Weight-Loss injections:
under study for pets
October 8 is World Pet Obesity Day and November is Pet Diabetes Awareness Month – the perfect time to talk about weight management in pets, today and in the future. There’s growing buzz around research into GLP-1 weight management drug treatments for pets[1].
The best step for pet parents today is working closely with their vet, while staying curious about where new science might take us,” says PD Insurance COO Michelle Le Long. “The obvious solution to keeping the pounds off is feeding your dog a healthy diet and making sure they get plenty of exercise, but let’s be real, that can be a challenge in the hurly-burly of modern life.”
This makes the prospect of a wonder weight-loss pill even more appealing. ‘We’ve seen new-generation injectable weight-loss drugs make global headlines, but did you know researchers are now examining their suitability for pets, too?’ asks Le Long.
What’s clear is that there is a problem. Pet obesity rates are hitting epidemic levels, with multiple reports indicating that more than half of dogs and cats worldwide[2] tip the scales a tad too far. Recent studies show the issue is just as stark in New Zealand, where around 40% of dogs[3] and 63% of cats[4] are overweight or obese. As a result, it’s little wonder that folks are buzzing about the potential for human weight-loss drugs making a leap to the fur family.
Excess weight impacts good health
Whether that’s a good idea or otherwise, says Le Long, it isn’t for her to say. But what she is firm on are the consequences of a hefty pet. “There’s a tendency to think of the tubby pup or chunky cat as cute. The health problems they inevitably face, though, are anything but.”
Diabetes is just one potential consequence of excess weight. “It’s no fun at all injecting your furbaby with daily insulin shots. Poor health means added effort from the pet parent, and it often means added costs, too. And of course, all that food isn’t free, either.”
Plus, with obesity linked to scary stuff such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoarthritis (not to mention pancreatitis from those forbidden fatty table scraps), there is clearly a problem waiting to be solved.
A view from the vet
GLP-1 receptor agonists (and potential canine versions in development) work by mimicking hormones that curb appetite and regulate blood sugar. This could be particularly helpful for pets prone to diabetes, a condition linked to excessive thirst, frequent potty breaks, and cloudy eyes.
Dr Cath Watson, veterinarian and Healthy Pets New Zealand Trustee confirms that weight loss treatments are potentially on the way. “We’ve been approached before about a NZ-based study on this kind of drug for dogs,” she reveals.
The idea, Watson notes, is somewhat divisive. “Some love the concept, others think it’s crazy. Those against feel it absolves owners of the responsibility of learning about and providing good nutrition. Others feel that in the real world, life gets in the way and many of us struggle to stick to a strict diet ourselves.”
More options likely in the near future
She says the high prevalence of overweight pets shows the battle is being lost. “That means heavy cats and dogs are paying the price. I don’t see that changing – so there is good justification for either position. The introduction of a weight-loss pill could be life-changing for some, but we need to be very careful to understand these drugs are not a miracle cure on their own. They need to be used in conjunction with dietary and lifestyle changes to optimise the potential for long term health benefits for our pets.”
Watson says she believes weight loss treatments for pets are inevitable. “It’s coming whether it has full veterinary support or not.”
And Le Long says the availability of more options to address our pets’ health can generally be a positive development, provided we’re well informed to make choices that suit our pets as individuals. “We know excess weight is associated with poorer health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Choosing the right tools, especially when it comes to mitigation can have wonderful dividends.”
[1] https://www.petobesityprevention.org/articlesandnews/3wd6dsda1bpq1t4k7dgwsz2md3nm7p
[2] https://www.petobesityprevention.org/global-pet-obesity-initiative
[3] https://www.companionanimals.nz/articles/the-weighty-issue-how-our-love-for-dogs-might-be-hurting-them
[4] https://www.companionanimals.nz/articles/cats-and-calories-how-cooler-months-ahead-means-watching-their-waistlines