Health | Lifestyle

My Chubby Pal Is on a Diet

Should I give him Ozempic?

My best friend, Bear, is an old, fat, chubby Labrador who lives for the next dog biscuit, treat, or meal.

The other night, Bear ate his dinner and then proceeded to eat my chicken burrito right off my plate when I got up to get some Tabasco sauce. The whole thing was gobbled down without a lone frijole left.

He loves food more than me, and he proves his loyalty on a daily basis. He’d rather eat whatever he can reach than have my approval. His choices disturb me. They hurt. He isn’t starving. I feed him generously—two meals a day and a few cookies and treats in between. Still, his appetite is insatiable.

Like me, Bear loves to eat, but I get full, and he doesn’t.

I don’t think he eats more than other dogs, except on those days when he makes a killing of people's food—like the lasagna he stole off the counter Friday night. Besides the sneak attacks, my husband and I follow the directions on the Purina dog food bag on how much to feed him. We walk three to five miles every day to stay in shape.

He’s a happy camper, living a dog’s life.

So, he’s overweight. So what? I know it. I don’t need people to fat shame him when we go for walks and say things like “Big Ol’ Boy” — a fat and age-shame slur. Recently a lady called him “Chunky Poo.” Rude, I thought. I almost fired back with, “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” I didn’t.

Anyway, it turns out Bear has some genetic issues that predispose him to the fat gene. I figured I’d have this kind of dog since my grandmother was a Botticelli. You know, the fat, chubby angels from the early Renaissance? That’s me. Bear, like my Italian family, is predisposed to the plump, rolly polly type, as he has some kind of mutation that makes him feel hungrier than other dogs like the skinny Greyhound.

The Chubby Gene

The genetic mutation is called POMC (proopiomelanocortin), which acts like a burnt-out control panel for a lab’s appetite. The control appetite panel works fine in other dogs and keeps hunger and metabolism in check. For labs, it’s a bit glitchy. It doesn’t work. A lab can eat a tray of lasagna and expect dinner, forgetting he just consumed a pound of pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella.

Bear is one of approximately 25% of Labradors with this genetic mutation that affects the leptin receptor gene. Without the leptin receptor functioning properly, Bear can keep on eating and eating.

Chubby Bubby doesn’t know he’s full, so I have to tell him, “Bear, you ate the lasagna, for heaven’s sake. Really?”

“Really?” is usually my response when I watch him chow down and beg for more and more. He’s a persistent beggar, sitting at my feet now, hounding for a popcorn kernel. His food fixation is out of control.

Is there Ozempic for Dogs?

Bear is on Prozac for his dog-biting people in-uniform tendencies, so maybe this isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.

In 2007, The Food and Drug Administration Approved a Weight-Loss Drug called Slentrol for Dogs. According to Medi-Vet Animal Health, “Slentrol is the first proven and dependable veterinary medication for the management of canine obesity.”

Known as Dirlotapide, it acts like a gut selective inhibitor and is manufactured by Pfizer and Zoetis and sold under the brand name Slentrol.

The good news about these Chubby Chews is that they won’t break the bank. They’re only $29.74 for 20 millimeters, compared to $297 a month for the adult equivalent. NO. Humans can’t take Slentrol. And, NO, I won’t be giving my dog appetite suppressants.

What we have done is step up his walks and stay vigilant when we are cooking or eating. No food on the counter. Out of sight, out of mind kind of thing. We’ve also consulted our veterinarian, who suggested we pay more for his food and invest in a pricier brand. Rather than Purina at $19.99, we’re sucking up twenty-six additional bucks for the Hills Science Diet at $46.99 a bag.

Before you price shame me, I agree with you. The fancy price is outrageous when we see children starving in other parts of the world.

It’s a dog’s world. So, for now, I’ll fork it up.

My dog is fat. Let’s face it. But he’s better looking than a skinny-you-know what?

Mary Cappelli is a writer living and loving each day, while she guards her food.