53 Percent of Dogs and 55 Percent of Cats in U.S. Obese

When we think of our pets carrying around an extra pound or two, we usually think 'how cute.' More like how dangerous.

According to Project Pet Slim Down, nearly 53 percent of dogs and 55 percent of cats in the United States are tipping the scales as overweight or obese .

And, to make matters worse, an added pressure is put on the pet owner in order to help these little guys slim down. That means it's up to us in fact to get our pets exercising and back to a healthy weight.

According to the project, both feline and canine obesity is defined as 20 percent to 25 percent over the ideal weight. For those who don't weigh their pets regularly, an obese pet is simply one that has enough fat to impair health or body function.

The ideal weight for a pet is one where the animal's  ribs can be slightly seen, but not easily felt. The pet's stomach should tuck in behind the rib cage, and if the pet's ribs cannot be felt, then the animal most likely has a weight problem. Other indicators are if there are fat deposits at the base of the animal's tail or if the belly is round when viewed from the side.

Health advisors suggest that you stop feeding your pet table scraps as a measure to help get them off in the right direction. An examination should reveal if they have any sort of metabolic disorder that could cause a change in dietary habits or nutrition.

Also, pet owners should be cautioned that just because pet treats or main staples say "low calorie," doesn't mean they are nutritous or in fact, actually low in calories. 

So, make sure they're active, eating healthy and most importantly, happy.