GLP-1 receptor agonists and what they can and cannot do took the spotlight on this blog for a while, so it’s been a minute since we’ve written about pet obesity. There’s a study that might be of interest to our readers (more on that below), and even a GLP-1 connection potential. Plus, the pets in this country are still fat and getting fatter, so this topic is not going away and is worth revisiting occasionally.
Fat cats can be useful in studying obesity in humans
Pet cats could serve as valuable animal models for studying the origins and treatments of obesity in humans, according to a new study on feline gut microbes. (The study was recently published in Scientific Reports.) Researchers believe that this research could benefit both cats and humans by improving overall health.
In the study, veterinary researchers analyzed fecal samples from obese cats as they underwent weight loss and maintenance through four dietary phases, including strict calorie reduction. They discovered that the changes in the cats’ gut microbiomes mirrored the dietary effects observed in humans’ gut bacteria. While there is still much to learn, the findings suggest that pet cats could provide significant insights into human gut bacteria and the potential for microbe-based therapies to combat obesity.
Lead author Jenessa Winston, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University, where the study was conducted, said:
Pets share our environment and even our food, making them naturally occurring disease models with similar exposures to humans… Observing changes in cats related to obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans positions them as excellent models for exploring microbiome-directed obesity treatments… Microbes identified in this study are also common in human studies, despite the dietary differences.
“When the cats were on the weight-loss diet, propionic acid levels rose and remained high, then dropped when they returned to their maintenance diet, indicating a dietary effect,” Winston explained. “This study shows that calorie restriction in obese cats can alter their microbial ecosystem, likely correlating with metabolic outcomes.”
The exact role of the gut microbiome in mammalian obesity remains unclear, but decades of research suggest these organisms and their products are crucial in this complex disease. Findings from feline studies could provide valuable insights for both cats and humans, Winston concluded.
GLP-1 supplements might be coming for your pets
As GLP-1 drugs remain a hot topic, the conversation has now extended to pets. Better Choice has teamed up with Aimia Pet Health to develop a GLP-1 supplement for overweight pets under the Halo brand.
This new initiative aims to address the significant issue of pet obesity, which affects nearly half of the world’s dogs and cats, leading to health complications similar to those seen in humans, such as diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure.
The brand states,
Our research and development goal is to replicate the weight loss benefits of leading human brands like Slentrol, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Monjaro, while incorporating protein and nutrients from our Halo products to support lean muscle and overall pet health.
Is it a potentially promising development in the pet healthcare industry, or wishful thinking and an expensive fad? Let’s keep an eye on it.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “What fat cats on a diet may tell us about obesity in humans,” MedicalXPress, 7/17/24
Source: “Gut microbiota promoting propionic acid production accompanies caloric restriction-induced intentional weight loss in cats,” Nature.com, 5/24/24
Source: “Animal-Focused GLP-1 Supplements,” TrendHunter.com, 7/25/24
Image by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
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