Canine obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in pet dogs and a significant welfare issue, causing pain, disease, and reduced quality and length of life.
Obese dogs suffer. Excess weight causes chronic musculoskeletal pain, limits the exercise that is essential for canine wellbeing, and contributes to conditions including diabetes, breathing difficulties, and skin disease. Many owners associate body weight with love and food with affection, making overfeeding difficult to address without clear communication about welfare impact. Veterinary weight clinics provide structured support, but prevention is far more effective than treatment. Owner education about body condition scoring and appropriate caloric intake is a high-impact welfare intervention that requires no new technology — only better communication.