Canine obesity is the most common preventable health condition in dogs and causes significant chronic welfare compromise through pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan.
Dog obesity is a welfare crisis driven primarily by owner behaviour — overfeeding, insufficient exercise, and failure to recognise that an overweight dog is an unhealthy dog. The welfare consequences are substantial and chronic: obese dogs experience joint pain that limits mobility, respiratory compromise that reduces exercise tolerance, and systemic inflammation that shortens life and reduces quality of all its years. The tragedy is compounded by owner perception — many obese dogs are loved intensely by owners who express that love through food and treats, inadvertently causing the welfare harm they would never wish on their companion. Veterinary engagement on weight management requires sensitive communication that connects feeding behaviour with welfare outcomes without shaming owners, focusing on the possibility of recovery and improved quality of life.