OMAHA, NEB. — In furthering its mission to fight canine obesity, Tevra Brands announced its release of a weight loss supplement for dogs on Jan. 20. SlimPaws soft chew supplements contain a blend of leucine and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) patented by Nusirt Biopharama Inc. The supplements are safe for dogs of all sizes, according to Tevra Brands

The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee conducted an independent study that showed overweight dogs fed SlimPaws supplements lost an average of 21% of their body weight and gained more muscle mass in 12 weeks.

The supplement works by creating a fasting effect similar to decreasing a dog’s caloric intake. SlimPaws is designed to be given to dogs twice daily, and owners are recommended to provide their dogs with adequate exercise and a proper diet to further assist with weight loss.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, obesity in pets is an epidemic, with 56% of American dogs weighing in as obese or overweight.

“Veterinarians call it an epidemic and it's leading to reduced quality of life and premature death of dogs,” said Michael Zemel, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of NuSirt and Kinexum. “Dogs that are at an ideal weight live an average of 2.5 years longer than a dog that is overweight or obese. Our goal with SlimPaws is to make weight loss easier for dogs and to give their owners a simple solution that dogs love to eat."

SlimPaws is available at online slimpaws.com and at Pet Supplies Plus.

Read more about new pet food and treat products.