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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
Pfizer Medication for Obese Dogs Wins U.S. Approval (Update4)
By Justin Blum Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. approved the first prescription weight-loss drug for the growing number of dogs whose owners feed them too many scraps and treats. The Food and Drug Administration today cleared Pfizer Inc. to market a drug called Slentrol for use in the estimated 5 percent of U.S. dogs that are obese. Veterinarians also could use it for the additional 20 percent to 30 percent that are overweight. The medication, which Pfizer estimates will cost pet owners about $1 to $2 a day, could be used for the increasing population of dogs with weight problems due to overfeeding and lack of exercise, said George C. Fahey Jr., a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign who specializes in pet nutrition. As with humans, obesity can lead to diabetes along with heart and joint problems. ``It would be helpful,'' Fahey said of Slentrol in a telephone interview today. ``It would be more helpful if people could feed their dogs less. That would be turning off the spigot instead of mopping the floor. Not everybody's going to do that.'' Dogs that are 20 percent more than their ideal weight are considered obese. The FDA approved the medication for those dogs, Pfizer said, though veterinarians are free to give it to dogs classified as overweight. It will be dispensed only by veterinarians and is expected to be available in the spring, Pfizer said. 61.5 Million Dogs There are about 61.5 million pet dogs in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The FDA warned Slentrol can cause dogs to vomit and experience loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite. The medication will include a warning saying the drug isn't to be used by humans, and Pfizer said it shouldn't be used for cats. Pfizer originally studied the drug for use in humans to lower cholesterol, said Bob Fauteux, a spokesman for New York- based Pfizer. The company discovered it could be used in dogs and gave up on human uses. The drug makes it easier for owners -- many of whom are overweight themselves -- to reduce the amount of food their pets consume, said Debra Zoran, who ran a clinical trial for Pfizer and is a professor of animal medicine at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Begging and Stealing Food ``You start to take away the calories from the animal and they beg and they steal food and they take food from the trash,'' Zoran said in an interview. With the drug, she said, owners were able to feed their dogs less ``without having a fight.'' When dogs become overweight, it can hurt them to walk and exercise, resulting in more weight gain, she said. Overweight dogs also can develop arthritis and hip dysplasia. The drug reduces appetite and fat absorption to produce weight loss, according to the FDA. It blocks the assembly and release of lipoproteins into the bloodstream. Dog owners can give the liquid medicine directly or by adding it to food. It is to be given in varying amounts, with an initial dose for 14 days. A veterinarian will determine the dog's progress on a monthly basis and adjust the dose depending on weight loss, the FDA said. After a dog reaches the desired weight, Pfizer suggests continued use for three months while the best level of food and exercise are determined, the FDA said. Shares of New York-based Pfizer fell 8 cents to $26.30 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Blum in Washington at . Last Updated: January 5, 2007 16:04 EST http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...1k&refer=home# -- Steven D. Litvintchouk Email: Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. |
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
it is well w/in the capabilities of the individual dog's companion to
control both food intake and exercise, hence, the mere existence of this pill offends me. Steven L. wrote: Pfizer Medication for Obese Dogs Wins U.S. Approval (Update4) By Justin Blum Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. approved the first prescription weight-loss drug for the growing number of dogs whose owners feed them too many scraps and treats. The Food and Drug Administration today cleared Pfizer Inc. to market a drug called Slentrol for use in the estimated 5 percent of U.S. dogs that are obese. Veterinarians also could use it for the additional 20 percent to 30 percent that are overweight. The medication, which Pfizer estimates will cost pet owners about $1 to $2 a day, could be used for the increasing population of dogs with weight problems due to overfeeding and lack of exercise, said George C. Fahey Jr., a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign who specializes in pet nutrition. As with humans, obesity can lead to diabetes along with heart and joint problems. ``It would be helpful,'' Fahey said of Slentrol in a telephone interview today. ``It would be more helpful if people could feed their dogs less. That would be turning off the spigot instead of mopping the floor. Not everybody's going to do that.'' Dogs that are 20 percent more than their ideal weight are considered obese. The FDA approved the medication for those dogs, Pfizer said, though veterinarians are free to give it to dogs classified as overweight. It will be dispensed only by veterinarians and is expected to be available in the spring, Pfizer said. 61.5 Million Dogs There are about 61.5 million pet dogs in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The FDA warned Slentrol can cause dogs to vomit and experience loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite. The medication will include a warning saying the drug isn't to be used by humans, and Pfizer said it shouldn't be used for cats. Pfizer originally studied the drug for use in humans to lower cholesterol, said Bob Fauteux, a spokesman for New York- based Pfizer. The company discovered it could be used in dogs and gave up on human uses. The drug makes it easier for owners -- many of whom are overweight themselves -- to reduce the amount of food their pets consume, said Debra Zoran, who ran a clinical trial for Pfizer and is a professor of animal medicine at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Begging and Stealing Food ``You start to take away the calories from the animal and they beg and they steal food and they take food from the trash,'' Zoran said in an interview. With the drug, she said, owners were able to feed their dogs less ``without having a fight.'' When dogs become overweight, it can hurt them to walk and exercise, resulting in more weight gain, she said. Overweight dogs also can develop arthritis and hip dysplasia. The drug reduces appetite and fat absorption to produce weight loss, according to the FDA. It blocks the assembly and release of lipoproteins into the bloodstream. Dog owners can give the liquid medicine directly or by adding it to food. It is to be given in varying amounts, with an initial dose for 14 days. A veterinarian will determine the dog's progress on a monthly basis and adjust the dose depending on weight loss, the FDA said. After a dog reaches the desired weight, Pfizer suggests continued use for three months while the best level of food and exercise are determined, the FDA said. Shares of New York-based Pfizer fell 8 cents to $26.30 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Blum in Washington at . Last Updated: January 5, 2007 16:04 EST http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...1k&refer=home# -- Steven D. Litvintchouk Email: Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. |
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
"crosem" wrote in message oups.com... it is well w/in the capabilities of the individual dog's companion to control both food intake and exercise, hence, the mere existence of this pill offends me. ..........I'll second that. Not to mention medical reasons for obesity and being a couch potato like thyoid problems could easily be overlooked. buglady take out the dog before replying |
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
quite true... I had a slightly heavier than average lab once winter came
about and walks were less common, a slight decreas in her food and more excersize time slimmed her right back down to her regular weight... just took more sunday long haul walks, than daily ones which were not quite that easy to do with a sick boy... *his dad has him on weekends, so we reallyl had fun at the dog park* "crosem" wrote in message oups.com... it is well w/in the capabilities of the individual dog's companion to control both food intake and exercise, hence, the mere existence of this pill offends me. Steven L. wrote: Pfizer Medication for Obese Dogs Wins U.S. Approval (Update4) By Justin Blum Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. approved the first prescription weight-loss drug for the growing number of dogs whose owners feed them too many scraps and treats. The Food and Drug Administration today cleared Pfizer Inc. to market a drug called Slentrol for use in the estimated 5 percent of U.S. dogs that are obese. Veterinarians also could use it for the additional 20 percent to 30 percent that are overweight. The medication, which Pfizer estimates will cost pet owners about $1 to $2 a day, could be used for the increasing population of dogs with weight problems due to overfeeding and lack of exercise, said George C. Fahey Jr., a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign who specializes in pet nutrition. As with humans, obesity can lead to diabetes along with heart and joint problems. ``It would be helpful,'' Fahey said of Slentrol in a telephone interview today. ``It would be more helpful if people could feed their dogs less. That would be turning off the spigot instead of mopping the floor. Not everybody's going to do that.'' Dogs that are 20 percent more than their ideal weight are considered obese. The FDA approved the medication for those dogs, Pfizer said, though veterinarians are free to give it to dogs classified as overweight. It will be dispensed only by veterinarians and is expected to be available in the spring, Pfizer said. 61.5 Million Dogs There are about 61.5 million pet dogs in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The FDA warned Slentrol can cause dogs to vomit and experience loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite. The medication will include a warning saying the drug isn't to be used by humans, and Pfizer said it shouldn't be used for cats. Pfizer originally studied the drug for use in humans to lower cholesterol, said Bob Fauteux, a spokesman for New York- based Pfizer. The company discovered it could be used in dogs and gave up on human uses. The drug makes it easier for owners -- many of whom are overweight themselves -- to reduce the amount of food their pets consume, said Debra Zoran, who ran a clinical trial for Pfizer and is a professor of animal medicine at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Begging and Stealing Food ``You start to take away the calories from the animal and they beg and they steal food and they take food from the trash,'' Zoran said in an interview. With the drug, she said, owners were able to feed their dogs less ``without having a fight.'' When dogs become overweight, it can hurt them to walk and exercise, resulting in more weight gain, she said. Overweight dogs also can develop arthritis and hip dysplasia. The drug reduces appetite and fat absorption to produce weight loss, according to the FDA. It blocks the assembly and release of lipoproteins into the bloodstream. Dog owners can give the liquid medicine directly or by adding it to food. It is to be given in varying amounts, with an initial dose for 14 days. A veterinarian will determine the dog's progress on a monthly basis and adjust the dose depending on weight loss, the FDA said. After a dog reaches the desired weight, Pfizer suggests continued use for three months while the best level of food and exercise are determined, the FDA said. Shares of New York-based Pfizer fell 8 cents to $26.30 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Blum in Washington at . Last Updated: January 5, 2007 16:04 EST http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...1k&refer=home# -- Steven D. Litvintchouk Email: Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. |
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:47:37 GMT, "Drachen" wrote:
quite true... I had a slightly heavier than average lab once winter came about and walks were less common, a slight decreas in her food and more excersize time slimmed her right back down to her regular weight... just took more sunday long haul walks, than daily ones which were not quite that easy to do with a sick boy... I'm curious about your dog's ability to sense your son's seizures before they happen. Did you know this dog had that skill before you got him? -- Lynne |
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
.........I'll second that. Not to mention medical reasons for obesity and
being a couch potato like thyoid problems could easily be overlooked. More like the owners need to be medicated to keep their hands with food away from the dogs. Can't tell you how many people get SO offended when they are told their dogs are obese. This drug worries me. |
#7
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
In article ,
Sharon Too wrote: More like the owners need to be medicated to keep their hands with food away from the dogs. Can't tell you how many people get SO offended when they are told their dogs are obese. This drug worries me. I'm ambivalent. Too many dogs are *way* too fat and the reality is that if people aren't going to change their habits to improve their own health it's not that likely that they'll change their habits for their dogs. Mind you, I think it's more important to be fit than to be thin so at some level this drug is addressing the lesser problem. But still, it is a problem and entirely too many people are lazy and slovenly and we have to deal with the world as it is. -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
#8
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
"Melinda Shore" wrote in message ... In article , But still, it is a problem and entirely too many people are lazy and slovenly and we have to deal with the world as it is. ...........and the answer is medication? Boy, that's an American response to a problem alright - here take this pill and everything will be fine. buglady take out the dog before replying |
#9
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
In article .net,
buglady wrote: ..........and the answer is medication? It's better than letting the dog stay fat and doing nothing. As I said, I don't think that people who are unwilling to change their behavior to save their own health and improve their own lives are likely to change their behavior because their dog is overweight. And again, as I said I think it's more important to be fit than to be thin, so this drug is addressing what I think is the lesser problem. But again, the drug is likely better than allowing your dog to stay fat and do nothing. Was the post you're responding to insufficiently clearly written or something? -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
#10
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FDA Approves 1st Anti-Obesity Drug for Dogs
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