Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals, affecting over 50% of dogs and cats in the UK and causing chronic welfare harm through pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan.
Obesity causes chronic welfare harm through musculoskeletal pain, reduced ability to exercise and engage in normal behaviour, breathing difficulties, heat intolerance, and predisposition to serious disease. Overweight animals often show reduced playfulness and social interaction that owners may not connect to their body condition. The normalisation of overweight body condition - many owners perceive obese animals as healthy - means welfare harm is frequently not recognised until serious disease develops. Preventing obesity through appropriate portion control, limiting treats, and providing regular exercise is one of the most high-impact welfare interventions available to companion animal owners.