ABSTRACT: Obesity in animals is an ever increasing problem we as veterinary professionals are seeing, but at what point does it become more than just a problem and become a welfare issue? This article will look into why obesity can be so detrimental to health and reasons why owners maybe do not see it in the same light we as veterinary professionals do. The media portrays extremely underweight animals as cruel, but overweight is seen as cute. This article aims to explain why clinically obese animals should be taken just as seriously if not more so as malnourished animals.

Author

Hollie Jane Millington FdSc C-SQP RVN

Hollie qualified in 2013 with a degree in Veterinary Nursing from Harper Adams University, also gaining her C-SQP status. She is a clinical coach and Head Nurse as well as a regular volunteer at StreetVet Birmingham. Her nursing interests include student training, nurse clinics and inpatient care.

Keywords: Obesity; welfare; nutrition; body condition score; overweight

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 36 (03)• March 2021 pp101-103

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