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Any dog’s weight loss is cause for concern, but owners of senior dogs are frequently especially concerned if it occurs. Does it affect my senior dog’s quality of life? Is it a sign of a more serious underlying disease? How can I get my senior dog to eat again? What can you do to help your senior dog gain weight?
In some cases, changing the dog’s diet to a different kind of food can prevent weight gain. Other times, it’s important to address the specific medical conditions that are causing the weight loss, such as dental issues, thyroid problems, or kidney problems.
Let’s examine each method for gaining weight in your elderly dog in more detail.
Do I need to fatten up a malnourished dog?
It’s crucial to realize that a dog who is eating normally but losing weight is typically exhibiting symptoms of a disease or other medical issue. This is not the same as a dog that has lost weight because it was malnourished or was starved due to an improper diet. In the latter cases, we can alter the diet to assist in bringing a dog up to their ideal weight.
Take a look at our article on how to put weight on a dog to learn how to fatten up a thin dog and discover the causes of their improper eating.
In order to address the additional causes of a dog being too thin, the root problem must be addressed. If the dog has an infection or an infestation, getting rid of these issues should help them regain their digestive health. After this time they should put weight back on naturally.
When a dog has a condition that cannot be treated, such as certain endocrine issues or malabsorption problems, the symptoms must be controlled. For instance, after determining their insulin levels, diabetes in dogs will need to be treated with insulin. According to the specific cause, a dietary change may be necessary. Only a licensed vet will be able to identify the precise dietary adjustments needed for each dog.
Visit our Diet problems category if you want to read more articles like My Dog is Too Skinny But Still Eats a Lot.
Causes Of Sudden Weight Loss in Dogs
Weight loss in dogs resulting from parasitism is much less common than it was in previous years, thanks to a growing percentage of pets receiving monthly protection against intestinal parasites and heartworm. It would be best if you remembered that not all products are equally effective at staving worms off. In particular, there aren’t a lot of products designed to kill whipworms. Pets can contract whipworms by directly ingesting eggs from the environment, such as contaminated water or soil. Some symptoms of intestinal infection in dogs to watch out for are:
To diagnose intestinal parasites, a veterinarian typically needs to perform a fecal examination. Depending on the type of parasite in your dog’s system, the veterinarian will look through your dog’s feces for eggs or other parasite life stages. A monthly preventative medication is usually used in conjunction with a broad-spectrum dewormer to treat intestinal parasites and prevent reinfection.
There are many types of cancer that can cause unexplained weight loss in dogs. Cancer is typically more prevalent in older dogs, and malignant forms of cancer can be life-threatening. Several malignant cancers in dogs are directly linked to weight loss, like lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma. Weight loss due to these malignant tumors may occur both due to the metabolic demands of the tumor itself and because discomfort and pain are reducing the dog’s activity and appetite. Other canine cancers, like oral melanoma, may make swallowing and eating a painful process, causing the dog to stop eating.
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Pets with heart disease don’t lose weight right away when the condition first manifests, similar to those with kidney disease. Some dogs may even appear to be putting on weight (despite eating less) as a result of fluid retention in the body. The simplest way to determine whether your pet’s weight loss should be of concern isn’t always through loss of appetite. You might want to increase the amount of calories in their diet if you notice a small amount of unexpected weight loss. Your dog should be fine if they eat more and gain weight again. To prevent food theft or sharing, be sure to separate the affected pet’s food from the food that the other pets consume. Avoid feeding table scraps or too many treats to maintain the experiment’s control.
In contrast to some other conditions where weight loss is a symptom, pets with kidney disease typically don’t lose weight right away (as was the case with heart disease above). Weight loss is typically associated with chronic disease forms. If your pet’s kidney disease is discovered after you’ve noticed them losing weight, it’s very likely that they’ve had the condition for a very long time. Dogs typically experience discomfort as the illness worsens, including loss of appetite, vomiting, and dehydration. Emaciation results from this type of chronic illness-related weight loss because it typically affects muscle and body fat.
Metabolic disorders like hyperadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease) and diabetes mellitus can significantly impact the body condition of your pet. Metabolic conditions often display complicated clinical signs, and advanced diagnostic testing may be necessary to identify these conditions.
Also known as Cushing’s Disease, hyperadrenocorticism is the overproduction of cortisol in your dog’s blood. A tumor in the pituitary or adrenal gland is usually the cause of excess cortisol. 80% of Cushing’s Disease cases are from a benign pituitary tumor. Another common symptom of Cushing’s Disease is hair loss. If your dog is losing weight and hair, they may have Cushing’s Disease.
With diabetes mellitus, your dog’s capacity to produce enough insulin to break down blood sugars is compromised. Dogs who have unbalanced insulin levels may experience severe weight loss and the symptoms listed below.
You should speak with your veterinarian to establish a management plan if you believe your dog may have diabetes.
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Over time, weight loss brought on by GI issues can occur as your dog may have trouble retaining nutrients due to frequent vomiting and/or diarrhea. You should consult a veterinarian to identify the underlying cause of your pet’s diarrhea and vomiting because they can both have a variety of causes. Affected by maldigestion or malabsorption, the intestine’s capacity to digest and absorb vital nutrients from food may be compromised. No matter how their diet is altered, pets with gastrointestinal disorders will typically be extremely underweight until a medical solution is implemented.
Why is my dog losing weight but eating?
Even though your dog is eating a lot, he may still be losing weight, which could indicate a more serious issue. There is usually an explanation for unexplained weight loss; you just have to find it. Here are some explanations for why your dog may be eating normally but still losing weight.
FAQ
Why is my dog losing weight but still eating well?
If your dog is eating normally but still losing weight, there may be a more serious issue. Either your dog isn’t consuming enough calories to maintain its current lifestyle, or it may be experiencing problems with its digestion or absorption.
Why is my dog all of a sudden skinny?
Weight loss in dogs may also result from surgery, drug reactions, stress, heart disease, and other conditions. Play it safe and let the vet examine your dog if it is not eating, is losing weight, or has any other digestive or feeding problems.
Why is my dog skinny and not gaining weight?
Poor Nutrition: If your dog’s food does not provide enough nutrients, he may lose weight and be unable to regain it. Dogs require a variety of nutrients, just like humans, to keep a healthy weight. Underfeeding: It’s possible that you are unintentionally underfeeding your dog.