Over half of dogs in Western countries are overweight or obese, causing painful joint disease, reduced lifespan, and significantly compromised quality of life. Prevention and treatment are welfare essentials.
Dog obesity is a welfare crisis that is largely owner-caused and often not recognized as such. Overweight dogs experience reduced physical capacity, chronic joint pain, heat intolerance, breathing difficulty, and reduced quality of life across all dimensions. The welfare impact of 2.5 fewer years of life expectancy is profound. Overweight body condition has become normalized in many communities — owners perceive their obese dog as appropriately sized because they compare to other obese dogs. The emotional aspects of feeding make weight management difficult — treats and human food sharing carry social and emotional meaning for owners that is hard to separate from the welfare harm they cause. Veterinary guidance, owner education, and prescription weight management diets are effective tools when owners are engaged.