Overweight pets a sensitive subject for some owners

Andrea Frazier's pet is a pug named Hoover, but the Severna Park resident is convinced his true breed is chowhound.

And Hoover's son, Herbert, is following in his father's feeding footsteps.

"They eat everything, and they don't know when to stop," Ms. Frazier said last week. "They'll eat until they throw up."

Not surprisingly, 4-year-old Hoover has a weight problem, and his son is well on his way to developing one. The situation isn't helped by Ms. Frazier's husband, radiologist Dr. Robert Frazier, who admits to feeding them treats, though he's trying hard to cut back. "It's those big, sad eyes," he said. "They lock...