Humans aren't the only creatures that are losing the battle of the bulge in the U.S.—so are our pets. 57.6 percent of cats and 52.6 percent of dogs are obese or overweight, according to an annual survey of veterinarians conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).

What's more shocking than the fact that pet owners allow their fluffy friends to overeat is that a staggering 93 percent of dog owners and 88 percent of cat owners thought that their pets were in a normal weight range. The APOP refers to this as the "fat gap"—the discrepancy between how much a pet should weigh and what the owner thinks is an acceptable weight. In fact, 42 percent of pet owners admitted that they didn't know what a healthy weight for their pet would look like.

While it might seem nice to snuggle up to a squishy pug, the health and quality of life concerns for your pet are staggering and shouldn't be overlooked. "Sorry, but we have to be brutally honest with you," says Jean Hofve, DMV, author of Paleo Dog, "Fat dogs are not cute or cuddly or even comfortable—they are sick. Excess weight reduces life expectancy and increases a dog's risk for many serious health problems." (Check out the other human habit that might be killing your dog.)

Dr. Hofve explains that pet obesity, much like human obesity, leads to joint disease, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory problems, diabetes, liver disease, and cancer.

How can you tell if your dog is at the right weight? Dr. Hofve says, "Ideally, you should be able to easily feel your dog's ribs; from the side, the belly should tuck up, and from the top, there should be a discernable waist."

To combat pet obesity, Dr. Hofve recommends returning your pet to a natural diet. "Commercial pet food has a lot more in common with McDonald's food than its manufacturers want you to know (including the fact that spoiled and discarded food and waste grease from McDonald's may actually be an ingredient in your dog's dry food)," she says.

Try replacing your dog's cardboard-box treats with Hofve's recipe for Carrot Cookies from Paleo Dog.

Carrot Cookies



Ingredients:

1 cup organic coconut oil
2 organic, pasture-raised eggs
½ cup organic unsulfured molasses
2 cups organic coconut flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
Pinch of Himalayan or Celtic sea salt
2 cups steamed, mashed carrots (or baked or steamed and mashed sweet potatoes)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a baking sheet or line a baking sheet with oiled parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the coconut oil, eggs, and molasses.
3. In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the mashed carrots (or sweet potatoes) and the oil-egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix well to form a dough.
5. Drop by bite-size spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until browned.

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