Over 50 percent of UK dogs are overweight or obese and this causes significant welfare harm from joint disease, diabetes, and shortened lifespan.
Dog obesity is a major preventable welfare problem. Excess weight causes joint pain, reduces exercise tolerance, impairs breathing, and increases diabetes risk. Overweight dogs cannot engage fully in activities that provide mental and physical stimulation. Owner perception that a fat dog is a healthy dog is deeply embedded and resists correction. Emotional feeding that provides treats as affection regardless of nutritional consequence is a major driver of obesity.