Diet Riot: Hey Fatty, Your Dog is Fat Too

Too Many Treats: too few walks. sound familiar?As Americans get fatter and fatter, their pets are expanding with them: an estimated 50 percent of America's total pet population is apparently dangerously overweight. Unsurprisingly, many pet owners are dealing with their furry friends' fatness much in the same way they deal with their own: diet pills or, in the case of Slentrol, liquid prescription weight-loss meds.

If, like me, you think that giving an otherwise healthy dog weight-loss meds sounds dim-witted and lazy, then perhaps you'll be more enthused about this novel idea: exercise videos for dogs and cats. Yup: if you log on to PetFit.com, you'll find tips and videos demonstrating workouts like "Fetch Races" and "Light Cardio," which involves jumping "an invisible rope while holding flashlights in your hands." Your fat cat will frantically chase the light beam while you get your heart rate up. Hell, it sounds entertaining--advertise it as a show and charge for tickets.