Canine obesity affects an estimated 40-50% of adult dogs and causes significant welfare harm through joint pain, reduced mobility, and increased risk of multiple diseases.
Canine obesity causes genuine suffering: overweight dogs experience joint pain, exercise intolerance, heat stress, and reduced ability to engage in natural behaviours including play and social interaction. The psychological welfare of dogs unable to exercise comfortably or engage in play is also impaired. Owners often anthropomorphise feeding and find it emotionally difficult to restrict a dog's food despite veterinary advice. Addressing canine obesity requires veterinary-guided caloric restriction, increased exercise, and sustained owner commitment. The normalisation of overweight dogs in popular culture has made accurate body condition assessment harder, with many owners perceiving their obese dog as normal weight.