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New doggy diet drug to combat pet obesity
Last updated at 07:22am on 10.10.07
Weight watchers: The new pill will help fat dogs lose weight - but they will still need walks
A new diet drug for dogs which can cut their weight by a fifth is no substitute for a regular walks and good food, vets said last night.
Slentrol is billed as a weight loss drug for plump pooches whose owners can't resist giving them fattening treats or simply don't have time to exercise them.
But the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals said pills are not the way to tackle the growing weight problem among Britain's 6.8million pet dogs.
Around a quarter of pet dogs are obese, raising their risk of a host of ailments, including diabetes, heart trouble and joint problems
US-based drug company Pfizer says the solution could lie in Slentrol, a liquid that suppresses a dog's appetite and cuts its absorption of fat.
When mixed into a dog's food every day, it can lead to the animal shedding 18 per cent of its body weight in just six months.
For an overweight labrador, this would be the equivalent of around a stone, while for a portly Yorkshire terrier, it would equate to just a pound or two.
A spokesman for Pfizer said the drug, which costs less than 50p a day, would be a valuable aid to owners who can't help but hand over treats when faced with 'puppy dog eyes'.
He added that the drug, which can only be prescribed by vets, should form part of an overall weight loss programme which would include advice on diet and exercise and regular check-ups.
The marketing of Slentrol follows the launch earlier this year of Yarvitan, the first canine diet drug and of a beef-flavoured antidepressant.
But the RSPCA cautioned that the growing use of 'lifestyle drugs' for dogs could mask the real problems underlying their ill- health.
The charity's chief veterinary advisor, Mark Evans, said: "Instead of covering up weight with a pill it's vital to tackle the real reasons why so many pets are overweight.
"Pet obesity is a serious animal welfare problem and as a nation of so-called animal lovers we have a duty to tackle it now.
"In most cases, a lifestyle based on a healthy reduced calorie diet and an appropriate exercise regime is all that's required to bring about weight loss."
RSPCA senior scientist Dr Jane Cooper said that Slentrol could cause unpleasant side-effects including vomiting and diarrhoea.
She added that the tests needed to bring the drug to market had led to the suffering of many dogs, cats and other animals.
In some cases, the animals were put down after the experiments.
She said: "Owners may see diet drugs as some sort of quick fix but I'd like them to bear in mind all the issues that surround these medicines.
"It is often because they love their animals so much that they give them endless treats - and animal lovers wouldn't like to think that other animals had suffered for weight loss products to be available.
"As far as the RSPCA is concerned, these drugs are not the answer to the nation's pet obesity problem.
"It would be very wrong if people turned to diet drugs rather than getting advice on their pet's nutrition and increasing their exercise levels."
Pfizer said all animal experiments were carried out to according to strict government regulations.
Dogs are not the only animals losing the battle of the bulge.
More than a third of cats are overweight and the number of cases of feline diabetes has risen five-fold in 30 years.
Overweight rabbits and even hamsters are also a common sight in vets' surgeries.
Reader views (7)
When your dog looks at you with sad eyes he wants you to take him outside and throw the ball!
- Jean Howard, Oregon, USA
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
- Don Calcote, Memphis, USA
Forget the drugs, everyone should put their owners on low-calorie diets. That way they'll get into less trouble.
In a study of small canine breeds who had their calorie intake reduced to help them lose weight, scientists discovered the dieting dogs got involved in far fewer aggressive situations. Before they started on the diet, the dogs in the study got into a confrontation with another dog, on average, once every eight hours. After going on the diet they avoided conflicts completely.
By the way, regarding other creatures that get obesity - cats are far less prone to piling on the pounds than dogs. In one study, a vet recorded that while 30 per cent of his canine patients were overweight, only 10 per cent of his feline referrals were carrying too much fat. Curiously, cats are much more prone to anorexia. It's down to the fact they suffer more anxiety, apparently.
- Garfield, London
Millions all over the world dying of starvation and we got pets with an obesity problem.
- Blair Kingsly, Raleigh, US
Seriously, feed the dog less and actually take it for a walk! Wait, don't pets represent their owners? Seriously, feed the animal 50% less and get outside for some exercise. For those with cats, let the cat outside to run around. Sure, a dog or coyote or a car may get the best of the animal but I bet the view on the fence or the tree limb is better than the one under your bed.
- Gymmbo, Costa Mesa, CA
The best treatment for an overweight dog is simply to put it on a diet. There are unexpected benefits. One study of small dogs on calorie-restricted diets found that they became much less aggressive. Before they were put on the diet the dogs got into a confrontation, on average, once every eight hours. Starved of calories, they avoided confrontations altogether.
As for other creatures, suffering from obesity, the condition is actually far more common in dogs than it is in cats. One study by a vet recorded that while 30 per cent of dogs he treated were overweight, only ten per cent of cats were carrying too much fat. Curiously, cats are much more prone to anorexia. They suffer from more anxiety, apparently.
- Augustus Brown, London
It must be hard for the judges at some of the Dog Most Like It's Owner contests.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
