Canine obesity is the most common nutritional disease in dogs, affecting an estimated 50% of adult pets. Preventing and treating obesity is fundamental to long-term dog welfare.
Canine obesity causes genuine welfare harm through its physical consequences: arthritis pain worsened by excess joint load, breathing difficulties in brachycephalic breeds, increased anaesthetic risk, and reduced ability to engage in normal activities. The welfare impact of carrying excess weight is ongoing and daily. Addressing obesity requires both veterinary guidance and owner willingness to resist food-begging behavior — one of the most emotionally difficult aspects of pet care. Weight loss programs combining caloric restriction with appropriate exercise produce significant welfare improvements in overweight dogs. Framing food as only one dimension of the human-dog relationship — alongside play, training, and contact — helps owners maintain appropriate feeding without guilt.