Pet obesity affects over half of dogs and cats in many developed countries, causing pain, disease, and shortened lifespan. Understanding the causes and solutions to companion animal obesity is a welfare priority.
Pet obesity is a welfare issue caused primarily by well-intentioned owner behaviour -- feeding treats as affection and reducing exercise due to busy schedules. Overweight animals experience joint pain from the earliest stages of obesity, reduced exercise capacity, and a cascade of metabolic diseases that cause suffering and early death. The normalisation of overweight pets compounds the problem -- owners who see heavy dogs in the park may assume their own overweight dog is normal. Veterinary conversations about weight are essential but often avoided due to sensitivity. Framing obesity management as a welfare and quality-of-life issue rather than aesthetics improves engagement.