Obesity is the most common preventable welfare problem in dogs and cats, causing chronic pain, reduced lifespan, and impaired quality of life.
Obesity causes daily suffering through joint pain, breathing difficulties, and reduced ability to perform normal behaviours including play and grooming. Recognising overweight status requires learning body condition scoring, as visual assessment alone is unreliable. Weight management through dietary change and increased exercise reliably improves welfare and extends healthy lifespan.