Diet Pills for Dogs Causes Stink

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever diet pill for dogs. Slentrol, produced by Pfizer Inc., is a response to increasing dog obesity. Just one look at the doggie snack aisle laden with treats that resemble colored play dough, it’s no wonder that Fido is packing on the pounds.

Just in case you might want to try Slentrol yourself, the FDA warns that humans may experience a few nasty side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, headache and flatulence. But hey, farting has actually made some dogs famous. Take Walter the Farting Dog, a storybook canine created by William Kotzwinkle. This chubby canine has a gi-normous gas problem, reeking up the home of his newly adopted family and anywhere else Walter ventures.

But there’s a bright side. His ‘habit’ helps him to redeem his gaseous self by saving the day. In his first literary adventure, he gases out burglars and helps to catch bank robbers in the second book. In his third venture, Walter is desperate to rid himself of his flatulence dilemma and consents to a scientific gadget designed by Professor Kompressor. Well, to make a long story short, the potions and such don’t rid Walter of his problem. In fact, he’s so full of pent-up gas that he becomes airborne. Walter again saves the day when he rescues millions of butterflies from a freezing windstorm by letting rip a warm cloud of air that melts the frost off their wings. (But wouldn’t the butterflies die from the stench?). *

So, if you happen to ingest your tubby terrier’s Slentrol, don’t worry. Like Walter, with a few twists, turns, and farts later, things will all work out fine.

* For all of you old school readers, remember when kids were forbidden to utter the word fart in school? Now kids are checking out books like “Walter the Farting Dog” and “Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants” (ah yes, author Dave Pilkey’s CU series features the Wicked Wedgie Woman”, “The Bionic Booger Boy” and “The Purple Potty People”.)