The “Ozempic for Dogs” Conversation Is Here

In this article:

• How common is it for dogs to be overweight?
• How can you help your dog lose weight through pre-portioning?

Ozempic, or something like it, may be coming for the pet world. You probably already know what the drug can do for humans. It acts like the GLP-1 hormone, which curbs appetites, leading to weight loss. And one company hopes to bring a similar type of drug to the market for dogs and cats within three years.

This story interests us primarily because it brings attention to a big issue: Many American dogs are overweight, and simple changes to their portioning can go a long way toward helping change that. This is not a cosmetic issue; healthy-weight dogs can live 2.5 years longer than their overweight or obese counterparts. Here’s what else you should know.

How many American dogs are overweight?

Veterinarians take obesity in dogs very seriously. The Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention (APOP) found that the majority of dogs in the U.S.—59%—are considered overweight or obese. And the condition is linked to health problems including diabetes, orthopedic diseases, and cancer. 

Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP’s founder and president, wrote in an email that if the Ozempic-like drugs for dogs make it to market, owners’ go-to strategy should still be a veterinarian-approved diet adjustment—unless there is a critical reason to start them on it due to “medical urgency, pain, or suffering.”

“GLP-1s may help some pets with clinical obesity [meaning obesity with health impacts or impaired mobility], especially those genetically predisposed to overeating or with metabolic issues, when a well-run, veterinary-supervised plan hasn’t worked,” he added. “Consider medicines only for clinical obesity, clear genetic drivers, high metabolic risk, or when that plan has clearly failed.”

If owners control what domestic dogs eat, why is obesity even an issue? 

Since household dogs get all of their meals from their owners, overfeeding is generally a matter of imprecise portions, excessive treats, or table feeding. This is one of the reasons that The Farmer’s Dog pre-portions food according to each individual dog’s needs, taking into account their age, weight, body condition, breed, activity level, spay/neuter status, and other factors. The pre-portioned packs make managing a dog’s weight simple. 

Then there are treats. Treats are a great tool for training and bonding with your dog, but the general rule of thumb for feeding a dog is that they should make up no more than 10% of their daily caloric intake. If your dog eats 400 calories a day, for example, then they should get no more than 40 calories from treats. Some owners find that doing the quick math is not so quick, and offer too many treats to their dog. The Farmer’s Dog Snap Sticks come with personalized serving limits for each dog—based on their 10% daily treat allotment—so you never need to worry about excess treat calories wrecking your dog’s diet plan.