Researchers are experimenting with GLP-1s for overweight dogs and cats

Your furry companions might soon have a new way to shed extra pounds. A new era of so-called ozempets could be emerging, where dogs and cats might use weight loss and diabetes medications similar to Ozempic and Wegovy to manage obesity.

According to reports, San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company Okava Pharmaceuticals is preparing to launch an initial trial testing GLP-1 agonists in overweight cats. These drugs, originally developed for human diabetes treatment, mimic a gut hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, making them effective for weight management.

In an innovative approach designed to simplify administration, the cats wont require frequent injections. Instead, tiny implants about the size of a microchip will release the medication gradually for up to six months. The company plans similar studies for dogs in the near future.

Dr. Chen Gilor, a veterinarian at the University of Florida leading the study, explained: You insert that capsule under the skin, and then you come back six months later, and the cat has lost the weight. Its like magic.

While GLP-1 drugs are proven to reduce appetite in humans, their use in pets raises ethical questions. Dogs and cats have long been selectively bred for human preferences, sometimes compromising their health. Now, weight loss medications could further enforce human standards of appearance on animals.

However, for many pets, obesity is a serious health concern. About 60% of dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight, and hundreds of thousands suffer from diabetes. Some veterinarians have already begun prescribing human GLP-1 medications for diabetic pets, indicating a growing clinical interest.

Dr. Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, described this development as a potential turning point: Veterinarians are on the precipice of a completely new era in obesity medicine.

Author: Maya Henderson