Obesity in companion animals is endemic in developed countries and causes significant welfare harm through joint pain, respiratory compromise, and reduced quality of life.
Companion animal obesity represents a welfare crisis created by kindness misdirected - owners who love their animals and express that love through food provision beyond physiological need. The welfare consequences are serious and progressive: obese cats develop orthopedic pain that limits movement, creating a negative cycle where reduced activity compounds weight gain. Hepatic lipidosis can develop rapidly in obese cats during any period of reduced food intake. Obese dogs with osteoarthritis experience pain with every movement, limiting their quality of life in ways that are not always visible to owners focused on appetite and apparent happiness. The normalization of overweight animals through the social influence of seeing other pets that are also overweight makes objective body condition assessment by veterinary professionals even more important.