The pet obesity epidemic is alarming. An estimated 58 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention. The obesity rates are on trend with increased pet industry revenue of 16.5 billion dollars last year, giving more options to spoil our pets. Our call to action is to make better choices to lavish upon our pets.

Unlike us, pets cannot get their own meals or treats, so humans are a viable contributing participant. The chubby pet is cute, cuddly, means we love them, right? Not so fast, we are in fact enabling them to be unhealthy. We often mistake showing them love by handing out treats. Many treats are much higher in fat than a balanced pet food. Are you guilty of feeding a good quality pet food, but excessively treating your pet to its current tubby state? Treats add up fast, switching to 1 or 2 treats a day is a good start, if you are an over-treater. Find quality, lower calorie treats such as dried liver or use fresh veggies and fruits. You will be surprise that they love the healthy treats. The number one cause of our overweight pets is humans, according to The Whole Dog Journal, which also encourages owners to show our pets affection by helping them lose weight and increase their health.

The list of health concerns due to pet obesity includes, but is not limited to: diabetes, digestive disorders, depression, arthritis and joint problems according to Pets Weekly. But the good news is this can turn around with a little bit of effort on the owner's part. A balanced diet and regular exercise makes for a healthy happy pet. Treat them with real love and enjoy them for years to come.