PDA Approves Drug For Fat Cats... and Dogs!

What's next, Ritalin?
In a related story to my last posting, I came across this new bulletin as well.
Pfizer has been approved to market Slentrol, a liquid formula to help pets maintain a healthy weight, to the estimated 5 percent of U.S. dogs that are 20 percent over their ideal weight.
It seems like their heart's in the right place when the FDA explained this approval by proclaiming that "Overweight pets are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes and joint problems, according to the government agency." They just want to help is all....
I'm not a huge fan of pharmaceutical drugs and the whole industry, but I know that some good has come out of it over the past 60 some odd years. Whereas I know that this can help some pets that are outrageously overweight, I'd rather stuff some sense down the throats of the owners first. I'm sure that it's not just a "glandular" problem that ole' Poochie is dealing with... more like someone that doesn't know how to say no.....

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The Next Fat Epidemic - Your Pet?!

Well according to ABC News, that's exactly it! Just when you thought you could never give too much love to your pet... YOU CAN!
They interviewed this doctor from the UK and I quote, "British TV veterinarian Joe Inglis estimates that 60 percent of pets in the United Kingdom are overweight. "I think it's the biggest health problem affecting our pets," he said." I think that's a bit much! Especially since I know the ridiculous measures these "expert doctors" have invented for us humans, that label a perfectly healthy "weighted" individual - obese. While there is definitely some worthwhile alarm, I just can't get all up in arms about the whole thing enough to really care. What does kill me is seeing how many children as fat as they are. So lob in pets and that makes a gruesome twosome.
Now just when you thought it was a moral issue, apparently you can be charged for animal abuse. Here's a quick example: "When the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) discovered Rusty, an 161-pound Labrador, it took his owners to court. The judge likened poor old Rusty to a walrus, and fined his feeders $2,000." Now that's scary....


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