Obesity in companion animals causes chronic pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespans — a widespread welfare concern.
Companion animal obesity is a welfare epidemic hidden by normalization. When the majority of cats and dogs in a population are overweight, owners lose reference points for healthy weight. Obesity causes genuine daily suffering — arthritis pain from excess joint loading, breathing difficulty, reduced ability to exercise and play, and shortened life. The welfare harm is chronic and pervasive but invisible to owners who attribute their pets reduced activity to aging rather than pain. Weight management — often requiring dietary discipline that owners find emotionally difficult — is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available for overweight companion animals.