Stopping all treats – We all likely realize that treats can represent a substantial source of calories if they’re given out too generously. Things get even more complicated when you realize that there is no requirement that the manufacturers of treats put the calorie count on the packaging, so you’re left in the dark when figuring out how many treats is too many treats. But if your dog has been used to getting food rewards for performing good deeds and you stop or seriously curtail his daily treat intake, you’re likely going to have a frustrated pup, especially since you’re likely already cutting back on the amount of food you’re feeding.

Consider replacing most treats with healthy foods, such as frozen broccoli florets or baby carrots. Rawhides can have a startling amount of calories, so you’ll want to cut back on or stop those altogether, but consider replacing them with something like a Kong that’s been loaded with some of his daily allotment of kibble (soak for a few minutes in a small amount of low-sodium chicken broth or water to increase volume) and then frozen. These treats are tasty and provide a welcome diversion for a substantial period of time.

Not working with their veterinarian – Get your vet to help you figure out exactly how much weight your dog needs to lose, then have a look together at the food you’re going to feed or have them recommend one. That way, you can understand the amount of calories each cup or can of food contains. Your vet can even compute your pet’s daily calorie needs based on current weight and activity levels and then adjust downward for weight loss.

It’s also good to have your veterinarian on board at the start to ensure that you’re not mistaking routine chubbiness for an actual medical problem. Also, your veterinarian can guide you regarding what is a safe rate of weight loss for a cat — most experts agree that about 1 pound per month is safe — since rapid weight loss can increase the chance of fatty liver syndrome, a dangerous and potentially fatal condition.

Forcing too much exercise – In older dogs especially, osteoarthritis is common. A decrease in activity caused by the joint pain of arthritis may be what led to the weight gain in the first place or perhaps at least contributed to the problem. Your first inclination may be to put your dog into some sort of homegrown boot camp program, but it’s best to take it easy at first.

Forcing exercise for extended periods or exercise that it too strenuous in nature may predispose your overweight dog to injuries that will sideline him for several days or even weeks, slowing down weight loss even more. Start with three to four brisk 20- to 30-minute walks per day, and once the weight starts coming off, you can consider beginning some jogging and games of fetch or chuck-it in a secure setting.

Feeding only dry food to your overweight cat  – Dry kibble is similar to the bag of chips or can of nuts that you may or may not have been known to reach the bottom of while hanging out on the couch on a given Saturday afternoon. Canned food is around 70 percent moisture, so not only do cats get a beneficial dose of hydration when they eat it, they are also likely to feel full sooner than they would eating a comparable volume of dry food.

Canned food can be a bit inconvenient, for sure, so if you can’t feed it at every meal out of concern for keeping the food fresh, consider feeding one meal of canned food at dinner when you’re more likely to be around and can take the portion up that doesn’t get finished after an hour or so.