With a round face and protruding belly, obesity in pets can easily be dismissed as excess fluff or simply a cute characteristic. But, while many owners believe they are being kind and loving by overfeeding their pets, being overweight can take a toll on an animal’s health, longevity and quality of life.
Dr Rachel Shaw, chief executive of Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi, says obesity in pets is linked to medical conditions including arthritis and joint disease, diabetes, heart and breathing problems, liver disease and an increased risk of certain cancers.
“Obesity also compromises animal welfare – it causes pain, limits mobility, reduces activity and makes daily life more difficult. And we know it shortens life,” she adds.
The long-term consequences are well-documented. A longevity study published in Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association found that dogs that are fed 25 per cent less calories than normal not only live an average of two years longer, but also develop fewer medical problems.
Similarly, research published in The Veterinary Journal identifies osteoarthritis as the most common medical condition associated with being overweight among small and large dogs as well as cats.
“Pet obesity is a disease that develops when daily calories consistently exceed a pet’s needs,” says Dr Ernie Ward, founder of The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. The organisation was founded in 2005 and is dedicated to developing resources to aid in the prevention and treatment of pet obesity.
Dr Ward adds: “Portion creep, treats and table scraps often combine with biology like genetics, age, spay or neuter status [hormonal shifts can impact metabolism], chronic pain or arthritis, and sometimes endocrine disease or medication to produce clinical obesity. That’s why vets approach obesity as a medical issue that deserves diagnosis and treatment, not blame.”
To jab or not to jab
As weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy gain popularity among humans, the question of whether similar medication can be used for pets has been raised.
Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi
Earlier this month, Okava Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, announced it has started a pilot study of a GLP-1 drug designed for cats with obesity. Results are expected next summer.
Rather than weekly injections, which are common in human treatment plans, the felines involved in the study will receive small injectable implants, slightly larger than a microchip, designed to slowly release the drug in their system over a period of six months.
Despite growing interest among some pet-owners, experts urge caution.
“An Ozempic-style jab for pets, as appealing as it sounds to some, is rarely necessary. Obesity in pets is almost never a metabolic issue; it’s a management one,” says Dr Shaw.
Dr Amer Grizic, a veterinary surgeon at Animalia Veterinary Clinic in Abu Dhabi, agrees. “The main cause of obesity starts when a young pet is given weak and cheap ingredients in food, together with excessive amounts of treats.”
He says these habits often persist as animals grow older, and many owners only recognise the problem once health complications begin to surface.
“Without calorie control in place, these drugs offer very little benefit,” says Dr Shaw. “They work by reducing appetite, but if owners continue to add meals, share table scraps or hand out treats, the pet will still consume more energy than it burns. No medication can override excess calories.”
Dr Ward agrees that while there may be potential for these treatments in the future, they are unlikely to replace the fundamentals of weight management.
“GLP-1 therapies may eventually help some pets, but the evidence is still emerging and we need pet-specific, veterinary-approved options with clear safety and dosing data,” he says.
“Clinical research is under way, including long-acting GLP-1 approaches in cats, to understand benefits, side effects and long-term outcomes. If they earn a place in veterinary care, they’ll be used alongside nutrition and activity, not instead of them.”
How to tell if a pet is overweight
As the dangers of a pet being overweight become better known, it is important for owners to recognise signs of obesity. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an extra 0.5kg on a cat is equivalent to approximately 6.8kg on an average woman and 7.7kg on an average male.
The organisation also offers helpful tools on its website to calculate daily food intake, calories and portions, as well as a weight-range estimator and a dog-walking calorie estimator.
Dr Shaw says pet owners don’t need special equipment to assess whether their dog or cat is carrying excess weight. Instead, a few simple physical checks can offer useful insight.
She recommends starting by gently feeling along the ribs and spine. These bones should be easy to feel with light pressure. If firm pressure is needed, or if they cannot be felt at all, the pet is likely overweight.
Next, owners should observe their pet’s body shape from above. A healthy animal will have a visible waist that curves inward behind the ribcage, while pets carrying extra weight often appear more rectangular, with little or no definition.
Finally, view the pet from the side. A healthy abdomen should slope upwards behind the ribs, creating a slight tuck. If the belly hangs down or remains level with the chest, this can be a sign of excess weight.
Losing weight the natural way
For owners hesitant about medical intervention for their pets, well-established and practical solutions already exist.
“If an owner doesn’t want to use a jab, a science-backed way to help pets lose weight starts with controlling food quantity using a properly measured, veterinary-recommended diet,” says Dr Shaw. “When calorie intake is managed consistently, pets lose weight reliably.”
Dr Grizic emphasises the importance of consistency and structure. “Encourage activity, limit treats, establish a feeding schedule and apply a high-protein, high-fibre prescription weight-loss diet. In many cases, gradually reducing food portions and sticking to the amount recommended by a vet is enough.”
Physical activity also plays a crucial role. Dr Shaw recommends dogs get daily exercise with at least two walks per day. Cats, meanwhile, can stay active through “structured play sessions at home”, which use interactive toys and safe climbing spaces that encourage both physical movement and mental stimulation.
“Increasing movement not only improves quality of life, but also supports steady, healthy weight loss. The combination of controlled feeding and regular activity is safe, effective and proven to work – without the need for medication,” she says.
For pet-owners seeking reassurance or additional guidance, Dr Grizic notes the internet has made second opinions more accessible than ever.
“In a worst-case scenario, telemedicine is available to everybody today, so simply book an appointment with a recognised pet nutrition specialist.”
founder of The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
At the same time, he cautions against relying too heavily on unsubstantiated online advice. With so much pet information circulating, separating evidence-based guidance from marketing-driven content can be difficult. Dr Grizic says: “Unfortunately, many website articles are not accurate and usually filled with wrong information paid for by big pet-food chains.”
Dr Ward adds: “Effective weight loss starts with precise feeding that focuses on nutrients and calorie content rather than marketing claims and trends.
“For pets with clinical obesity, evidence-based veterinary therapeutic weight-loss diets are formulated to preserve lean muscle while supporting satiety or 'fullness', which can help reduce food-seeking behaviours. The goal is a sustainable dietary plan a pet can safely maintain over the long term, not a short-term fix.”
Ultimately, while it's tempting to “spoil” pets, lifestyle habits such as excessive treats and irregular exercise should not take the place of long-term comfort and quality of life.
