Over half of US pets are overweight or obese, causing significant suffering from joint pain, diabetes, and reduced lifespan.
Pet obesity causes chronic physical suffering: joint pain that limits movement, difficulty breathing, metabolic disease, and the psychological stress of reduced activity and quality of life. Owners often interpret a heavy, sedentary pet as content. The pet food industry markets foods that exceed caloric needs without adequate transparency. Obesity is almost entirely preventable with appropriate feeding and exercise.