The question “What about fat animals?” comes up pretty regularly in body liberation spaces.
People of all sizes are concerned that their fat pets are more subject to illness due to their weight.
Fat people wonder whether they caused their pets to be fat.
Fat people wonder whether the fatphobic-sounding speeches their vets give them really are fatphobic, or are grounded in science.
And everyone wonders whether diets for fat pets “work” or are even needed.
Scientists — veterinary or otherwise — don’t actually know why some pets are fatter than others. Just like humans come in a wonderful and wide range of shapes and sizes, animals do, too.
Scientists also don’t know whether fat animals are actually more prone to illness, injury or shortened lifespans.
And finally, scientists don’t know whether trying to make fat animals less fat has any health benefits.
What scientists do know from research is that fat pets experience fatphobia at the hands of vets, and fat pet owners and their pets experience even more weight stigma.
We also know that animals don’t interact with body size the same way humans do. Our pets don’t recognize or internalize weight stigma. They don’t eat for the same variety of reasons humans do. And their feelings aren’t hurt when someone calls them a weight-related slur.
So essentially, the jury is still out when it comes to pets and weight. It’s wise to be skeptical of moral panics like the one about “the rising tide of pet o*” when there’s little evidence and a lot of profit to be made.
Every Monday, I send out my Body Liberation Guide, a thoughtful email jam-packed with resources on body liberation, weight stigma, body image and more. And it’s free. Let’s change the world together.
Hi there! I'm Lindley. I create artwork that celebrates the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards at Body Liberation Photography. I'm also the creator of Body Liberation Stock and the Body Love Shop, a curated central resource for body-friendly artwork and products. Find all my work here at bodyliberationphotos.com.