Over 50% of companion dogs in many countries are overweight or obese, causing significant chronic health problems. Weight management through diet and exercise is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available.
Canine obesity is among the most prevalent and treatable welfare problems in companion animal medicine. An overweight dog is a dog living with chronic joint pain, reduced exercise tolerance, heat intolerance, and dramatically shortened lifespan — all preventable through appropriate feeding and exercise management. The welfare barrier is primarily behavioral and cultural: owners associate food with love and often resist veterinary advice to restrict feeding; veterinarians sometimes avoid the topic to preserve client relationships. Yet maintaining a healthy weight is arguably the single most impactful welfare intervention available to dog owners after providing basic care. Body condition scoring provides an objective tool that can be taught to owners for home monitoring. Veterinary weight management programs that include regular weigh-ins, dietary guidance, and exercise planning achieve good outcomes when owners are engaged.