Dogs
Has your dog lost a few pounds in the recent past and that too without a known cause? If yes, then you must be wondering about the underlying factors for it. The present article presents a short description on the number of possible causes of dog losing weight even without losing his appetite.
Dog Losing Weight Causes
There are several factors that can lead to weight loss in dogs. The one which is mostly found on the top of the list is parasites. Dogs often contract parasites by eating salmon and trout carrying flukes which are infected with disease causing organisms, or more specifically dog worms. Some of the common parasites of dogs are hookworms, whipworms, coccidiosis, heartworm disease, giardiasis, sarcoptic mange, etc. Metabolic disorders may cause a dog to lose weight even though he is eating and drinking well. Some examples of the metabolic or nutritional disorders are improper protein to calorie ratio, protein deficiency and malabsorption.
Malnutrition, like insufficiency of any of the nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, can lead to weight loss in dogs. It might be also due to the presence of foreign bodies in vital internal structures like esophagus or intestine. Sometimes, dog losing weight and drinking a lot of water are associated with each other. The factor which is most likely is that when the water retention affects the appetite. To add to these factors, there are several medical conditions that can result in dog losing weight but still eating.
Dog losing weight is not a situation which needs emergency medical attention. However, it definitely needs your concern. The best idea is to take him to a veterinarian. He will need a review of your dog's former body weight. He will conduct a certain set of physical examinations and diagnostic tests. The veterinarian will ask you for your dog's stool. A thorough examination of the stool is required to determine the presence of micro-organisms and waste products of his body.
The veterinarian will also conduct complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate the composition and concentration of the components of the blood cells. CBC includes red blood cell count, white blood cell count, thrombocyte count, measurement of hemoglobin level, etc. The purpose of CBC is to identify infection, anemia, and chronic illnesses. The vet may conduct a biochemical profile. It is an important diagnostic tool which provides a significant amount of information about your pet dog' s health. A lot can be known about the medical condition of the dog by performing analysis of your dog's urine. The veterinarian may conduct urinalysis to collect some important data. He may also take help of the image results obtained from the chest and abdominal X-ray. The veterinarian will take all the information obtained by diagnostic tests to determine the underlying factor of your dog losing weight even without losing his appetite or thirst.
Dog Losing Weight Treatment
Once the exact cause of weight loss in your dog has been evaluated, the veterinarian will start treating your dog for that health issue. He may put your pet dog on a healthy diet which has an appropriate quantity of all the required nutrients. If your canine friend refuses to eat properly, the veterinarian may put him on forced eating as well. He may prescribe some sort of appetite stimulants to make your dog eat well. The veterinarian may give your dog some vitamin and mineral supplements, if the requirement is so. In case, your canine friend is not in a state to take food orally, the veterinarian may provide him nutrition intravenously.
In addition to the veterinary care, you too need to take care of your dog well. Give him an environment which is comfortable and free from stress. If needed, make him follow an appropriate exercise regimen. Give him a rich diet and all the prescribed medicines on time. Monitor his medical condition well. Weigh and record your pet dog's body weight in a periodic basis. Follow all the instructions and advice given by the veterinarian to take care of your canine friend in the best possible way.
- Gastroenteritis In Dogs
Gastroenteritis is a disease in which the dog's intestinal lining and the stomach are inflamed. This is a digestive disorder in which the intestines do not work correctly. This condition is observed in dogs of all age groups. Every dog breed...
- Canine Diarrhea
Canine diarrhea is one of the most common dog health problems. There are numerous causes for this condition and they include change in diet, food intolerance and consumption of table scraps or waste materials from trash. Sometimes, this condition...
- Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
Presence of trace amount of blood in a dog's stool is quite normal. However, if your pet dog is suffering from diarrhea and the stool contains blood in large amounts, then you need to take the matter seriously to save his health. There can be...
- Kidney Problems In Dogs
Your pet dog will show some specific signs and symptoms when he suffers from kidney problems. These are increase in water consumption, increase or decrease in urination, presence of blood in urine, decrease in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of...
- Bloody Stool In Dogs
Little amounts of blood is not something uncommon in dog's stool. But if you notice heavy discharge of fresh blood or blood clots, you need to tackle the matter with utmost care. It may be an indication of some serious hidden disorder occurring...
Dogs
Dog Losing Weight
Has your dog lost a few pounds in the recent past and that too without a known cause? If yes, then you must be wondering about the underlying factors for it. The present article presents a short description on the number of possible causes of dog losing weight even without losing his appetite.
Dog Losing Weight Causes
There are several factors that can lead to weight loss in dogs. The one which is mostly found on the top of the list is parasites. Dogs often contract parasites by eating salmon and trout carrying flukes which are infected with disease causing organisms, or more specifically dog worms. Some of the common parasites of dogs are hookworms, whipworms, coccidiosis, heartworm disease, giardiasis, sarcoptic mange, etc. Metabolic disorders may cause a dog to lose weight even though he is eating and drinking well. Some examples of the metabolic or nutritional disorders are improper protein to calorie ratio, protein deficiency and malabsorption.
Malnutrition, like insufficiency of any of the nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, can lead to weight loss in dogs. It might be also due to the presence of foreign bodies in vital internal structures like esophagus or intestine. Sometimes, dog losing weight and drinking a lot of water are associated with each other. The factor which is most likely is that when the water retention affects the appetite. To add to these factors, there are several medical conditions that can result in dog losing weight but still eating.
- Gastritis
- Gastrointestinal ulcers
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Chronic active hepatitis
- Craniomandibular osteopathy
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Diabetes mellitus
- Addison's disease
- Chronic hepatitis
- Idiopathic hepatic fibrosis
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Fungal infections
- Side effects of drugs
- Allergies
Dog losing weight is not a situation which needs emergency medical attention. However, it definitely needs your concern. The best idea is to take him to a veterinarian. He will need a review of your dog's former body weight. He will conduct a certain set of physical examinations and diagnostic tests. The veterinarian will ask you for your dog's stool. A thorough examination of the stool is required to determine the presence of micro-organisms and waste products of his body.
The veterinarian will also conduct complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate the composition and concentration of the components of the blood cells. CBC includes red blood cell count, white blood cell count, thrombocyte count, measurement of hemoglobin level, etc. The purpose of CBC is to identify infection, anemia, and chronic illnesses. The vet may conduct a biochemical profile. It is an important diagnostic tool which provides a significant amount of information about your pet dog' s health. A lot can be known about the medical condition of the dog by performing analysis of your dog's urine. The veterinarian may conduct urinalysis to collect some important data. He may also take help of the image results obtained from the chest and abdominal X-ray. The veterinarian will take all the information obtained by diagnostic tests to determine the underlying factor of your dog losing weight even without losing his appetite or thirst.
Dog Losing Weight Treatment
Once the exact cause of weight loss in your dog has been evaluated, the veterinarian will start treating your dog for that health issue. He may put your pet dog on a healthy diet which has an appropriate quantity of all the required nutrients. If your canine friend refuses to eat properly, the veterinarian may put him on forced eating as well. He may prescribe some sort of appetite stimulants to make your dog eat well. The veterinarian may give your dog some vitamin and mineral supplements, if the requirement is so. In case, your canine friend is not in a state to take food orally, the veterinarian may provide him nutrition intravenously.
In addition to the veterinary care, you too need to take care of your dog well. Give him an environment which is comfortable and free from stress. If needed, make him follow an appropriate exercise regimen. Give him a rich diet and all the prescribed medicines on time. Monitor his medical condition well. Weigh and record your pet dog's body weight in a periodic basis. Follow all the instructions and advice given by the veterinarian to take care of your canine friend in the best possible way.
- Gastroenteritis In Dogs
Gastroenteritis is a disease in which the dog's intestinal lining and the stomach are inflamed. This is a digestive disorder in which the intestines do not work correctly. This condition is observed in dogs of all age groups. Every dog breed...
- Canine Diarrhea
Canine diarrhea is one of the most common dog health problems. There are numerous causes for this condition and they include change in diet, food intolerance and consumption of table scraps or waste materials from trash. Sometimes, this condition...
- Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
Presence of trace amount of blood in a dog's stool is quite normal. However, if your pet dog is suffering from diarrhea and the stool contains blood in large amounts, then you need to take the matter seriously to save his health. There can be...
- Kidney Problems In Dogs
Your pet dog will show some specific signs and symptoms when he suffers from kidney problems. These are increase in water consumption, increase or decrease in urination, presence of blood in urine, decrease in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of...
- Bloody Stool In Dogs
Little amounts of blood is not something uncommon in dog's stool. But if you notice heavy discharge of fresh blood or blood clots, you need to tackle the matter with utmost care. It may be an indication of some serious hidden disorder occurring...