VETERINARY MEDICINE EXPLORES PET WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS AMID RISING OBESITY
NEW DELHI, India – August 17, 2025:Pet obesity is getting out of hand, so vets are looking into new ways to tackle it. Some biotech and drug companies are working on weight-loss drugs for cats and dogs, kind of like those for people, such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro). It turns out that just changing a pet’s food and getting them to exercise doesn’t always cut it. Think about it: up to 60% of pets in some countries are too heavy, so this could totally change how we deal with pet weight—from just trying to keep it in check to actually treating obesity as a lasting problem.
The Pet Obesity Problem
These days, pet obesity is a big health issue for vets. Being overweight can cause all sorts of problems for pets, like diabetes, arthritis, heart issues, and a shorter life. Groups like the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are saying that obesity is a real disease that needs active treatment.
Usually, it’s a mix of things that cause the problem: too much food, not enough exercise, and people who think giving food is the same as giving love. That’s why companies are searching for out-of-the-box solutions that are more than just behavior changes.
New Treatments and Tests
The weight-loss drugs that humans use act on something called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors. Now, they’re checking out similar stuff for pets. For example, Okava Pharmaceuticals said they’re testing a long-lasting implant called OKV-119 that copies GLP-1. They’re planning to release it for dogs around 2028 or 2029.
Actually, this isn’t the first time they have tried this. Back in 2007, the FDA gave the thumbs-up to dirlotapide (Slentrol), which was the first prescription drug for obese dogs. But Slentrol worked differently, mostly by suppressing appetite. They stopped using it after a while, but it did prove that selling obesity drugs for pets could work.
How It Works
GLP-1 drugs for people copy a natural hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite. They make you feel full by slowing down digestion and reducing cravings. Pet versions are being made to work in a similar way.
Studies on pets, like those by Okava, are showing good early results. One small study in BMC Veterinary Research, a science journal, showed that the OKV-119 implant helped fat cats lose at least 5% of their weight in about 112 days. The study hints that the drug might cut down appetite and make pets less obsessed with food without making them sick.
Things to Think About
Giving pets weight-loss drugs raises some questions. Vets are mainly worried about possible side effects, which we don’t know a lot about in animals yet. In people, GLP-1 drugs have caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes pancreatitis.
Some experts are also uneasy that the drugs might hide signs of other sicknesses. Like, if a pet eats less because of the medication, their owner might not realize they are really sick.
Also, there’s a chance that pet owners might think these drugs are a quick fix and skip the healthy food and exercise. Vets say that meds should just be an extra tool, not a replacement for a full weight-loss plan.
Another Option for Vets
Even with the worries, many vets think these drugs could be helpful. They could work well for pets that don’t lose weight with diet and exercise alone.
This includes pets that are likely to be fat because of their genes or those that can’t move around easily. The drugs could also help owners who give in when their pets beg for food.
Creating these meds also shows that human and animal medicine are becoming more alike. Pet owners see their animals as family, so they want advanced medical care for them, including ways to fight obesity.
