Wet food, less of it
Canned or homemade foods contain more water, and so the calories are "diluted" out, is responsible for this phenomenon.  Some pets may simply need more meat, and less grain, in their diets (as discussed above) and canned diets tend to be lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein/fat.  Perhaps the secret is that canned foods force the owner to turn to “meal feeding”, instead of allowing free choice feeding. Canned foods are also more expensive, and tend to give us a ‘reality check’ on the amount of food we should be feeding.   In any case, try to find a canned diet that is high quality and free of preservatives.  If you have a pet that is already on a weight loss diet, DO NOT switch back to maintenance diets; simply use the canned form of a weight loss diet.

Snacks are an important part of life for some pets.  Unfortunately, many “snack” foods for pets are fattening junk food like human favorites tend to be.  Good alternatives for dogs include a variety of vegetables, while cats sometimes like melon or catnip.

Obesity is a serious medical and nutritional problem, but consulting with your veterinarian can help you improve the quality of your pet's life for years to come.