People aren't the only ones making New Year's resolutions to lose a few pounds. According to veterinarians and pet owners in Britain, 33 percent of pets were considered to be overweight and 38 percent of pet owners says their animals put on weight during the Christmas holiday.

Overweight pets can face a host of illnesses, like humans, including diabetes, arthritis and heart conditions, according to research released Friday.

However, few pet owners plan to put Fido on a diet. "Pets, like their owners, tend to expand a little over the Christmas period," Frances Wright at Halifax Pet Insurance, who conducted the survey, tells Reuters.