Why? Because overfeeding your pet poses health risks - including arthritis, respiratory problems, heart complications and a greatly shortened life span. As with human beings, obesity leads to illnesses that don't manifest until the later years.

Since you see your pet everyday, it can be hard to tell the difference if he's already putting on extra flab. A simple test for obesity would be for you to lightly run your hands over your pet. If you can't feel his ribs or backbone when you do this, it's highly likely that your pet is overweight.

It's hard to say no to the pleading eyes of an adoring pet begging for more pet food. When this happens, keep in mind the suffering you and your pet will have endure when he falls prey to obesity-related illnesses.

Here are a few tips to avoid obesity in your pets:

Do not feed your dog the "free-food" way. Leaving pet food out for your pet all day long is one of the surest ways to over-eating.

Don't always follow feeding guides. When feeding your pet, always use your better judgment. The guidelines written behind your pet's food packaging may not always be appropriate. Amount to feed depends on each individual pet's age, size, and activity level.

Exercise your pet. Make sure to fit a slot in your busy schedule to play with your pet. Train your pet to have a daily run or you can even hire a pet sitter to exercise your pet for you. Not only will this shed the extra kilos, it will also keep your pet energetic and in better spirits all day long. Every effort counts.

Take him to the vet. Severe or sudden weight gain (even weight loss, for that matter), should always be checked by the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will also be able to prescribe your pet with a better diet and nutrition plan.

Age equals slower metabolism. For the older Joes, slower metabolism could be triggering the weight gain. There are various low-calorie, high-quality pet food available in the market. To know what's best for your pet, ask a professional.