This has got to be one of the worst veterinary products to come along in a long time.

My objections,

First, the side effects, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy?!? these are the top three reasons people bring their pets to the veterinarian. Do we need to prescribe drugs to cause more of this?

Second, the drug will never work. Getting your dog to lose weight is simple. Feed it less and feed it better food. (Some additional exercise would help as well.) The owner has complete control (or should) of the dog's diet, it's not like the dog is heading out for pizza and beer every night. The person this drug will be sold to will continue to overfeed their dog and get poor results from the drug. (Much like the fat substitute Frito-Lay tried in their snack food with a serving suggestion of SIX chips. Anyone who can stop at six chips is probably ok with the regular fats.)

Food may make your dog pay lots of attention to you, but will not make your dog love you more. Dogs just want your attention, and when owners give them treats they have that attention. (I'm not saying that dogs don't like the treats or that you shouldn't give them, but dude!, moderation!) Most dogs like ice cubes, those baby carrots, or other crunch veggies. There are plenty of no/low calorie treats you can give. But mostly, give your dog some undivided attention, and they will be blissful.

My third objection is possibly my strongest. Even with the side effects listed, and the poor results I expect, this drug will be in high demand. People desperately want the magic pill. Something that promises to fix the problem without having to make any changes in their behavior. These products fail of course, but will be great financial successes. These types of products are a sad commentary on our society and a huge waste of resources. Imagine what else Pfizer might have spent the hundreds of thousands of dollars in research and development and the untold amount they will spend marketing. (Every veterinary clinic in the country, and maybe the world, got a fedex overnight letter about the drug. What?, bulk mail not good enough?)

So, here are some tips if your pet is overweight.

Feed meals: Feed twice daily and if the food is not finished in fifteen minutes, pick it up. This prevents boredom eating. (I know if I had a bowl of snacks sitting next to me all day I would be grazing all day.)

Feed a high quality diet: Don't by pet food at the grocery store. Go to a pet store, either one of the large chains or a small local specialty store and get food there. Any of the premium pet foods are fine. Alternatively you could cook for your pet. (stop rolling your eyes please) I do not recommend raw diets, for all the same reasons you should be careful with raw meats, Salmonella, e-coli, etc. Yes I know wolves eat raw meat but you have to realize that it is freshly butchered. I would have no problem with raw diets if you killed an butchered your own meat. The problem with commercially available raw meat is you are trusting that every step in the handling process has not introduced contaminants to the meat. And the meat producers are assuming you will be cooking the product, so you can see where there might be a problem.

Feed less: Remember that the pet food companies are selling food and the recommendations on the bags are fine for the animals they have at the food companies. These "test" animals get LOTS of exercise and can eat that much without getting fat. Your pet probably is not that active so adjust accordingly. Pet food advertising also shows brimmin' bowls of food. Pet's on ads are overweight. Pet's you see at the AKC dog shows are overweight. (Yes, that's right the conformation standards set by most of the breed clubs call for overweight dogs.) So it is not hard to understand why people have fat dogs.

Go for walks: It will be good for both of you. It is especially good for the dog. It provides exercise but equally importantly it provides mental stimulation and some quality time with you!

What should your dog weigh? How much should you feed? There aren't any height/weight charts for dogs but you should be able to feel but not see the ribs and there should be a definite waist. You should be able to see the waist from both the top and sides. Hey!, talk to your Veterinarian, they'll be glad to help you determine if your pooch is portly and what to do about it.

A lean dog will live longer, be more active in its old age, and have fewer health and joint problems. All of this by just feeding less! It's really that simple.

Scott