SubscribeDiet Pills For Dogs
It's a sad sign of the times when we have obesity medication for pets.
The FDA has approved a new drug from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The drug is called Slentrol.
...the new drug, called a selective microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, is only for dogs. How it works is not well understood, but it blocks absorption of fat and seems to control appetite. It is given in liquid form under a veterinarian's close supervision. (via Washington Post)The pill will cost $1 to $2 per day and will come with strict warnings in case people get tempted to swallow the pill themselves.
In people, the drug can cause adverse reactions including abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
More like this in Diet Pills · Jan 6, 2007
Oh dear! I guess this was inevitable...
ReplySo people would rather medicate their pets AND continue to give them too much to eat??? Last time I checked, no dog can open a can, and it's pretty easy to put the bags of kibble out of reach of an animal. We really do anthropomorphise our pets -- we raise them to be just like us!
ReplyThe idea that it's a matter of calories is ridiculous!
Last time I checked dogs were carnivores.
Which is a zero carb diet.
Think about it, you don't see wolves eating brocoli.
ReplyThere's already prozac for dogs and "light" food but as Judy says the owner is controlling what the dog eats so why feed it extra and then add pills? I monitor what my dogs eat and give them plenty of exercise. If they get overweight I adjust their food/exercise.
The idea of giving dogs pills for a non-medical condition is ridiculous. This is a lifestyle problem (the owner's lifestyle). Perhaps we should just give the owners a Shockalate vault to store the dog biscuits?
ReplyI wouldn't give this to my dog, as she's not overweight, but I know overweight dogs who live with cats and are always eating the cats' food. My dog does that too, and it sounds easy enough to train them not to, but we haven't had any success with that.
ReplyFortunately, we take her out and give her exercise. If a dog is really overweight, why not take them out for long walks every day?
"So people would rather medicate themselves AND continue to give themselves too much to eat???"
ReplyYup! That's what I see every day!
Actually, domesticated dogs are not carnivores at all. They are omnivores, like people. Their bodies have evolved from that of their wild ancestors. They do need a much higher portion of meat-based protein than people do, but they also need carbohydrates like rice and vegetables.
ReplyYes, ayse, you hit the nail right on the head. Wolves are carnivores; although related, dogs are omnivores. Even dogs, dingos, wolves, foxes and carnivorous cats enjoy eating fresh greens. These are sorely missing from the diets of most domesticated pets. So is ample exercise, fresh air and sunshine.
That drug warning reminds me of the warning that used to appear on WOW Potato Chips (something about cramping and loose stools... chip, anyone?) Even with the harsh warning, I imagine it will only be a matter of time before some human attempts to get skinny by taking Fido's pills.
ReplyThat fat little dog in the picture above is so adorable. But i really just want to take him on a long walk.
ReplyClaire... I had the same problem with my first dog. He just LOVED that kitty food. So I started feeding my cat in his carrier. I removed the door, and just slid the bowl of food into the back of the carrier. It had a double effect - the dog couldn't get at the food and combined with training from me, he quit eating it, and the cat became used to the carrier. No more fights to get him in there to go to the vet. No more fights during severe weather when I needed him in there RIGHT NOW when the tornado sirens were going off. To this day, he enters that carrier with no troubles, and feels secure in there. And dog number two ignores the food in there, too.
As for the diet pill... unbelievable. There are so many high-quality dog foods out there, so many opportunities to feed your animals well, and so many good reasons to take Rover for a walk, and still we'd rather medicate. Sad, sad commentary on our society.
ReplyUmmm, aren't there countless human conditions that still don't have cures, HIV, cancer etc.? Why waste precious research time on such trivial matters?
Oh, that's right, too much money, not enough sense.
ReplyI knew it!! Those dogs are animals!! They have no will-power!! I tell them..just diet and exercise..but no! Did you know that compliance is the biggest 'problem' in medicine? Do they have continuing ed. classes for MD surgeons to learn how to do lap-bands on dogs? It's only a matter of time.
ReplyJust quit feeding your dogs "people food", too many treats, etc., and they WILL lose weight. My dog is a picky eater and she also likes kitty food, but as long as you put the kitty food in a "no doggie" zone, it's pretty easy to get them to not eat it. And maybe people should freaking WALK their dogs every day.
Don't forget about those owners out there who are overweight and they ask their vets about weight loss pills for their dogs...then take the pills themselves because they're too embarrassed to ask their doctors for diet advice. Sheesh, our priorities are SO screwed up.
ReplyDr. J, haha. Thanks for the laugh.
My dog and my cats are thin. I just wish I could get one of the cats to stop eating dog food. It doesn't contain taurine, that he needs. He doesn't eat a lot of it though, he just tends to clean off the little bits the dog left behind.
I had a cat I put on Prozac once, though. He would not stop meowing. We tried everything, every sort of checkup, he was fine. Behavioral training, it didn't work. He just meowed day and night like he was in pain. It was driving my neighbors crazy, and it was an apartment, so I put him on Prozac.
ReplyIS IT SAFE TO GIVE DIET PILLS TO DOGS..I HAVE A LHASA APSO 3 YEARS OLD, SHE WAS FIXED AND GAINED ALOT OF WEIGHT. IM WORRIED ABOUT HER SHE REALLY DOESN'T EAT ALOT. SHOULD I GIVE HER THE PILL.
JO
ReplyYou have obviously not read the previous comments otherwise i cant think why you should ask such a ridiculous question. Feed the dog less, take it for more walks, its that simple. It is cruel to MAKE a dog overweight and that is exactly what you are doing. I have twelve dogs and they are always at the perfect weight so it cant be that difficult. Anyone who gives diet pills or antidepressants to a dog does not deserve the love that the dog will unwittingly return.
ReplyNeil, it did. He was much happier with it. He passed a couple of years ago.
First we thought he may be in pain. He was a rescue as a kitten, so he was already born with an infection in his eyes and respiratory tract that went to his urinary tract as well, and we were afraid he might still be in pain. We tried more stimulation for him, with more toys and more play time, we tried separating him from his sister, since they didn't get along and the behaviorists thought that she might be the stressor, I pretty much tried it all. What he wanted was: more room, apparently. I can't argue with him there, I wanted more room too. I tried to get around that by putting up "catwalks" around the apartment, but while that made his sister that loves climbing deliriously happy, it did nothing for him.
I am a big believer in letting cats be cats, which even causes most of my friends who own pets to say my cats are out of control. Instead of putting a collar on them in case they escape, I put safety netting around my garden so they won't leave but let them roam free in here. If they poop on my lawn, I remove the poop, I don't try to teach them otherwise; it is their instinct. I know what you mean about people treating them like people: my aunt has her pets sleeping on little baby baskets and they wear pretty collars that drive them insane cause they can't clean under it, and if they catch a bird or an insect, she fights with them and tries to rescue the bird or the insect. It is a cat, it hunts, get over it. Don't get me started on people who declaw their cats.
ReplyMy cat is on fluoxotine (prozac) as well. We put her on that because she would also not stop crying. We tried everything. At first we got mad at her, and that just caused her to pee on the furniture. Then we just tried giving her more and more attention, but she'd still cry every moment she was awake. The prozac helps immensely. She seems happier, less skittish, enjoys play time, and, above all, does not cry NEARLY as much.
I have one question though. The pills only come in 10mg doses. Our cat is only 4 pounds so we only give her 2 mg (.5mg per pound is what we were told). Separating out 5 doses from one pill is a pain as I'm doing it with a razor blade and a mirror (one of the things I learned how to do in college). I'm trying to find some kind of measuring spoon to do this instead. I don't want to spend several hundred dollars on a scale. Do you know where to get something like that or can you say how you actually separated out the dose?
ReplyI have a Pomeranian/Poodle named Shadow, that I love more then Life. She's been a very sick little girl since I got her in 1999 @ 3 yrs. old. High Triglyceride Level, Enimic,Alligies,She's had blood trasfusions, liquid pumped in her,pills all the time. but I still keep trying to get her well.My Shadow is my Life. Any advice from any one on how to get her Trig. Level down would be a blessing.It should be 30 to 150, it's 2672
ReplyDonna, I'd feed her just beef, instead of kibble. I'm sure that would get her triglycerides down.
ReplyThe saddest part about all of this is that hundreds of poor unwanted pound dogs were traumatized and then killed for Pfizer to test these diet pills. I saw a photo of an adult full-grown german shepard weighing 13 lbs and still alive. All because someone won't walk their dog.
ReplyI have two dogs--my sheltie is just right on her weight, and my pug is about25 lbs. overweight, They are fed together, but my pug is always starving. I really do think a diet suppressent would help Buster.
ReplyUntil you have owned an animal with a weight problem you will never understand the hell that some responsible owners go through. I have four dogs,three perfect weights, and one, a min pin looks like a black pot bellied pig.
ReplyWhen dogs are obsessive eaters, there is just no controlling them. I measure out her food and then she roots in the yard eating snails, bugs and excrement. I cannot watch her twenty four hous a day and I want her to be able to use the doggie door and enjoy the yard. My vet says that there is no controlling dogs like her unless you live in an apartment and they only get out for walks. I have a hugh yard and she uses it as a hunting ground. I have tried everything, including sending her to a friend for two months to live in an apt. and be supervised. She lost weight but then as soon as she came home and began grazing, the weight piled on. I am beginning to think that the diet pill might be the only thing that can save her life.
Mary - I have the same problem with my one dog. She is so overweight all she does is pant all day and lie around and she hardly eats. We have a large fenced in yard and she does play somewhat.Our other dog is really skinny and eats everything. I am trying to take her on more walks but it is difficult as I have a small child also. Plus I can barely take her as she is so strong, she walks me! She did have a tyroid check and it was fine. Did your vet do one? All of these bloggers are quick to pass judgement but I am sure they would change their minds if they had the same situation. I would recommend talking to your vet and weighing the options. Good Luck
ReplyI have an obese Boston Terrier. She was the largest puppy in the litter and we wanted her because of her rare white head. We had her spayed and she gained wt fast. I know that they need to be exercised as I do, but I am disabled and cannot get out and walk. What does a disabled person do? I have tried everything. We have 3 doggies and she is only one overweight. Why do you think that is? She runs in and out the doggie door playing with the others, but she is not as active. She has an enlarged heart. She has had surgery to shorten her pallette, don't think I spelled that right. We debated on having her go under anesthesia because of her being a smush-faced dog and the heart problem, but it was giving her so much trouble breathing. She has all sorts of allergies, too. She is allergic to beef, chicken, pork. She is on a special diet and only gets half a treat once a day and a couple of green beans added to her diet food. She eats lamb meal, rice, barley 2X's a day and the green beans give her gas. We have to give her infant gas drops prescribed by the vet who knows her well. She is loved and does not know she is a dog as do the other 2. She is happy. She runs around. The big dog plays tug with her and pulls her down our hardwood floored hall. She loves to play. She can't do it for very long because of her heart and she cannot get overheated at all!!!!! She does not eat the other dogs' food because they are not fed together.
ReplySo I can't get out and walk with her, she is on a restricted diet, she is allergic to most everything and the vet sees her about twice a month. She told me about this drug today. I don't want to give it to her. I would appreciate any ideas you might have.
Sandi, I am assuming having a friend or acquaintance walk her isn't an option. You could pay a neighborhood kid to walk her and see how that goes before the pill.
ReplyThank you so much for posting to my post. Unfortunately we haven't a neighbor within a mile and a half and none have children. But that is an excellent idea.
My husband is a school teacher and I might see if he can get a student that lives near by to walk her sometimes. But, Razzy is allergic to most everything and the pollen is really flying here right now. I am afraid to open the door almost. She is allergic to most food. But we love her dearly and is our top priority around here.
Cutting back on her food intake an eighth of a cup twice a day has done little to help. That is such a small amt of food and she gets one treat we break in half and give to her when she goes out potty. Thank God for doggie doors!
I could talk about her forever, but just wanted to thank you for your post.
ReplyYou are welcome. It is a pity she is allergic to beef, cause putting dogs on an all-beef diet really reduces their weight, as they are not naturally meant to ingest carbohydrates.
I hope the pill works for her.
ReplyWell, I have a 7 year old fat chihuahua. I have own many dogs and all have lived between 10 years to 17 years. None! have been fat. I have tried everything(all diets) including putting a camera in my back yard trying to see if the neighbors are feeding her. Well...the vet told me that some dogs after fixed tend to gain weight. And some dogs just have the fat gene just like some people. So...what to do...I am now trying the liquid pill.(been 5 days now...lost 2oz)hummmm...not bad.) What have I got to lose...(or should I say...What has my dog got to lose...pounds I hope:)
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