Obesity is an epidemic among companion dogs and cats. Preventing and treating obesity is one of the most impactful welfare improvements available for companion animal owners.
Companion animal obesity causes chronic welfare compromise through joint pain, reduced mobility, metabolic disease, and shortened lifespan. The epidemic scale of the problem — affecting more than half of companion animals in many countries — reflects systematic mismatches between modern feeding practices and the metabolic needs of domesticated animals. Owners routinely overfeed from affection and use food as the primary form of enrichment, creating obesity while thinking they are providing care. Body condition scoring education helps owners accurately assess their animals' weight. Weight loss requires careful veterinary management, especially in cats where rapid weight loss causes hepatic lipidosis. Enrichment-based feeding that makes animals work for food provides both caloric management and behavioral welfare benefits.