The media is full of stories about the growing problem of obesity in dogs. So if your dog is losing weight, you should be happy, right? If you have reduced food intake and increasing your exercise, then you can certainly expect to weigh less. However, if there has been any change in your eating plan and lifestyle, sudden weight loss can be a cause for concern.
There are three main reasons for weight loss in dogs, and we'll take a look at each in turn.
1. Your dog may have trouble absorbing food, so there are not enough nutrients to maintain your fitness. This may result from a deficiency of digestive enzymes, so your food does not break enough for his intestines absorb. Otherwise, the problem may be with the intestinal wall, and nutrients may not actually be able to move in their blood.
2. If the nutrients in your dog's food is normally absorbed, may be something wrong with the way the body uses these nutrients. A good example is diabetes - diabetic dog does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, which does not properly metabolize glucose. One of the symptoms of diabetes in dogs is weight loss.
. 3. Finally, your dog may be wearing faster than it can take in nutrients sometimes this is normal, for example, a dog suckles its young - milk making a lot of energy and nutrients. However, it can also occur under conditions such as cancer, where the growth of tumors can increase the body's metabolic rate.
What to do if you are worried about the loss of your dog's weight? Here are some guidelines, but keep in mind that if you have a question about your dog's health, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.
If your dog is bright and alert, and also appears in perfect health, you may want to play the waiting game for some time. Feed him a little more at dinner time, or change their kibble with a high fat content. Be sure to treat intestinal parasites, should contribute to the problem. If your body condition did not improve and he continues to lose weight, it's time to investigate.
Look for other symptoms that can give you an idea of what happens in the body of your dog. For example, if you are diabetic, drink plenty of water and urinate frequently. A problem with the absorption of your food often cause diarrhea. As mentioned in "Why My Dog Has Diarrhea - Dog Diarrhea Causes and Treatment" there are other reasons why your dog may develop diarrhea. If your dog shows abnormal behavior in association with weight loss, should be seen by a veterinarian.
You can expect your vet will want to do blood tests and examine your dog's feces. They may recommend X-rays or ultrasound to check for tumors inside. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, but may include regular injections of insulin to control diabetes or adding digestive enzymes to your dog's food. Excessive consumption can not say that your dog has diabetes. My next article in this series, "Why is my dog drinking Many? From excessive drinking in dogs," explains the reasons for excessive drinking and urination in dogs.
Our dogs are like family to us and what is naturally very painful when they get sick. Would not it be great if you knew how to give your dog a checkup, so you can spot a problem early? Before being truly serious or even life-threatening?
There are three main reasons for weight loss in dogs, and we'll take a look at each in turn.
1. Your dog may have trouble absorbing food, so there are not enough nutrients to maintain your fitness. This may result from a deficiency of digestive enzymes, so your food does not break enough for his intestines absorb. Otherwise, the problem may be with the intestinal wall, and nutrients may not actually be able to move in their blood.
2. If the nutrients in your dog's food is normally absorbed, may be something wrong with the way the body uses these nutrients. A good example is diabetes - diabetic dog does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, which does not properly metabolize glucose. One of the symptoms of diabetes in dogs is weight loss.
. 3. Finally, your dog may be wearing faster than it can take in nutrients sometimes this is normal, for example, a dog suckles its young - milk making a lot of energy and nutrients. However, it can also occur under conditions such as cancer, where the growth of tumors can increase the body's metabolic rate.
What to do if you are worried about the loss of your dog's weight? Here are some guidelines, but keep in mind that if you have a question about your dog's health, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.
If your dog is bright and alert, and also appears in perfect health, you may want to play the waiting game for some time. Feed him a little more at dinner time, or change their kibble with a high fat content. Be sure to treat intestinal parasites, should contribute to the problem. If your body condition did not improve and he continues to lose weight, it's time to investigate.
Look for other symptoms that can give you an idea of what happens in the body of your dog. For example, if you are diabetic, drink plenty of water and urinate frequently. A problem with the absorption of your food often cause diarrhea. As mentioned in "Why My Dog Has Diarrhea - Dog Diarrhea Causes and Treatment" there are other reasons why your dog may develop diarrhea. If your dog shows abnormal behavior in association with weight loss, should be seen by a veterinarian.
You can expect your vet will want to do blood tests and examine your dog's feces. They may recommend X-rays or ultrasound to check for tumors inside. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, but may include regular injections of insulin to control diabetes or adding digestive enzymes to your dog's food. Excessive consumption can not say that your dog has diabetes. My next article in this series, "Why is my dog drinking Many? From excessive drinking in dogs," explains the reasons for excessive drinking and urination in dogs.
Our dogs are like family to us and what is naturally very painful when they get sick. Would not it be great if you knew how to give your dog a checkup, so you can spot a problem early? Before being truly serious or even life-threatening?
