Obesity
Obesity and related metabolic disorders are among the most common health concerns in dogs and cats today, and their prevalence continues to grow. Excess body weight and impaired glucose regulation are linked to diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular changes, and a reduced quality of life and lifespan, yet effective, well-tolerated treatment options for companion animals remain limited. Robust research is essential to develop therapies that help pets achieve and maintain a healthy weight and metabolic function. Transpharmation offers translational canine models of obesity and metabolic dysfunction that support the evaluation of therapies targeting pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular health, weight management, and broader metabolic disease pathways.
Detail of offering
Transpharmation maintains readily available lean and overweight canine populations to support metabolic disease research. In addition to naturally occurring obesity, diet-induced metabolic disorder models can be established through nutritional interventions designed to produce changes in glucose metabolism, insulin response, body composition, and metabolic biomarkers.
Studies can incorporate a range of assessments to characterize changes in body condition and evaluate treatment response, including:
- Body weight monitoring
- Body condition scoring (BCS)
- Muscle condition scoring (MCS)
- Food consumption and satiety assessments
- Veterinary examinations and clinical observations
- Quantitative Magnetic Resonance (QMR) analysis of lean mass, fat mass, and total body water
These measures provide a comprehensive assessment of weight loss, weight maintenance, and changes in body composition over time.
Metabolic studies can incorporate assessments designed to evaluate glucose handling and insulin sensitivity, including:
- Oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT)
- Intravenous glucose tolerance testing (IVGTT)
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Insulin response assessments
- Fasting insulin measurements
- Serum fructosamine
- HbA1c
These endpoints provide insight into metabolic function and may support the evaluation of interventions targeting impaired glucose regulation and insulin resistance.
Metabolic dysfunction can be induced through specialized dietary approaches, enabling the assessment of therapeutic interventions in animals displaying characteristics associated with metabolic disease. Studies may include longitudinal monitoring of body weight, body composition, glucose tolerance, and insulin response to characterize disease development and treatment effects.
A broad range of biomarkers can be incorporated into metabolic disease studies, including:
- Serum cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- LDL and HDL cholesterol
- Free fatty acids
- Clinical biochemistry
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Kidney function markers, including BUN and creatinine
These biomarkers support evaluation of overall metabolic health and help characterize treatment-related changes across multiple physiological systems.
Metabolic disorders frequently affect cardiovascular function. Optional assessments may include:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate and respiratory rate
- Flow-mediated dilation using Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate vascular endothelial function
These measures provide additional insight into the broader physiological impact of metabolic disease and therapeutic intervention.
Platforms used
Electroencephalography (EEG) In-vivo rodent telemetry
Imaging Services Companion animal imaging
Operant Platform Motivation, impulsivity, attention, cognition, memory
PK/PD Studies Endpoints for lead optimization
PK-Bridge PK studies for discovery budgets
Cognitive Assessment Aged-dog memory and cognitive decline
Have a program in mind?
Understanding how an intervention influences metabolism requires more than measuring body weight alone. Our team can help build a study strategy that combines body composition analysis, metabolic biomarkers, and glucose regulation endpoints to provide a comprehensive assessment of treatment response and mechanism of action.