Is Your Dog Obese? Your Guide to Weight Loss Meds for Dogs

First, Here’s How to Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight or Obese

Before talking about weight loss medication, it’s important to determine whether a dog is truly overweight.

After all, a dog’s weight alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

To get that whole story – or more of it – veterinarians may use something called a “body condition score.” (Sometimes, you’ll see this abbreviated as BCS.)

This can evaluate just how much body fat a dog has, based on both a physical and visual assessment. It can also include other signs that a dog could be overweight, including:

These signs illustrate a quick point we’d like to make:

Obesity isn’t a cosmetic issue.

Excess weight increases the risk of joint disease, diabetes, heart strain, and reduced quality of life.

While it’s not an issue if your dog is a little overweight, likely, if your dog’s vet has diagnosed them as medically obese, that is something to take seriously.

Obesity is not a personal failure. It is a medical condition that you can take steps to treat.

Why Weight Loss Can Be Harder for Some Dogs

Some dogs can lose weight with simple diet changes and increased activity.

And that is fantastic.

Other dogs, however, may struggle to lose a single pound – despite them and their owners doing everything seemingly right.

That can feel very, very frustrating.

We want to validate that and also provide a few reasons that weight loss may be harder for some dogs.

Those reasons might include:

Weight Loss Meds for Dogs: Setting Realistic Expectations

If you or someone you love has ever tried to lose weight as a human, you may be aware that it’s a difficult process.

Sometimes it’s easy and linear.

Sometimes it’s not.

There are plateaus; there’s unexpected weight gain; there are times when the weight loss candidate is doing everything right and nothing at all changes.

That’s not limited to human weight loss journeys.

That can happen for dogs, too.

And it can even happen when a dog is on weight loss medication.

Despite what online ads suggest, there are very few true weight loss medications for dogs. Most products marketed as weight loss pills for dogs or diet pills for dogs are supplements with limited evidence, not prescription medications.

Veterinary weight-loss drugs are used sparingly and always as part of a broader plan that includes diet, activity, and monitoring.

In other words, they are not shortcuts. They are one part of a canine weight loss toolkit that can be used in specific situations, for specific weight loss aims, with specific direction by your dog’s unique veterinarian.

Weight Loss Meds for Dogs: What Actually Exists (And What Doesn’t)

When people search for weight loss meds for dogs, they’re often expecting a wide range of medical options similar to what exists for humans.

In reality, veterinary medicine takes a much more conservative approach.

There are only a small number of approved medications designed specifically to support weight loss in dogs, and they’re used under strict veterinary guidance.

It’s also important to separate three very different categories that often get lumped together online:

Understanding the differences helps prevent unsafe choices.

(E.g., if your dog has a special medical case that requires a specific prescription product, using a natural supplement may do more harm than good.)

Let’s get into your options.

Slentrol (Dirlotapide): The Most Recognized Weight Loss Drug for Dogs

Slentrol (dirlotapide) is the most widely recognized prescription weight loss medication for dogs.

It’s approved for veterinary use and is designed to support weight reduction as part of a structured program.

Slentrol works by:

Since Slentrol does affect a dog’s relationship with food, it’s a good idea to state something right upfront:

Slentrol is not intended for long-term, indefinite use.

Veterinarians typically prescribe it for a defined period, alongside a controlled diet and regular monitoring.

Dogs taking Slentrol are monitored for:

Mitratapide (Yarvitan): A Similar Veterinary Option (Where Available)

Mitratapide, sold under the brand name Yarvitan, works in a similar way to Slentrol.

It reduces fat absorption and can help decrease appetite, supporting gradual weight loss in dogs.

Mitratapide is:

Much like Slentrol, mitratapide is not a casual or interchangeable option.

Appetite Suppressants for Dogs: Why Options Are Limited

Many owners specifically search for an appetite suppressant for dogs.

This can make sense. If your dog is active and is getting exercise but is still obese, it may seem logical to start modifying your dog’s appetite.

And that may be something you can do, but considering safety becomes essentially important if you’re working with appetite suppressants for dogs.

You’ll see that reflected in the number of options you and your dog may have available to you.

Unlike humans, dogs have:

Importantly, there are no approved canine equivalents to popular human weight-loss medications.

Human appetite suppressants and injectable weight-loss drugs are not safe for dogs and should never be used.

Weight Loss Supplements for Dogs: What They Can (And Can’t) Do

So, the weight loss meds for dogs out there are relatively limited in number and utility.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, there are reasons behind those limitations, reasons that mostly pertain to keeping dogs safe.

But it can make life difficult for pet parents.

When prescription options are limited, it’s no surprise that many dog owners turn their attention to weight loss supplements for dogs. These products are widely available and often marketed as “natural” or “gentle,” but it’s important to understand what they actually do … and what they don’t.

Most supplements marketed for canine weight loss do not cause meaningful weight reduction on their own.

Instead, they may play a supportive role within a broader plan that includes diet and activity changes.

Common supplement categories include:

What’s notably absent are supplements that safely “burn fat” or suppress appetite in a drug-like way. (Such as, for example, the types of promises you might see on human weight loss medications or supplements.)

Products claiming to do this often rely on stimulant ingredients or exaggerated marketing and should be approached with caution.

Here’s a quick, key rule of thumb:

If a product sounds like a human diet pill, it’s probably not appropriate for dogs.

Thyroid Hormones and Weight Loss: Only for Diagnosed Canine Hypothyroidism

Some owners ask whether thyroid medication can help with weight loss.

For humans, sometimes, when thyroid meds are prescribed off-label, they can.

For dogs, the nuances are a bit more complicated, so, we’re going to provide a very clear answer, here.

Thyroid hormones are not weight loss medications.

They are only appropriate if a dog has been properly diagnosed with hypothyroidism through veterinary testing and clinical evaluation.

Using thyroid hormone in a dog without hypothyroidism can:

Even in dogs with hypothyroidism, thyroid medication is prescribed to correct hormone deficiency, not to induce weight loss.

Any weight changes that occur after hypothyroidism treatment are a secondary effect of restoring normal metabolism, not a primary aim of the med.

Here’s What a Safe Veterinary Weight-Loss Plan Looks Like

First things first:

Medication is never the starting point for canine weight loss.

Veterinarians approach obesity as a complex medical condition that requires a structured, individualized plan for your dog.

A comprehensive canine weight loss plan typically includes:

Prescription weight-loss medications are typically only considered only when these steps aren’t enough, and always alongside continued lifestyle management.

This approach helps ensure weight loss is steady, safe, and sustainable.

Why “Diet Pills for Dogs” Might Be a Red Flag Phrase

If you’re looking for weight loss meds for dogs online, you’ll probably also come across the phrase “diet pills for dogs.”

If you see that online, that’s fine.

If your vet starts to use it, that may be less fine.

That’s because most products marketed this way are:

When you work with your veterinarian, you want to feel confident that they’re prioritizing your dog’s health and not, perhaps, sacrificing your dog’s well-being for speed.

Remember, it’s true for both humans and dogs:

Rapid or forced weight loss can do more harm than good.

Accessing Prescription Weight-Loss Meds for Dogs

When medication is part of a weight-loss plan, access and consistency matter.

Prescription weight-loss drugs for dogs require:

Here’s What Dog Owners Often Ask About Weight Loss Medication

Once medication enters the conversation, many dog owners share the same concerns … especially if they have already tried diet and exercise without success.

These are a few quick questions and answers that may help.

“Does needing medication mean I’ve failed my dog?”

No. It does not.

Obesity is a complex medical condition influenced by biology, age, and metabolism.

For some dogs, medication is simply another tool to help them feel their best. It’s not a reflection of poor care. (In fact, it’s a clear sign you’re getting your dog what they need!)

“How fast should my dog lose weight?”

Safe weight loss is gradual.

Rapid weight loss can stress your dog’s liver, muscles, and joints. Veterinarians typically aim for steady, controlled progress rather than dramatic changes.

“Will my dog regain the weight after stopping medication?”

Weight-loss medications are not cures.

They work best when paired with permanent changes in diet and activity. Without those changes, weight regain is possible … which is why medication is often time limited.