Dr. Kristen Yee is growing concerned about the pets she’s seeing coming into her practice.

Yee, a veterinarian at California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles said more and more pets are not only a little overweight—but obese.

“We are seeing so many overweight dogs and cats, and it’s sad because their weight levels are completely manageable with diet changes,” she told CNN.com.

 Yee said many of the pets she’s seen have severe respiratory, cardiac, metabolic and orthopedic dysfunction that is drastically worsened by just being obese.

According to MSNBC, just like people, obesity-related-diabetes is on the rise in our furry friends.

Robin Downing, the hospital director of Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Windsor, Colorado told the news source that she too has no doubt diabetes is becoming more prevalent in pets.

“There is no question from what I know that is published in the literature that obesity is on the rise, No. 1, and No. 2, diabetes is on the rise right along with it,” she told MSNBC.

Diabetes results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or properly use it, the news provider reported. The result is that body tissues can’t use glucose for energy and it builds up in blood and urine.

CNN.com suggests a few simple ways to determine whether your pet is overweight and in danger of developing diabetes:

• Run your hands over your pet’s chest. You should be able to feel their ribs but not see them.
• Look down at your pet while standing directly above them. Your pet should have what resembles a waist that pulls in slightly in front of their hips.

According to Pet Nutritionist Susan Davis, pet’s weight problems are easily detected and even more-easily rectified.

Davis told the news provider that portion control, (the amount of food given) quantity control, (how often it is given) and increased exercise are all relatively simple fixes.

Pet owners may find it hard to resist throwing their salivating pal a bone from the dinner scraps, but the Food and Drug Administration says it’s bad for pets’ health— and a potentially life-threatening treat.

The FDA issued a warning to pet owners mid April 2010 to dispose of bones rather than toss them to their dogs, the Washington Post reported.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast, “ Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian from the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA told the news provider. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size.”

The reasons the FDA highlighted for not giving your four-legged-friend a bone included: broken teeth, mouth or tongue injuries, bone pieces becoming lodged in a dog’s throat or stomach, constipation, and even worse, it could be deadly.

According to the Washington Post, giving your dog a real bone could cause a bacterial infection in the lining of the abdominal wall called peritonitis, which left untreated, could be dire to the dogs’ health.

The FDA told the news provider that swift action must be taken if a bacterial infection is suspected after ingestion of an animal bone.

“Your dog [would need] an emergency visit to your veterinarian,” the FDA source told the Washington Post.

To keep dogs in prime health, pet owners should only give their pets food and treats specifically manufactured for dogs, such as dog biscuits or Nylabones.

For more information about better treat options, and how to keep your dog in optimal health, talk with your veterinarian.

In the past few years, the nation as a whole has worked adamantly to reduce its carbon footprint—but many have overlooked the carbon pawprint of their pet.

ABC News reported that pets may have a larger carbon footprint than even an SUV.

“There is no question but that pets do exert a claim on resources,” Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. told the news source.

“Dogs and cats are carnivores so they consume meat,” he said, adding that meat requires a large amount of land and energy to produce, hence leaving a larger carbon footprint.

New Zealand Scientists Robert and Brenda Vale told ABC News that a mid-sized dog eats approximately 362 pounds of meat each year— and estimate it takes about 1.67 miles of land just to produce 2.2 pounds of chicken.

But your animals’ food isn’t the only thing that may be adding to their carbon pawprint.

According to the Morning Sun news website, there are many things you can do as a pet owner to help keep the environment intact, like buy organic pet food and look for biodegradable doggie bags.

Allecia Vermillion of Gatehouse News Service wrote that Earth-friendly versions of pet supplies are growing more and more popular.

“Just like human products, items for pets are getting all sorts of green makeovers,” she wrote.

Some options Vermillion suggests are Earth-friendly cat litter and natural toys, treats and dog collars.

“Pet stores sell a host of naturally crafted toys and treats,” Vermillion wrote.

When it comes to opting for more environmentally-friendly pet food, Vermillion wrote that there are now more options than ever.

“Like people food, pet-food manufacturers are offering a wider range of dog and cat food using more natural ingredients and production methods as well as sustainably raised meats.”

For more information about organic foods that may be good for your pet’s health and the environment, as well as Earth-friendly products, ask your local pet supply retailer which options are available in your area.

The Obama’s family dog, Bo, has kept tail-wagging-busy during his one-year stint as first dog.

The pooch, who is best known for racing around the White House lawn, giving Oprah a high-five, and barking at Santa, recently celebrated his first anniversary at the White House.

President Obama told the Washington Post he never imagined he’d pick up dog poop on the White House lawn when he envisioned becoming president.

“We go out… and I’m picking up poop,” the Present told the news source. “In the background is the beautifully lit White House. It’s quite a moment.”

America immediately embraced the pup after the President declared in his election victory speech that his daughters would be rewarded with the new little ball of fluff.

“Sasha and Malia, you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House,” President Obama said, according to the Huffington Post.

Bo has since gained celebrity for his breed, the Portuguese Water Dog.

Shannon Stagg, who owns three Portugese Water Dogs, or “Porties,” told the Washington Post that people are always delighted to see she has the same dog as the President, telling her “Oh you have the Obamas’ dog!”

Stagg told the source her general reply is “No, the Obamas have our dog.”

With puppy eyes like Bo’s, one could see how he’s landed on T-shirts, baseball cards, and in books. For more information on Bo, visit www.obama-dog.com.

If you’re like any other red-blooded, dog-loving American, you get kisses from your pooch— now, experts are saying that endearing slobber just might have the answer to cancer treatment.

According to Fox News, researchers have discovered the DNA on Rover’s tongue could aid in treating cancer in both animals and humans.

Dr. Mark Neff, the director of the new Tgen-VARI Program for Canine Health and Performance told the news provider that by studying dog DNA, they believe they can learn more about treatment.

“Rare diseases in humans also show up in dogs,” Neff told Fox News. “By studying the DNA of canines, we expect to more quickly discover the genomic causes of diseases and more quickly find ways to better treat dogs and people.”

According to 10News.com, the study will focus on sarcomas, or cancer that originates in bones, cartilage and fat.

Dr. Jeffery Trent,President and Research Director for TGen and VARI, told 10News.com that researchers are working strategically to learn more about the dog genome.

“The Human Genome Project provided a new playbook for biomedical research and patient care,” Trent told the news source. “As we begin to catalog the dog genome, we have the opportunity to really understand a number of the problems that afflict the dog, but also a number of possible health solutions for people.”

Kristen Romero was thankful to have pet insurance for her cat Tigger after he ingested multiple elastic bands and needed thousands of dollars in surgery to remove them.

“The insurance pretty much paid for itself,” Romero told The Sun.

An increasing number of pet owners are making the decision to purchase pet insurance for their furry companions after finding they were unable to keep up with the high costs of pet care, The Sun has reported.

Romero told the news source that she decided on pet insurance for Tigger after her late Siamese, Barracuda, racked-up a number of expensive health care bills near the end of his life.

“The bills were just exorbitant,” Romero said. “I’d say it was $6,000 to $8,000 we paid in the last year.”

According to News 10, having pet insurance could potentially cut up to 80 percent of veterinary costs.

“It’s really paid off,” Romero said of Tigger’s coverage.

Fred Krause and his family haven’t yet decided on a name for their new dog, but considering it was hit by a train, “Lucky” might be a good option.

Krause, a freight train worker in Clinton, Utah told ABC 4 he was horrified when he saw the small Shih Tzu on the tracks.

“Most of the time there is nothing you can do about it,” Krause, who was operating the train, told the Associated Press.

Krause told the news provider that the train was going too fast to stop and feared the worst when he heard the locomotive run over the eight-pound dog.

But because of its small stature the pup was left dazed but ultimately unharmed.

“My heart went out to the little guy,” Krause told AP. “The last thing I expected was to find him alive. He looked like he had his bell rung pretty good.”

After a veterinary check-up and a clean bill of dog health, Krause took the Shih Tzu home.

According to AP, Krause and his family have yet to name the pup, but are considering “Bullet” – “because he has dodged a few.”

Laurence Colliard, a veterinary surgeon and nutritionist in Europe believes that what some people feed their pets may actually be hurting them.

“I’m seeing an increasing number of allergies, diarrhea, vomiting, skin dermatitis as well as cases of obesity,” Colliard told AFP.

Pet owners often serve their fluffy friends processed dog and cat foods because of efficiency and cost, but Colliard and others think this could be a bad idea.

“Pets, like humans, are victims of junk food,” Belgian Animal Specialist Gerard Lippert told AFP.

“Dry dog food and cat food… [is] over-heated, which destroys vitamins, trace elements and other basic nutritional elements,” he said.

The pet food industry, which was originally created in England by James Spratt, who created the first dog biscuit in 1860—has since become a booming, lucrative, international industry.

According to Yahoo.com, it’s only within the last 100 years that pet owners have been coaxed into believing that their pets’ health is reliant on packaged food.

“We don’t know the origin of the proteins in the foods,” Lippert told AFP. “And there’s an excessive amount of cereal, often genetically modified, and very little vegetables.”

“We’re turning our dogs and cats into [cattle].”

When Oscar Segovia and his family were asleep on an early Sunday morning, they were annoyed when Scooter, their 1-year-old Shih Tzu, wouldn’t stop barking, the Miami Herald reported.

Segovia said that although Scooter often barked, he always quieted down after awhile. When the Segovia’s finally arose, they found a car in their driveway had caught fire and quickly spread to the attic of their home.

Because Scooter woke them up during the fire, the family was able to escape safely while firefighters put out the flames. Although no one was harmed in the fire, the Segovias, now homeless, are looking to identify the specific cause of the fire.

“This car has been parked in the same place since 9:30 last night,” Segovia told ABC Action News. “…I don’t know how to explain it.”

Underwood, a longtime animal lover who used to volunteer at a local veterinary clinic, recently revealed to US Weekly that when she ties the knot with hockey player, Mike Fisher, she will definitely have Ace in her ceremony.

"It would be like if I was getting married and I had a child – of course my child would be in the wedding," Underwood said.

She added that while Ace may be donning a tuxedo for the big day, he may have a little assistance with some of his ring-bearing duties.

Underwood told the news provider that Ace would not be getting the actual ring for fear that the small dog would run off with it or even accidently swallow it—compromising her pet’s health.

Underwood, who is rarely seen without Ace, is excited to make him a part of her ceremony.

"He’s like my kid," she said.