Food

Merrick Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Dog Food is high in L-carnitine and taurine. This dog food blend uses lamb and salmon meals as the base, giving it a high protein count. Not only is it great for helping your dog lose weight — the high taurine can also help prevent or treat heart diseases.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food

This brand of dog food has plenty of protein and amino acids in its buffalo and lamb ingredients while being affordable. Like Merrick Texas Beef & Sweet Potato above, Taste of the Wild is high in L-carnitine and taurine — making it an excellent choice for dogs who need to lose weight.

Chicken and peas are also included in the ingredients, so ensure your dog is not allergic to these before buying.

Farmina N&D Codfish & Orange Dog Food

This brand of dog food is made from cod and herring oil, making it rich in amino acids, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Farmina N&D Codfish & Orange also uses whole grains. While this makes it more healthy for some dogs, a few breeds are allergic to grains. Make sure your dog doesn’t have such an allergy before buying.

Wellness CORE Chicken and Turkey Liver

Wellness CORE dog foods contain an extremely high concentration of animal products. These include chicken and turkey liver, chicken broth and other organ meats. This makes it high in protein and amino acids like L-carnitine and taurine, as well as other nutrients found in protein-rich foods. The downside is that the brand is quite expensive.

Amino Acids can Help Your Dog Lose Weight and More

If your dog is overweight and you want to help them get healthier, an amino acid-rich diet combined with plenty of exercise is the fastest way to help them lose weight. Research the best amino acid foods and supplements for your dog to keep them a healthy and happy pup!