Veterinary weight-loss drugs for pets under review

About half of Sweden’s pets are overweight, and veterinary researchers are now examining whether weight-loss drugs similar to Ozempic could be used for dogs and cats, SVT reports.

Two US biotech firms are currently testing such medications for pets. Henrik Rönnberg, professor of veterinary medicine at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said these drugs would likely only be considered as a last resort.

“If you’ve tried everything else, then it might be appropriate,” he told SVT’s Morgonstudion.

Rönnberg noted that obesity in pets is often the result of owner behavior and feeding habits. Careen True, head of Kattstallet, a cat shelter, agreed, stressing consistency in feeding routines.

“Pets will beg for food, but if the owner stays firm, they usually stop,” she said.

Ongoing studies aim to confirm the safety of these drugs for animals. If approved, they could be administered as injections or tablets, though Rönnberg said oral medications may be difficult to give regularly to pets.

“We’re probably talking mainly about injections given at longer intervals,” he said.

True remains skeptical, arguing that the root issue lies with human behavior. “It’s actually us who feed them,” she said.

To check if a pet is overweight, the university advises: ribs should be easy to feel under the skin but not visible; a waist should be visible from above; and the abdomen should appear tucked when viewed from the side. Comparing current weight to the pet’s weight at one year old—when most reach their maximum weight—can also indicate obesity.