Is there a weight loss drug for dogs

8 Weight Loss Supplements for Dogs

We all know that obesity is a serious issue in the USA, with some stats showing that obesity rates exceed 25% in 48 US states, which means that one in four adults is obese in these states. With obesity being so prevalent among people, it's not a surprise that pets are having this problem, too.

Why Is Dog Obesity Dangerous?

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), obesity affected 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in 2017 in the US. Obesity impacts a dogs health and longevity. There are many long-term effects of dog obesity, including diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and increased risk of developing malignant tumors, to name just a few. Obese dogs are also more likely to have a much shorter lifespan.

Even if your dog is not yet obese but is overweight, health problems are likely to begin developing at this stage and without further action obesity is inevitable. Dogs are considered overweight when their weight is 10-20% higher than their ideal body weight, and they are considered obese when their weight is more than 20% higher than their ideal body weight.

Higher quality or restricted diet and exercise are the best ways to help a dog lose weight, but there are many weight loss supplements for dogs you can use to speed up the process and make it easier. Always discuss any diet changes and supplement use with your veterinarian beforehand to get the best results.

ALSO READ:The Best Weight Loss Dog Food for Fat Dogs

The 8 Best Dog Supplements for Weight Loss

Dirlotapide

Dirlotapide is an effective pharmaceutical drug developed specifically for overweight and obese dogs to help them lose weight. Unlike the above two supplements that were first used for people, Dirlotapide is actually only approved for use in dogs.

This drug restrains the release of dietary fats from cells in the intestines into the bloodstream. That is done because the accumulation of fat in these intestinal cells leads to feelings of fullness and decreased appetite. Basically, Dirlotapide is used primarily as an appetite suppressant for dogs on a restricted calorie diet.

In studies, this drug has been successfully tested for safety among dogs, and it was the first FDA-approved drug for obese dogs. You can get Dirlotapide through veterinarians and veterinary prescriptions only. It cannot be purchased over the counter.

L-carnitine

L-carnitine is a vitamin-like substance made from amino acids. It is found naturally in proteins from animal sources and can help with weight loss in both humans and animals.

This substance helps the dog's body cells produce energy from fats. It sticks to fatty acids and transports them from the body of the cell to mitochondria, which is a cellular organ that produces more sustained energy.

L-carnitine facilitates fat usage in dogs that are on a calorie-restricted diet. A 1998 study showed that dogs who were given L-carnitine supplements lost more body weight than dogs who were on a regular restricted diet without the supplement.

It's generally a safe option and one of the most effective ones among dog weight loss supplement choices we have around. You can find it added in different health supplements for dogs such as Cardio Support from Nutrition Strength or buy it stand-alone. You can get this supplement at your local pet store, markets, pharmacies, and health food stores.

L-Arginine

Similar to the L-Carnitine supplement, L-Arginine is another amino acid substance. Although the effects of this particular chemical still have to be researched further, some initial studies have shown promising weight loss results in obese mice, pigs and humans, without any calorie restriction.

The results suggest that the supplement can be used for dogs which cant be put on a calorie restriction and dogs which only need to shave off a few extra pounds, most notably small and toy breeds. Note that while it's considered safe for animals, there is no proper research on testing L-Arginine with dogs consult your veterinarian about the use of this supplement and to get the appropriate dosage.

According to studies, white kidney bean extract is one of the most effective starch blockers, and it works for humans as well as dogs. It stops the breakdown of starch and stops the dog's body from absorbing it by interfering with a digestive enzyme called alpha-amylase, whose role is to break starch down into simple sugars.

In a 2004 study by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) with obese and overweight canines, those that were given a starch blocker for the duration of 9 weeks, 88% of dogs lost an average of 4.61% of their body weight.

The FDA has given this dog weight loss supplement GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status. For best results, you should sprinkle this starch blocker on your dogs meal for nine weeks. The appropriate dosage should be recommended by your vet, but usually, it is 500mg for dogs under 50 pounds and 1.5 grams for dogs over 80 pounds.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

Dehydroepiandrosterone is a steroid hormone responsible for the production of estrogen and testosterone in dogs and humans. Studies have shown that DHEA, combined with a low-calorie diet, can produce good weight loss results in overweight and obese dogs. It can also help with cholesterol levels.

However, the increase in testosterone and estrogen and the potential health side effects are still not properly researched in the veterinary community. You should administer this supplement with caution and only under your vets supervision.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The primary source of Omega-3 fatty acids is fatty fish, but adding fish to your dog's daily diet may not be productive due to the higher calorie amount. Omega-3 fatty acids can be given in the form of fish oil supplements instead to get the benefits of speeding up weight loss in dogs. Fish oil has a number of other proven health benefits for dogs, too.

There's a very large body of research on omega-3 and its health benefits as well as its potential for weight loss. Omega-3 fatty acids affect mitochondria in cells, which are responsible for generating the bodys energy and heat from digested food. Since they have a fat-burning property, omega-3 fatty acids can help dogs lose weight in combination with an appropriate diet.

Chitosan

Chitosan, or chitin as it is also known, is a dietary supplement. It is made from a starch commonly found in the skeleton of shellfish, like crab or shrimp.

Although the weight loss benefits of chitosan for dogs still have to be proven with further research, it is believed that this supplement can help with weight loss since it binds with fat, which prevents the fat from being absorbed. It also passes through the intestines without being digested, adding no calories in the process.

Generally, chitosan is given 30-60 minutes before a meal for it to become properly activated. Consult your vet if this is an appropriate drug for your pet, for the right dosage, and for how much water is necessary with that dose to prevent cramping and constipation.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

These supplements are basically linoleic acid isomers that seem to promote and increase lipid oxidation or fat breakdown. However, the exact way in which they do that is still unknown to scientists.

Just like with chitosan, these dog weight loss supplements still need to be researched further in order to prove their effects when it comes to weight loss, although some randomized studies showed promising results.

Using a dog weight loss supplement to improve or speed up the progress is possible, but it has to come with changes in diet increased exercise, and generally a well-structured dog slimming down plan. These eight weight loss supplements for dogs are the best you can currently find on the market, but you shouldnt use them without consulting your veterinarian first.

READ NEXT: Ask a Vet How to Put an Overweight Dog on a Diet?

Weight loss

Prescription weight-loss drugs

Study the pros and cons of medicines to treat obesity.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Have you tried diet and exercise but haven't been able to lose enough weight? If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be a choice for you.

Prescription drugs are medicines that a health care provider prescribes for you. You can't buy them off the shelf in a drug store like you can buy nonprescription medicines.

Just know that you need to use prescription weight-loss drugs in addition to not instead of a healthy diet and exercise.

Who can take weight-loss drugs?

Your health care provider may suggest a weight-loss drug for you in some cases. These include if you haven't been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and your:

• Body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30. This means you're living with a condition that involves having too much body fat, called obesity.
• BMI is greater than 27. You also have a serious medical problem linked to obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Before choosing a medicine for you, your health care provider thinks about your history and health challenges. Then your provider talks with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs.

These drugs aren't for everyone. For example, you shouldn't take prescription weight-loss drugs if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.

How well do weight-loss drugs work?

Prescription weight-loss drugs that you can use for more than 12 weeks, called long-term use, lead to major weight loss compared with an inactive treatment that doesn't use medicine, called a placebo. The combination of weight-loss medicine and lifestyle changes leads to greater weight loss than do lifestyle changes alone.

Taking these drugs for a year can mean a loss of total body weight of 3% to 12% more than that lost with lifestyle changes alone. That may not seem like a lot. But losing 5% to 10% of your total weight and keeping it off can have important health benefits. For example, it can lower blood pressure, blood sugar levels and levels of fats in the blood called triglycerides.

What you should know about weight-loss drugs

Mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation and diarrhea, are common. They may lessen over time. Rarely, serious side effects can happen. That's why it's important to ask your health care provider about all treatment choices. And ask about the possible benefits and risks of each drug.

Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren't always paid for by insurance. Ask your insurance company about your coverage.

Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. But practicing healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain.

How long do I take a weight-loss drug?

How long you take a weight-loss drug depends on whether the drug helps you lose weight. If you've lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven't had serious side effects, your health care provider may suggest that you take the drug long term.

If you haven't lost at least 5% of your body weight after taking the full dose of a drug for 3 to 6 months, your health care provider will probably change your treatment. They may switch you to a different weight-loss drug.

What drugs are approved for weight loss?

Six weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use:

• Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda)
• Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
• Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
• Semaglutide (Wegovy)
• Setmelanotide (Imcivree)

Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by making you feel less hungry or fuller. Some do both. The exception is orlistat. It affects the way your body absorbs fat.

Bupropion-naltrexone

Bupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid addiction. Bupropion is a drug to treat depression, called an antidepressant, and a drug to help people stop smoking, called a quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure. So your provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide also is used to manage diabetes. It's given as a daily shot. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use.

Orlistat

You also can get orlistat in a reduced-strength form without a prescription (Alli). Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat. But researchers haven't found that the drug causes liver injuries.

Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug called phentermine and an anticonvulsant called topiramate. Phentermine has the potential to be misused because it acts like a stimulant drug called an amphetamine. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness. Topiramate increases the risk of birth defects.

Phentermine by itself (Adipex-P, Lomaira) also is used for weight loss. It's one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for use for less than 12 weeks, called short-term use. The other drugs in this group aren't often prescribed.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide also is used to help control type 2 diabetes. You take it as a weekly shot to manage obesity.

It can cause side effects such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Belly pain
• Headache
• Tiredness

Setmelanotide

The FDA has approved setmelanotide only for people age 6 and older who have obesity due to one of these rare inherited conditions:

• Pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency
• Proprotein subtilisin-kexin type 1 deficiency
• Leptin receptor deficiency

To take the drug, you'll need to have test results that show you have one of these conditions. Setmelanotide doesn't treat any of the gene problems that cause these conditions. But it can help you lose weight. It can lessen your appetite and make you feel fuller. And it may help you burn calories while your body is at rest.

You take setmelanotide as a daily shot. It can cause side effects such as:

• Swollen or irritated skin where the needle went in
• Patches of darker skin
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Belly pain
• Unwanted sexual reactions
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts

Never give setmelanotide to a child under 6 years old. It can cause newborns and babies to have dangerous reactions.

The bottom line

Weight-loss drugs aren't an easy answer to weight loss. But they may help you make the lifestyle changes that you need to practice to lose weight and improve your health.

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