Doggoneit, An Anti-Obesity Drug For Canines?

Pfizer's prescription drugs have gone to the dogs

Just when you thought the pharmaceutical industry in the United States couldn't get any crazier or overzealous than it already has developing all these so-called miracle drugs to cure every ailment known to mankind, along comes a story like this one that reminds me why these gold-digging scheisters need to be locked up in prison with the key thrown away for their dishonesty and deception on the public.

The culprit this time around is the infamous Pfizer Inc., whose #1 bestselling cholesterol-lowering medication Lipitor brought down a cool $13 BILLION in revenue in 2006 (plus a few lawsuits and then a class action lawsuit about its safety which is still going through the courts), and now they're aiming for canines with a new drug called Slentrol, aka dirlotapide.

Slentrol is the first prescription diet pill designed for your pudgy pet pooch. As if all the plethora of weight loss pills for humans wasn't bad enough (with some of them being fined for false advertising just this week!), Pfizer believes they have discovered the next breakthrough wonder drug that will cure obesity in the nearly 20 million dogs who are currently either overweight or obese.

CHA-CHING CHA-CHING! Pfizer sees dollar signs in this!

This doggie obesity drug is basically a fat blocker that prevents the absorption of fat in their bodies while working as an appetite suppressant to keep your dog from overeating. The Food And Drug Administration happily approves of Slentrol for use on family dogs nationwide.

But what about the side effects on your four-legged friend? Well, they say this drug ONLY causes loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, an overwhelming feeling of being tired, and a loss of appetite. Is that all?

So you had better be ready with lots of pooper scoopers, vomit scoopers, towels, mops, and whatever else you can find to clean up these wonderful "side effects" while the dog you used to know as a playful, fun-loving companion now becomes a virtual useless invalid. Is that what you want for your dog, fat or otherwise?

As if they needed to say this, the FDA warned dog owners against taking this drug for themselves or trying to give it to the family cat because the side effects are much worse in humans and other animals. Oh my, how much worse could it be than having it come out of both ends in between lying around in bed without eating anything all day?

Don't ask, but here's what YOU have to look forward to if you did happen to take Slentrol--abdominal distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Isn't that just lovely?! I sure bet you'll lose a lot of weight that way, though! Jeepers creepers!

Can't I just feed my dog (or myself for that matter) a whole bottle of castor oil instead? It'll have the same physical effect as Slentrol and will cost MUCH less money than the premium price Pfizer will be charging for their new dogbesity drug. Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

The story notes that dogs need a high-fat diet to be the strong and healthy animals they were created to be (not unlike humans!). Fat is essential for their bodies and yet Pfizer wants to prevent fat consumed by dogs from being absorbed? Won't this actually stunt their growth, slow their development, prevent them from procreating, and cause their coat to fall out in the long run, hmmm? Are we REALLY going to make dogs go through all this just to shed a few pounds? And for what purpose?

Interestingly, just as the diet drugs created for humans need to be combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise program (it's the dirty little secret these drug companies don't ever tell you about!), so too must Slentrol be accompanied by "a complete and balanced diet and exercise" program according to the drug's label.

Pfizer is quick to point out that Slentrol is "not a cure for obesity" and that the nasty side effects go away a few days after you stop giving it to your dog. But just like humans, dogs that are overweight or obese need to make lifestyle changes to help them manage their weight. That's why low-carb, high-fat diets have been recommended to help Buster lose weight and get healthy.

Here's some healthy food for thought to chew on: Could it be that dogs are getting fatter and fatter because their owners are no longer taking them on walks around the neighborhood or playing with them in the yard or at the local park?

Dogs are meant to be active and yet what do we do with them? Lock 'em up in a kennel all day everyday for weeks, months, sometimes years without ever letting them run like the wind as God intended for them. Is it any wonder why they are getting obese at record levels?

Nice try on this one, Pfizer, but I'm not buying into your hype with this drug either. With all the troubles you have been having with the side effects from Lipitor, frankly I'm surprised you would even put something like Slentrol out there with all these side effects. Are you TRYING to get sued again? I don't think people are going to take too kindly to their dog getting sick from your drug.

Slentrol sounds like a good idea until you realize it's just another blatant attempt by the pharmaceutical industry to correct a problem with a pill rather than encouraging a healthier diet and physical activity plan. When are we going to stop wishing and hoping for that magic bullet to come along for obesity and just do what it takes to get there naturally?

Doggoneit, people just need to stop lining the pockets of companies like Pfizer with their hard-earned money and start livin' la vida low-carb instead! Living a healthy low-carb lifestyle, for you and your dog, is a cheaper and more enjoyable way to manage weight, ward off disease, and be around for many years to come. We don't need any new drugs to help us do that!

1-7-07 UPDATE: Annette at the "Fish and Cans" blog has some humorously interesting commentary on this dogbesity drug as well. And the "Almanak" blog has more info on the cost of this new doggie drug as well as a rather blunt reaction to it, too.