Miracle Diet Drug ... For The Obese Canine

If you had a quick fix drug to help your dog lose weight, would you use it? 

One of my dogs is a little on the heavy side.  Not obese by any means ... just a little on the heavy side.  I don't feed him large quantities, and he has a very large yard for exercise, but still he is heavy.  We live on a country road, where he gets to roam on occasion, and it is my belief that he has found a neighbor who throws out treats for wild animals.  My first clue was when he went on a run and came home with ... of all things ... a frozen chub of hamburger. 

Now, in case you haven't heard, the Food & Drug Administration recently approved the new diet drug Slentrol, which is supposed to assist with canine obesity by curbing their appetite.  So many people are looking for a quick fix these days that I could easily see where they will be eager to rush out and purchase this so called miracle drug.  But you have to wonder if it is really a good idea.  Like humans, dogs too are increasingly becoming obese.  In fact, most obese dog owners have obese dogs.  While it is true that overweight dogs may suffer from severe health conditions, wouldn't it be better to look at solving the underlying problem ... which is usually with the owner ... than to look for a quick fix such as Slentrol (which, by the way has side effects such as loose stools, vomiting, and lethargy).  For instance, don't feed the dog table scraps, don't let him eat whenever he wants, and don't forget to exercise him.  Or, as in my case, don't let him wander to the neighbor's house looking for treats.  In my opinion, a diet drug may help somewhat.  But after he loses weight, if he goes back to his regular over eating habits, what really has he lost?

Comments

[fay fernandez]

I agree with you 100%. In today’s society we always rush to try to find that quick fix, the miracle pill. The dog owner must follow a schedule when feeding; no leaving the dog's food bowl down all day, no table scrapes, etc.

I don't ever remember seeing a dog walk over to the cabinets, pull out the box of treats, and proceed to eat the whole thing. They eat what you feed them, when you feed them.

Aside from a medical problem with your dog, the emphasis lies on the owner, not the dog.