Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Obesity Prevention and Management

Addressing canine obesity as a major preventable welfare problem through diet and lifestyle.

Key Facts

Over 50% of dogs in the UK and US are overweight or obese according to veterinary surveys
Obesity significantly increases risk of arthritis, diabetes, respiratory disease, and reduced lifespan
Accurate body condition scoring (BCS) by owners is poor - many perceive obese dogs as normal weight
Caloric restriction combined with regular exercise produces effective weight loss in most dogs

Welfare Considerations

Canine obesity causes chronic welfare compromise through joint pain, reduced exercise tolerance, and systemic disease. It is largely a preventable human-driven condition. Veterinary teams and owners must work together to normalise accurate BCS assessment and take weight management seriously.

What You Can Do

Learn to accurately body condition score your dog using the 9-point scale
Measure food portions using scales rather than cups for precision
Schedule a weight management consultation with your vet if your dog is overweight