Canine obesity is one of the most prevalent and preventable welfare problems in companion dogs, contributing to arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and reduced quality and duration of life in affected animals.
Canine obesity represents a welfare problem where good intentions, specifically demonstrating love and care through food provision, produce harmful outcomes. The social normalization of overweight dogs within communities where most dogs are overweight further obscures the problem, as owners compare their dog favorably to other overweight animals rather than to a healthy reference standard. The welfare consequences of obesity accumulate over years: each kilogram of excess weight increases joint load, accelerates orthopedic disease progression, reduces exercise tolerance, and shortens comfortable lifespan. The welfare investment of maintaining appropriate body weight through portion control and adequate exercise has no equivalent in terms of its impact on quantity and quality of life over a dog's lifetime. Veterinary teams have a critical role in honest body condition communication and in providing owners with the tools to manage their dog's weight effectively.