[Nancy1999]

I would cut the food they are feeding by 1/3, and weigh weekly to see if he's losing the weight. Green beans are a low calorie treat and act to help make them feel full, so if by reducing the food by 1/3, he still seems like he's starving, adding a few green beans will help. Just like with humans, rapid weight loose is not the way to go. I'm not sure how much weight loss they can expect each weight, but when Joey had to lose a pound, the vet said 1 to 2 ounces a week would be a good goal. This is based on percentages of their weight, for example, a 70-pound dog might be able to safely lose 8 ounces a week. Remember, anytime an organism loses weight too fast, it loses more muscle than fat, and while muscle weighs more, it also keep metabolism high. This is especially important as a dog ages, because he's not building that much new muscle. I made Joey work for some of his meals, and playing fetch is a good way for them to get exercise and every little bit helps.

I too think two meals is better, and I would be tempted to reduce his night time meal by ½ and give him part of that in the mourning, if he refused it, no harm done. Again, a few green beans could be added, and they need to stop all other treats. Most actual dog treats are very high calorie, and a few here and there can blow the diet. If he's seriously overweight, they may not realize how much they are giving him.