How much should I reduce my dog's food to help it lose weight?

First, honestly total everything your dog currently eats in a day, including the main meal, treats, and any extras, since the reduction needs to apply to the true current total rather than just the measured main meal.

Cut 10 percent from that total for a dog only slightly over ideal weight, or up to 20 percent for a dog more significantly overweight, always checking with your vet for guidance on a dog with a lot of weight to lose.

A very large calorie cut can leave a dog persistently hungry, which often triggers scavenging, bin raiding, or intense begging that undermines the plan and can be stressful for both dog and owner.

Rapid weight loss can also be less healthy for dogs than a gradual reduction, similar to how crash diets are generally discouraged for people.

Weigh your dog every two weeks, and if loss after a month is slower than roughly 1 percent of body weight per week, cut a further 5 to 10 percent and hold there.

If loss is happening faster than around 2 percent of body weight per week, ease the reduction back slightly, since very fast loss is not necessarily better or safer, and steady, moderate progress tends to be easier to maintain once target weight is reached.