Dog Losing Weight
Reasons Your Dog is Losing Weight
If your dog is losing weight rapidly for no apparent reason, there is likely a medical reason behind it. The most common reason dogs lose weight without an outward cause is parasites. Hookworms, tapeworms, and many other types of parasites can take up residence inside your dog’s intestinal tract, especially if he’s been eating or drinking things he shouldn’t. Dogs usually get parasites from either drinking infected water or eating another animal’s stool. Your veterinarian can confirm that parasites are the reason your dog is losing weight by running a fecal test. Parasites are easily taken care of through a prescription or non-prescription wormer.
If your dog is not eating, then the reason for the sudden weight loss is pretty clear, however the reason he stopped eating in the first place may not be. Your dog may stop eating because he’s depressed. If you recently adopted the dog, he may be missing his former owner. The dog may also be upset if you recently had a death in your family, either human or animal. Moving can also cause a dog to stop eating as he adjusts to his new surroundings. Some dogs also won’t eat if their stomach is upset, so it’s also important to look for a physical cause for the lack of interest in food.
Tumors of the stomach, colon, lungs, and kidneys could all make dogs drop the pounds rapidly, however if your dog has a tumor, it may not necessarily be cancer. Some tumors are benign, but they can still cause a dog to lose weight. Malignant lymphoma and other kinds of cancer could also be the reason your dog is losing weight. As with human cancers, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all options for treatment, but they are all very expensive, especially since most pet owners do not have health insurance for their dogs.
Many digestive problems can also cause a dog to lose weight. Ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease are just two health problems that can contribute to an unhealthy amount of weight loss. Treatment for all digestive disorders depends entirely on receiving the proper diagnosis, so it’s important to let your veterinarian figure out exactly what kind of digestive problem your dog is suffering from. Most digestive disorders are very treatable, even though many of them are also chronic.
The reason your dog is losing weight could also be as simple as her diet. Check with her vet to make sure she’s getting the proper nutrition. For example, dogs that are a little older than others are considered seniors, and they need dog food formulated specially for older dogs. Large breeds become seniors around the ages of six or seven, while toy breeds aren’t seniors until they reach the age of about thirteen. There are also plenty of other reasons your dog may not be getting the proper nutrition. While most dogs usually love to eat people food, our food is really not the best nutrition, so try cutting back on the table scraps and replacing them with quality dog food.