Pet obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed countries, causing chronic disease, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespans. Addressing it requires both veterinary guidance and owner education.
Pet obesity causes chronic and progressive suffering through pain, reduced mobility, breathlessness, and systemic disease. An obese arthritic dog struggling to rise from its bed is in pain that is continuous and largely preventable. The welfare harm of obesity is compounded by the difficulty of recognition: owners who associate chubby animals with health or love may be inadvertently causing harm through overfeeding. Obesity also compromises animals' ability to engage in normal behaviors — running, playing, and grooming — that are important for psychological wellbeing. The condition is almost entirely preventable and highly reversible with appropriate management, making it a welfare issue with particularly clear and accessible solutions.