Obesity drug launched for fat dogs

Vets say obesity among animals is a growing problem, with increasing numbers of owners over-feeding them or not giving them enough exercise.

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A survey found that one in three dog owners believe their pet is overweight.

Fat dogs are more at risk in the operating theatre, are more prone to injury and have more stress on their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and jonts.

The new fat-busting medicine is currently only licensed for dogs but its developers are developing another one for cats.

The drug - Yarvitan - costs £50 for an eight-week course of treatment, and must be prescribed by a vet.

It is administered as a liquid that is simply poured over the dogs' food. Owners give it to their dog twice a day for three weeks, followed by a two week break, and then another three weeks of the drug.

It works by blocking the transfer of fats from the food dogs eat into their bloodstream, without affecting the absorption of the vital nutrients they need every day.

The treatment also slightly reduces the dog's appetite, meaning it's less likely to beg for treats.

Studies across Europe showed the drug helped dogs lose on average 8 per cent of their body weight - equivalent to a seven stone labrador losing 8lbs.

That's the equivalent of an average human losing well over a stone.

The drug developers Janssen-Cilag claim Yarvitan can reduce the chance of a dog developing arthritis and can increase the life expectancy of an obese dog by 18 months.

For best results, they advise that owners should ensure that dogs are eating no more than the recommended daily amount.

Grant Petrie, a vet at the Portman Veterinary Clinic in London, said the drug was much mroe effective at helping dogs lose weight than a diet alone.

He said: "At the start of a diet, owners often feel guilty about reducing food intake to the recommended amount and cutting out treats.

"But results indicate that Yarvitan works quickly and the owners see a good weight loss in a short period of time.

"The drug seems to kick-start the diet and seeing the dog get slimmer motivates the owners to keep the diet going."

One of the first dogs on the medicine, a pedigree Samoyed called Megan, has lost eight kilograms over a month.

She was originally 43kg - well above the ideal bodyweight for a dog of her age of 28kg.

Dr Petrie said she needed to lose another 7kg. "She has a well-motivated owner who now realises she was feeding her too much."

In November, brothers David and Derek Benton from Cambridgeshire were prosecuted for letting their nine-year-old Labrador Rusty balloon to more than 11 stone - more than twice his ideal weight.

A survey by Purina Petcare Team found that one third think their animal is overweight.

This is 31 per cent of cat owners and 23 per cent of dog owners.

Only one third of dog owners give their dog more than an hour of exercise a day.

And 70 per cent admitted that their pet was only weighed when it visited the vet.

Purina Petcare Team runs a free helpline staffed by vets.

A spokeswoman said: "Pet obesity is an increasing issue that can have a strong impact on the health and wellbeing of pets.

"The good news is most issues can usually easily be resolved with good diet, understanding the correct feeding amounts for the individual pet and exercise."

Another survey recently found that four out of five vets said they were seeing more overweight and obese animals, and many vets have set up "fat clinics".