Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in dogs, causing significant health problems and reducing quality and length of life.
Canine obesity is a preventable welfare crisis driven primarily by owner behaviour — overfeeding and under-exercising. Overweight dogs are more likely to experience orthopaedic pain, exercise intolerance, heat stress, and shortened lifespan. The welfare impact is direct and measurable: studies show that maintaining dogs at ideal body condition extends median lifespan by 1.8 years. Despite this, owner awareness remains low and veterinary conversations about weight are often avoided for fear of causing offence. Welfare-centred veterinary care includes routine body condition scoring, honest weight discussions, and practical dietary and exercise advice tailored to the individual dog.