Veterinary and human healthcare professionals often use the term “obese” to describe a patient with excess body fat. Calling a patient “obese” has significant negative connotations and can be stigmatizing and emotionally triggering.

In veterinary medicine, labeling a pet as “obese” can imply that the owner has failed to provide proper care and nutrition, potentially causing feelings of unease and criticism. It shifts the focus from underlying physiological causes such as genetics, microbiome, hormonal imbalances, and other biological factors to lifestyle choices like exercise and diet.

On the other hand, the proposed terminology, such as “the dog has obesity, ” “a cat having obesity,” or “a pet with obesity,” focuses on the disease state rather than the physical appearance, thereby avoiding blame on the pet owner's actions or an animal’s behavior or inherent characteristic.

Founder and President of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, Dr. Ernie Ward, says the issue is far more complex than people merely offering too much table food. So, what exactly has been going on? And why with every passing year are there more and more obese dogs/cats? And it’s not only about weight, but also about body condition score. Clearly, our pets would live longer and healthier and even happier lives if they were not so many overweight/obese dogs/cats.

If you scroll social media these days, you’ll likely run across a funny cat video. A seemingly endless pageant of feline videos has crowned internet celebrities, inspired international ad campaigns, and even earned their own award ceremonies. As you peruse your social media feeds, you’ll also see many dogs hiking trails, leaping for frisbees, and traveling with their humans. These doggie influencers amass huge online followings, and their posts garner thousands of comments. As you look closer, you’ll also see that how we portray and discuss dogs and cats varies widely.