Canine obesity affects over 50% of companion dogs in many developed countries and significantly reduces quality of life through joint pain, exercise intolerance, and increased disease risk. Prevention and management require owner education and veterinary partnership.
Obesity causes chronic discomfort through joint loading, heat intolerance, and exercise limitation that progressively reduces a dog's quality of life. Obese dogs show reduced play frequency, shorter walks, and lower engagement with their environment — all welfare indicators of diminished positive experience. Many owners do not recognise their dog as overweight due to normalisation of obesity within breeds and communities. Veterinary encouragement to discuss weight without stigmatising owners, combined with structured weight management plans and regular monitoring, produces the best outcomes. Calorie-restricted diets combined with exercise programs appropriate to the individual dog's capacity achieve meaningful weight loss in most cases when owners are engaged and supported.