Considering the various health problems associated with obesity in dogs, including renal diseases, joint disorders, and skin diseases, effective management strategies and guidelines are urgently needed. This situation has led to a growing demand for veterinary medications aimed at addressing obesity in dogs. However, the field faces a significant hurdle due to the absence of standardized guidelines for assessing the effectiveness of these anti-obesity medications in dogs. In response to this gap, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in Korea has made a crucial step by introducing clinical trial guidelines to evaluate the efficacy of treatments for canine obesity, specifically aimed at approving veterinary medicinal products. The guidelines outlined the selection criteria for target dogs, highlighting the importance of consistency within the control and treated groups. Treatment efficacy is subsequently evaluated by physical examination, body fat reduction, and biochemical indicators. In addition, the guidelines cover dosage and administration, monitoring after dosing, and statistical analysis. By doing so, this guideline not only highlights the significance of the APQA’s initiative in improving the care of obese dogs but also provides practical insights to enhance the standardization and effectiveness of clinical trials in veterinary medicine.

INTRODUCTION
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
SELECTION CRITERIA
    Selection of target animal population
    Selection of participating hospitals
    Selection of pet owners for target dogs
    Selection of target dogs
    Exclusion criteria
CONSISTENCY IN THE DOG GROUP
CONTROL AND PLACEBO GROUPS
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE EFFICACYOF OBESITY TREATMENTS
    Efficacy indicators from physical examination
    Efficacy indicators for body fat reduction
    Biochemical efficacy indicators
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
POST-DOSING MONITORING
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
FUNDING
REFERENCES

• Eon-Bee Lee(Veterinary Drugs & Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Keon Kim(Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea)
• Cho-Yeon Lee(Veterinary Drugs & Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Ok-Mi Jeong(Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Chang-Min Lee(Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea)
• Se-A Lee(Veterinary Drugs & Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Hyun-Ok Ku(Veterinary Drugs & Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Moon Her(Avian Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea)
• Sung-Won Park(Veterinary Drugs & Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author