Obesity affects over half of companion dogs and cats in many countries, causing chronic pain, reduced lifespan, and diminished quality of life — yet remains widely normalized by owners.
Companion animal obesity is a widespread welfare crisis that is largely owner-created and owner-solvable. Overweight animals carry excess weight on joints not designed for it, experience difficulty breathing, have reduced exercise tolerance, and face an elevated risk of multiple serious health conditions. The welfare harm is real, chronic, and cumulative. Yet obesity is persistently normalized: many owners perceive overweight animals as healthy or happy. Veterinary communication that honestly and compassionately addresses weight, combined with practical weight management support, is the key welfare intervention. Treating food as love while causing obesity is a form of unintentional harm.