Obesity is one of the most common and welfare-significant health problems in companion animals, causing chronic pain, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan in millions of pets.
Obese pets experience chronic welfare harms from excess weight: joint pain and arthritis from loading, reduced capacity for exercise and play, heat intolerance, respiratory difficulty, and increased surgical risk. The progressive nature of obesity-related arthritis means overweight pets often live in chronic pain that owners attribute to normal aging. Pet obesity is largely a human-caused welfare problem reflecting feeding practices and activity management within human control. Addressing it requires both owner education and cultural change around food and treats as expressions of love.