An estimated 40-60% of pet dogs in developed countries are overweight or obese, a welfare crisis driven by overfeeding and insufficient exercise that causes chronic pain, disease, and shortened lifespan.
Canine obesity is a welfare problem that owners frequently do not recognize because gradual weight gain normalizes over time and overweight dogs are often described as "healthy-looking" or even "well-loved." The chronic welfare costs of excess weight — joint pain, breathing difficulty, reduced exercise capacity, heat intolerance — accumulate quietly while owners remain unaware of the suffering they are inadvertently causing. Veterinary conversations about weight are among the most impactful welfare interventions available in companion animal medicine, but they require sensitivity given owner emotional investment in food-giving as a form of affection.