Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional disorder in companion animals, causing chronic pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan. Prevention and treatment are core owner welfare responsibilities.
Pet obesity is a welfare issue that is often treated as a cosmetic or lifestyle concern, obscuring its genuine impact on animal wellbeing. Obese dogs struggle to breathe, experience greater pain from arthritic joints, and have difficulty performing activities they are motivated to engage in. The impact on quality of life is measurable — studies show obese dogs are less active, less playful, and rated as less happy by their owners than lean dogs. The condition is almost entirely owner-controlled, making prevention straightforward but emotionally complex: food is often the primary currency of human-pet affection, and restricting it feels unkind. Reframing weight management as an act of love — enabling longer, more comfortable, more active lives — is essential for behaviour change.