Fox-Pitt agrees that we anthropomorphize our pets, which makes us prone to overfeeding them. She’s met owners who give their dogs milk in their “breakfast cereals,” bake them birthday cakes, and even serve tea in their dogs’ bowls. Meanwhile, the dog treat aisle at the grocery store is getting longer every year, even though veterinarians say treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a dog’s diet.
Fox-Pitt, who has treated Labradors so heavy they can’t be placed on the exam table, assures me that Rudy’s extra pounds won’t affect his health too much. Obesity, however, is a serious problem, shortening a dog’s lifespan by up to two years and worsening illnesses such as arthritis, heart disease and respiratory problems, especially in flat-faced brachycephalic breeds such as the Pug. German is seeing an increasing number of very obese dogs (40% over ideal weight), who subsequently find it more difficult to lose weight, simply losing muscle rather than reaching their goal. Feline obesity is also a growing problem, with one in three cats being overweight or obese in the UK.
It’s no wonder, then, that pharmaceutical companies are racing to create a dog and cat version of the human diabetes and “weight-loss” drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, to make it easier for owners to control their pet’s weight. your pets. Better Choice, a pet pharmaceutical company with a history of repurposing human medicines for animals, plans to spend $1.5 million (£1.185 million) on a trial for a pet-based GLP-1. This class of medications was originally developed to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin while suppressing the release of another hormone called glucagon.
Studies show that GLP-1s also reduce hunger by slowing the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, which is why they are now prescribed for weight loss as well. In a small study, a new GLP-1 implant for pets from biotech start-up Okava Pharmaceuticals helped cats lose at least 5% of their body weight over 112 days.
In dogs, diabetes is similar to type 1 diabetes in humans, so an Ozempic-type drug is unlikely to be effective in treating diabetes, says German. However, he believes it could have a slowing effect on dogs’ appetite and sees no other reason why it wouldn’t be effective as a treatment for obesity, ideally with adequate nutrition – assuming, of course, that it has been proven safe and effective in trials. “By helping them stay slimmer, it can help prevent the development of diabetes,” adds Fox-Pitt.
