Obesity affects over 50% of companion dogs and cats in developed countries, causing chronic pain and disease. Understanding the welfare and behavioural dimensions helps owners make better decisions.
Companion animal obesity is a chronic welfare emergency that is rarely framed as such because it develops gradually and is associated with caring behaviours — feeding and treating. But the welfare consequences are severe: obese dogs experience chronic musculoskeletal pain, reduced ability to exercise and play, respiratory difficulties, and significantly reduced lifespan. Addressing obesity requires engaging with the human-animal bond dynamics that drive overfeeding, rather than simply prescribing diet change. Vets who frame weight management as pain management — because obese pets are in chronic pain — achieve better owner engagement than those who frame it as cosmetic or longevity concern.