Associated Press is reporting (I saw it in the Chicago Tribune, but CNN has it as well) that the FDA has just approved the first obesity drug… for dogs. The liquid drug, called Slentrol, appears to reduce the amount of fat a dog can absorb and trigger a feeling of satiety or fullness (how they know the latter, I have no idea — I know some dogs that just never stop eating). The prescription drug, however, can produce some unfortunate side effects, including loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.
Let’s take the last one first. Loss of appetite. Isn’t that the point of an obesity drug? It’s like saying a side effect of a sleep aid is drowsiness.
More important to me, however, are the first ones: loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting. Now, in a human those are pretty bad, but at least you can run to the potty. Dogs? Especially inside dogs? Something tells me this is a bad idea (unless you’re a house cleaning service).
Lastly, the article notes “The FDA discourages the drug’s use in humans and lists a litany of side effects should anyone ignore that advice. Nor is Slentrol, also called dirlotapide, for use in cats.” What do you want to bet that someone… after all, someone did try to imitate Saddam. Humans, at times, are just too dumb.
