What we’ve long suspected is now official: the FDA just approved a weight-loss drug to treat liver disease.

On August 15, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for semaglutide (Wegovy) to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate to advanced fibrosis in adults (FDA, 2025). That decision does more than add another indication for a familiar drug. It reframes obesity therapy as liver therapy, raising a practical question for veterinary teams and the industry: if treating obesity improves liver outcomes in humans, how should we monitor and communicate liver outcomes in dogs and cats?

Founder and President of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, Dr. Ernie Ward, says the issue is far more complex than people merely offering too much table food. So, what exactly has been going on? And why with every passing year are there more and more obese dogs/cats? And it’s not only about weight, but also about body condition score. Clearly, our pets would live longer and healthier and even happier lives if they were not so many overweight/obese dogs/cats.