Fat cats and dog pounds.

Dogs and cats often share traits with their humans, including weight problems. Between 25 percent and 40 percent of America's pets are obese, according to George Fahey, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois Animal Sciences Department. The proportion of obese adults in the U.S. is similar, at 30 percent. Fahey cites two basic reasons that pets are getting heavier: too little exercise and too many calories, problems also shared by humans. It is now possible to indulge pets with treats like peanut-butter waffle cones and carob-covered dog biscuits shaped like fire hydrants. Giving pets "people food" is another culprit. Fahey advises using pet food from a reputable manufacturer and following directions for portion size. Then, he says, take yourself and your dog out for a walk instead of a waffle cone.