The world's first weight-loss drug for dogs has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Slentrol, made by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is intended to significantly reduce the appetite and increase fat absorption in canines.

The FDA's head of veterinary medicine said the drug was a welcome addition to animal therapies because of an apparent increase in dog obesity in the US.

Americans own 65 million dogs and almost 40 per cent of US households have one.

According to the FDA, veterinarians generally define a dog that weighs 20 per cent more than its ideal weight as obese.

Slentrol is expected to be available in the spring and should cost between 50p and £1 a day, a Pfizer company spokeswoman said.

So i presume that Pfizer think that dogs would benefit greatly from their drug