Over 50% of dogs and cats in the UK are overweight or obese, causing joint pain, reduced lifespan, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in millions of companion animals.
Pet obesity is a welfare issue that owners frequently do not recognize as such — overweight pets are often perceived as healthy and well-cared-for rather than suffering from a preventable chronic condition. Yet the welfare consequences are direct and severe: joint pain from excess weight, reduced mobility, difficulty breathing, heat intolerance and shortened lifespan. The causes are understood — excess calories, insufficient exercise, inappropriate treats — and the solutions are available. Veterinary guidance combined with owner education can reverse obesity, improving welfare and quality of life substantially. Normalized overfeeding as a form of affection is one of the most common unintentional sources of companion animal suffering.