Obesity affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of dogs and cats in Western countries, causing joint pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespans that represent a major preventable welfare problem.
Pet obesity causes chronic welfare harms through joint pain from excess weight load, reduced ability to move and engage in normal behaviour, and increased risk of conditions including diabetes and respiratory compromise. The welfare impact is insidious because obese animals may appear comfortable while experiencing persistent discomfort that limits their quality of life daily. The primary driver of pet obesity is overfeeding by owners who express love through food, making behaviour change difficult even when owners understand the harm. Veterinary guidance and owner education programmes that reframe appropriate body weight as an expression of care rather than deprivation are the most effective welfare interventions.