Love Your Pet Day

What the day is

Love Your Pet Day is observed on February 20. The affectionate version of the day is easy; the useful version is less comfortable.

Origin and background

The origin of the observance is not documented. The welfare picture is well measured, and one finding dominates.

A large majority of dogs and cats in many countries are overweight, with veterinary surveys repeatedly putting the figure at more than half. It is the most common preventable health problem in companion animals, and it shortens lives measurably. A long-running study following Labradors fed either freely or at a restricted ration found the leaner group lived substantially longer, on the order of a couple of years, with delayed onset of arthritis and other age-related disease. Weight is not a cosmetic matter for an animal; it is the largest single lever an owner holds over lifespan.

The obstacle is perception. Owners consistently underestimate their own animal's condition, partly because overweight has become the visual norm, so what looks normal is frequently not. Body condition scoring, which relies on feeling for ribs and looking for a waist from above rather than reading a number on scales, is what vets use and is easy to learn.

Enrichment matters nearly as much and is more neglected. A dog walked on the same route daily and a cat in a home with nothing to climb are both understimulated, and much behavior read as naughtiness is boredom. Scent work for dogs and vertical space for cats are cheap and effective.

The other genuinely loving act is unglamorous: current vaccinations, parasite treatment, dental care, and an honest conversation with a vet about what the animal actually needs.

How to take part

• Learn body condition scoring and assess your animal honestly.
• Measure food rather than filling the bowl, and count treats as food.
• Take a different route, or add scent games, which tire a dog more than distance.
• Give a cat something to climb. Vertical space matters more than floor space.
• Book the dental check that has been put off, which is the most commonly neglected care.