Pet obesity affects over half of companion dogs and cats in the UK. Its welfare consequences are severe and progressive, yet the condition is normalized in many households.
Pet obesity causes chronic suffering that is often invisible to owners who have normalized their animal's body condition. Joint pain from osteoarthritis is significantly amplified by excess weight - every kilogram above ideal body condition adds disproportionate loading to joint surfaces. Obese dogs and cats have reduced activity tolerance, spending more time resting which further reduces energy expenditure. Heat stress is more severe in overweight animals with reduced capacity for thermoregulation. The shortened lifespan of obese pets means that the welfare cost is both ongoing and cumulative. The emotional dynamics of pet feeding - in which food provision is associated with affection and refusal of food is perceived as rejection - creates resistance to dietary management that veterinarians must navigate sensitively.