Dolittler: Pfizer’s Slentrol: Canine obesity begone!

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Comments

While I generally agree with your observation about the correlation between the sizes of people and their pets, I've seen some amusing exceptions. Where I worked, we had several overweight clients with overweight dogs that hung on to the vet's every word, got extremely excited to see decreases on the scale, and sometimes brought in their pet proclaiming "look how skinny I got her!" while they themselves were still at serious risk for diabetes in the next two years. It was like they poured all their weight loss energy and frustration into the dog.

On the other hand, the vet herself was quite thin, and had a devil of a time getting her dog down in size. No matter what she did, this dog would find something to eat. I swear she could open the refrigerator to steal that ham if she had to. And occasionally we had very thin clients come in with giant cats and say "what do you mean? He's not fat! He's big-boned!"

# Posted By Julia | 1/8/07 10:16 AM

Funny thing: I hear all the time that obese people have obese pets. And yet ... I know a lot of overweight people (including my own fat self) who don't have fat dogs. Are we the exceptions to the rule? I don't know.

And the two fattest retrievers I've ever seen belong to two of the thinnest, most beautiful women I know!

I think in fact overweight pets are so prevalent that all kinds of people have them. You just tend to notice the fat dog-fat person connection more.

In any case, I agree with you that it's not really rocket science to keep dogs at proper weight. Keeping oneself slender ... now that's another story.

# Posted By Gina | 1/8/07 12:14 PM

It's a lot easier for me to keep my dogs at good weight that it is for me....I wish someone would feed me a balanced diet everyday!!

# Posted By Kim Hanson | 1/8/07 10:20 PM

I recently (as in, Dec 2nd, 2006) adopted a year old Standard Poodle. I happen to be quite overweight. The dog, on the other hand, was unhealthily skinny when I got her and really needed to gain weight, but more than that, she absolutely had to gain muscle without fail so that she could eat her food standing up and get into a car without help, etc.

I am overweight due to an endocrine problem in my body. I walk my dog a good mile per walk (now, at first she couldn't walk around the block), and we walk at least twice a day (not counting the play sessions) . . . this, combined with a diabetic's diet for yours truly and a high-quality food for the pup (she doesn't get table scraps) has /finally/ resulted in tiny but measurable weight loss for me, and pup is getting the strong, healthy physique she needs.

It's not always true that overweight pets have overweight owners. I wish more people would remember that.

# Posted By Whitewater | 1/8/07 11:44 PM

I know at least one very skinny person with a fat dog. She gives the dog a treat whenever she wants one for herself. However, it really does take all kinds.

# Posted By Georg | 1/9/07 6:06 AM

I love my pets and often refer to them as my "kids", however, just because I call them that does not mean I treat them like people.

The Humane Society can gripe about Cesar Millan as much as they'd like, but atleast he has a clue. He understands that while pets can be pampered and loved, they also need to be treated for what they are versus treating them like people which leads to neurotic behavior, obesity, ect.

I'm not a fan of any person or animal taking meds unless it is medically necessary. Making doggie "weight loss" meds is disgusting!

I've always believed that 99% of animal problems are actually human problems and this just makes my point.

# Posted By Stacy | 1/9/07 7:28 AM

This is so true!!! My neighbor is a size 1 and her dog... the perfect picture of health and weight. Me over weight, trying not to push it onto my dog, husband thinks she needs to eat more treats! My sisters Dogs are horribly obese, she is a size 6 and she loves to eat! However when we lived together, I too was my heaviest, she loves to have company when she eats. And scraps are a regular for her dogs. Tee hee ha ha I too have seen the relation between human weight and animal weight. I think my cats went up and down right along with me too! Funny!! As far as a pill.....um no! I wouldn't even take a pill for myself. Thanks for the great blog Doctor!!

# Posted By Shelly | 1/9/07 8:34 AM

You know the reason they made this weight loss medication for dogs is because the next step is humans, right? I mean, the pharmaceutical companies have to start somewhere with this weight loss thing! I really doubt their concern was for the dogs' health. What really annoys me is that they're giving us another psychological handicap in letting us avoid facing reality even with our pets!

# Posted By Ana | 1/9/07 10:04 AM

When I saw this article on the news I was dumbstruck. Yes, my dogs love to eat and would probably eat themselves into little piglets if I let them. BUT they also love to exercise, and run, and jump. Unlike people dogs love activity. That is why I thought this drug was so silly. If people got off their lazy a-- to excercise their dogs then their dogs would by skinnier.

# Posted By Emily | 1/15/07 7:34 PM

May I present another point of view? I am in very good physical condition - get plenty of exercise. I have two German Shepherd dogs. One is at his ideal weight. My four year old female, however, is quite overweight at 120+ pounds. I walk my dogs everyday. They play in the yard chasing balls, etc. I have tried to get the weight off my female. She eats two cups of senior/weight management dog food a day plus two or three biscuits. Nothing I do has helped. My veterinarian says I am doing all I can and she must just have a very slow metabolism. (She was tested for thyroid disorder but came out fine.) If I cut her food back anymore, she gets frantic and will eat anything, inlcuding her own feces - - very gross.

I wish I knew how to get ahold of Sentrol. My vet hasn't seen it yet. I want my dog to be healthy and at an acceptable weight. If anyone knows how to get this drug, please share the information with me. Thank you!

# Posted By Susan Bailey | 4/24/07 1:39 PM

Susan: I'm also trying to find out when Slentrol will be available from my vet. Can't find anything on the net, including this blog, with details on when it will be available. I've been waiting since Jan 07 FDA approval to get it for my obese Rottie. The pharmaceutical info sheet is available at Pfizer website. I plan to call Pfizer and ask directly. Their # is 800-366-5288 in case you want to call also.

# Posted By Pam Moran | 4/24/07 4:41 PM

Thank you Pam. I will call them also.

# Posted By Susan Bailey | 4/25/07 1:05 PM

Pam - good news. I just called Phizer and Slentrol will be available for vets to order next week. The rep I spoke with says the veterinarians should call the Phizer customer service number (which she assured me they already know) and order it then. I will be following up on this with my vet. Good luck to you!

# Posted By Susan Bailey | 4/27/07 3:31 PM

Just found this website while researching this drug. I have five dogs - I am a size 1, I work full time but my dogs get two walks a day and plenty of play time - they eat twice a day and I never leave their food down. I watch them eat and if the food is not eaten it is taken away so that the other dogs do not eat it. One of my dogs is seriously overweight - he is now seven years old and has had his thyroid tested several times over the years. He is very active (he is an australian cattle dog) and I have adjusted his food intake to try and reduce his weight - all to no avail. I was very excited when I heard about this drug and this morning his went for his blood test to check that he can go on it. I am waiting for the results eagerly as I want him to live a full and happy life. One of my other dogs (a shepherd mix) has already had to have cruciate surgery and I cannot afford for this to happen to another dog as it cost me thousands of dollars. They are all insured but insurance does not cover any weight related illnesses. So, all you hypocrites out there - we are not all fat, lazy people who overfeed, and under excercise our dogs - we are actually very caring, dog owners (and very poor ones) who just want the best for them.

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