Canine obesity affects a majority of adult pet dogs in many countries and causes significant chronic pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan that constitute major welfare failures.
Canine obesity welfare is a chronic condition where the welfare harm is distributed across years and often invisible to owners who normalize their dog appearance and reduced activity. The chronic pain of obesity-related arthritis, the respiratory compromise of excess chest weight, and the years of reduced lifespan represent real, ongoing welfare harms that motivated management could prevent. Veterinary reluctance to discuss obesity directly leaves owners without the information they need to make welfare-positive changes. Structured feeding protocols, elimination of extra treats, and regular exercise tailored to current fitness level are achievable welfare improvements for most overweight dogs with motivated owners.