If your dog or cat looks more like a footstool than an animal, it's time to do something about that excess weight. There is an epidemic of fat pets in the United States, one that's often unrecognized.

Eight overweight pets are to take part in a 100-day slimming contest. The animals, seven dogs and one cat, each weigh more than 30% above their ideal weight and must lose a combined total of 74kg to ...