No-Fuss Ways to Help Your Pet Slim Down

I agree with all these comments. I also think it depends on the breed, but also what the animal feels. Such as it being limited to food, so of course on it's next meal it is going to "Woof" it down, because it is not sure when the next meal will come? Same as animals in the wild, eat as much as you can now, because the hunt if tuff. I have an 11yr old Mini Poodle (9lbs) and a 15yr old Mini Cock-a-poo 11lbs. Both are fit for there age, and they have access to dry food & water 24 hrs a day. They never empty the bowl in 1 day. I had a Retroodle 65lbs (lived to 12yrs old) and a Doberman 80lbs (lived to 10 yrs old) both had access to food constantly and were not obese. Only one I had a problem with was a mix breed a 1/2 Doberman 1/2 Ger Shepherd, ate like there was no tomorrow, if it hit the floor, it was in his stomach < only male. All the rest were/are female, would not get another male. I find the females more calm and a tendency to stay close.

I disagree with the advice that one should not leave food out. Yes, if your dog (or rarely) a cat does eat everything in sight after trying this method, then yes, those animals needs limits set on them. But not every breed of dog eats like that. I have had a cock-a poo and 4 Chow Chows over the last several years (not all at once) and they were/have all had access to kibble all day and none were fat or made pigs of themselves. Cats are "grazers" by nature and like to nibble a litle at a time and I have had a LOT Of cats and rarely have any of them been overweight (by vet standards). I feed them both canned and kibble food, and the kibble is out all the time. I find animals make pigs of themselves when they don't get food but once or twice a day!

animals are still sweet as can be even if they are obese

Look , we all know spaying and neutering cause health issues in most animals such as hypothyroidism and all kinds of health issues as they grow older, especially if spaying and neutering is done prematurely.
I believe responsible owners and vets will allow animals to fully develop at least before they neuter or spay animals and then put them on healthy diet and supplements otherwise their body will no longer metabolize the same way it did before spay and neuter.

people feed their pets like they feed themselves! They overindulge so they overindulge their pets too. We are in America where 65% of the population is OBESE!

Please, feed the pets with good quality food and ask your vet which one are the best snacks, I know Greenies killed my cat, the recommendation intake is all wrong. I went to the website and the company did not respond to any of my letters, red flag. Then, the vet informed that Greenies are in fact dangerous to the pets, it give them kidney decease, beware and make sure your pet has plenty of water available.

To true! I have personal pets and I foster. It always drives me crazy when adopters say they are going to fatten up one of my fosters. They are thin for a reason; it is healthier but everyone wants to see a round cat or a plump dog. I have a roomie who likes to keep her dogs fatter because she thought it was healthier. I have since told her otherwise but I can't quite understand why people have this mindset.