Washington, D.C. ? Portly and pudgy pooches may be on their way out of the doghouse.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first-ever canine obesity management drug – also signaling that man’s best friend has joined his owners as a casualty in the war on weight.

Pfizer Animal Health received federal go-ahead for Slentrol and will begin selling it this spring at a cost of $1 to $2 per day, depending on a pet’s poundage.

Given once daily as an oral solution, Slentrol suppresses a dog’s appetite and reduces fat absorption, much like the human weight-management drugs Meridia and Xenical.

But to keep any overweight owners from trying to use the product, the FDA will require a Slentrol warning label stating “not intended for human use.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association says 20 percent to 40 percent of the 61.5 million U.S. dogs are overweight or obese.