Weight-loss treatments for pets are being created to help obese animals slim down.
Veterinary versions of revolutionary GLP-1 drugs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, are being developed and tested by scientists.
But while the human medicines are administered by injections once a week, the pet drugs would be delivered via implants.
Early-stage clinical trials in cats found that small doses of the drug exenatide, which works in a similar way to semaglutide and tirzepatide, is effective at reducing the animals’ calorie intake and body weight.
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A study last year fitted five cats with an experimental subcutaneous implant, known as OKV-119, which released the weight-loss chemical into the blood for 84 days. Analysis found four of five cats had a reduction in body mass of at least five per cent.
This drug-delivery system trial is now being extended to dogs as part of a partnership between drug companies Okava and Vivani. If the trials are successful, the drugs could be available as early as 2028.
The scientists behind the trials say owners should view the drug as an additional tool, not a first option for reducing their pets’ weight – E+
“What owners should expect to see is their pet eating appropriate portions without the previous food obsession – they’ll still eat regularly and show interest in meals, just without the excessive begging, scavenging or gulping behaviour,” Michael Klotsman, the Okava chief executive, told The Guardian.
He added that the medication should be viewed as an “additional tool” rather than a first action for overweight dogs.
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Excess body weight can shorten the lives of pets and reduce the quality of their life as well, with increased risk of cancers, arthritis, heart disease and other ailments.
Some breeds are more prone to being overweight than others, with labradors among the most fat-prone of dogs. One in four labradors has a genetic fault in the POMC gene, which makes them 25 per cent slower at burning calories.
The faulty POMC gene is also seen in two-thirds of flat-coated retrievers, data show, and is linked to a heightened risk of obesity and being motivated by food.
It is thought that around half of all cats and dogs in the UK are overweight, and scientists advise that owners worried about their pet’s weight focus on regular exercise and not overfeeding.
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Snacks can quickly add up calorie intake and exceed a pet’s recommended amount, especially in smaller pets, which need only a small amount of calories a day.