August 20, 2025, 2:58 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
More and more people are turning to medication to lose weight–and now man’s best friend might soon benefit from it too. A biotech company is currently developing a long-term hormone implant designed to help dogs lose weight, inspired by “weight loss injections.” But is this medical intervention really necessary, or are there simpler ways to achieve a healthier life for pets?
Hormone Implant to Help Dogs Lose Weight
The active ingredient in human medications mimics the hormone GLP-1, which suppresses hunger. This principle is also the basis for a new implant for dogs currently being developed by a biotech company.
Appetite suppressants could particularly help dogs prone to overeating, which can lead to severe obesity over time. A dissertation from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in 2023 highlights this as a real issue: Estimates suggest that about 52 percent of dogs in Germany are overweight. 1
This is where the novel implant named OKV-119, developed by the company Okava, comes into play. It contains the active ingredient Exenatide–a GLP-1 mimetic–and is intended to work over an extended period. The company plans to conduct initial clinical trials with dogs and aims for a market launch in 2028 or 2029. 2
Obesity Threatens Health, but Causes Are Homemade
Whether it will lead to a similar boom as the so-called “weight loss injections” remains to be seen. Many problems associated with pet obesity are actually homemade.
Too little exercise, too much food, age, or neutering–the causes of obesity in pets are varied. The consequences range from diabetes, urinary tract diseases, and cancer in cats to arthritis, heart disease, and respiratory problems in dogs. Obesity significantly affects quality of life and life expectancy. In such cases, exercise and low-calorie diet plans are primarily recommended, focusing on fiber- and protein-rich nutrition. And that’s usually enough.
Unlike humans who suffer from compulsive eating or conditions like obesity, dog owners have direct control over what goes into their pets’ bowls. A pet doesn’t make impulse purchases because a candy bar at the checkout looks appealing, nor does it eat an entire lasagna because it feels lonely.
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Hormone Implant to Help with “Begging” and Weight Loss
The problem of pet obesity often has different causes than in humans. Begging for treats, which the owner always gives in to, is frequently mentioned here. Other reasons can be that the pet’s calorie needs are unknown or not adjusted to its activity level. Training treats that are not deducted from the pet’s daily ration can also lead to obesity over time.
Dr. Eleanor Raffan, veterinarian and expert in genetics and obesity in dogs at the University of Cambridge, advises in the British newspaper “The Guardian” to first adjust the dog’s diet and exercise program. “[I]n the interest of the owners’ wallets and possibly also in the interest of the animals, because we know that it can be safe and effective if well implemented.”
At the same time, she acknowledges that there are situations where medical intervention in overweight animals is justified. “But if that fails or if there is an urgent need for weight reduction, I see no reason why [GLP-1-like] medications shouldn’t be a sensible option–provided they are tested in proper, prospective, well-designed, randomized clinical trials before being widely offered in practice.”
Suppressing Appetite Can Mask Diseases in Animals
Another critical point: A pet’s appetite is often an important early warning sign of illness. Reduced food intake due to medication could lead to symptoms being overlooked. Or, animals might sense that something is wrong with their natural feelings and feel lethargic and exhausted–or refuse food altogether.
Michael Klotsman, CEO of Okava, describes the product’s effect to “The Guardian” as follows: “What owners should expect is that their pet eats appropriate portions without the previous food fixation–they will continue to eat regularly and show interest in food, just without the excessive begging, gulping, or scratching.”
OKV-119 is more of an additional tool for veterinarians to treat animals where conventional approaches have not been sufficient. Similar to how GLP-1 therapies offer new hope for human patients struggling with obesity despite all efforts with diet and exercise.