100 lbs dog lost 40 lbs in 3 weeks?

Question

Our dog has lost 40 lbs in 3 weeks. Eats regularly, no discomfort can be seen. He is 6 years old and has bowle movements 3-4 times a day. The stool is normal. It seems as if his digestive system is working overtime. He is not urinating more frequently than normal. Any ideas?

Answer 1

He REALLY needs to see a vet as soon as you can get him in..

Answer 2

If your dog is having 3-4 bowel movements per day then his digestive system is not working normally.
The options here are multiple but it could be that your dog has parasites that have multiplied to the point of causing infection in the system. Tapeworms can absorb an amazing amount of food in the digestive tract if they are not curbed and eliminated.
There is obviously something depleting your dogs system.
Have you checked the dog's temperature? What do his gums look like - white, pale, red... if you press on the gum area above his canine fang and then let go, does the pressed area fill back to it's original color immediately (within one second) or longer? Is his respiration rate normal? His activity level?
These are all things that the vet will check when you take him in, but they are also things that we dog owners need to learn to check and measure for our own knowledge and care of our precious pups.
Please take him to the vet first thing on Monday.

Answer 3

Vet NOW. Instead of wasting time posting to yahoo answers when something is obviously wrong get off the computer and take your poor dog to the vet. There is obviously something seriously wrong. Sometimes worms can cause weight loss but not almost 50% of the dogs body weight in that short of time. YOUR DOG CAN DIE IF YOU DO NOT GET PROPER VET CARE!!!

Answer 4

There is always an underlying cause for this it would be best for you to see a vet because it can be a number of things. Do not let time go anymore and go to the vet as soon as you can get him there.
Because 2/3 of the body is water, sudden weight loss may be caused by dehydration rather than by loss of fat. Under some circumstances, the pet becomes dehydrated and loses weight too. It’s important to understand which is happening because dehydration leads quickly to death. Unhealthy weight loss leads very slowly to death
Pets with dental disease often lose weight because eating is painful. In addition, bacteria in their mouths spread over the body and cause disease in the kidneys, liver, heart. Disease of major organs often leads to weight loss.

Pets with intestinal worms or heartworms lose weight, but for different reasons. Pets with intestinal worms have the nutrients sucked out of them. Pets with heartworms waste energy as their hearts no longer contract efficiently. Their lungs, where worms also reside, no longer have normal blood flow. In pets with heartworm infections, the kidneys and liver work harder than normal to help the body respond to constant parasite abuse.
Pets with disease in vital organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys,

liver and spleen, often lose weight. Functioning of these organs is essential to sustain life. When they are compromised, the entire rest of the animal doesn’t function well either. A poorly functioning metabolism creates a large energy drain, and the pet often metabolizes its fat and eventually its muscles to sustain life.

Pets with cancer lose weight for several reasons. Many cancers demand nutrients and rob the body of nutrition so that fat and muscle tissue disappears. In addition, cancer often stimulates the liver to make tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF resets the body’s thermostat so that all cells consume more energy than normal. TNF also affects the body so the pet feels sick and doesn’t want to eat. This anorexia is characteristic of most cancers.

Pets with infectious diseases lose weight for the same reasons that pets with cancer lose weight: TNF is stimulated. The body’s thermostat is set higher, which is why pets with infections have fevers, and most pets are anorexic. In addition, pets with infectious diseases are often given medications that cause nausea and loss of appetite.Senior pets lose weight because they often have nagging pain from arthritic joints and dental infections. They also experience weakening of vital organs. In addition, senior pets do not smell or taste their food as they had. They may suffer from confusion and depression.

get the dog to the vet. I only listed some things. It is vital the dog sees the doctor that can actually diagnose what is going on with him.

Answer 5

Your dog is almost half the size he was 3 weeks ago and you haven't taken him to a vet yet?!! It's just ridiculous you're posting here looking for answers.

Answer 6

Best idea is to take him to a vet and leave him there. Then take your dumbass down to the police station and turn yourself in for animal cruelty. Hopefully when they throw you in jail and you start loosing large amounts of weight the guards will post that on the internet looking for an answer, while you waste away. If what you post is true (and I doubt it) you win the horses **** award. By the way I can't believe that there are people in this forum trying to diagnose this poor dogs problem (what does his gums look like, hows his temperature, take him to the vet on Monday?) are you people for real. By the way pressing on the dogs gums is akin to pressing on a humans fingernail. All it tells you is about capillary refill which does absolutely no good in this case. This dog has a medical emergency and your trying to play vet. on the internet. You should be ashamed of yourself for not stating the obvious and telling this idiot to get the poor dog to the vet A.S.A.P.

Answer 7

The dog is like a child to you. Why are you searching for medical help here???? GO TO THE VET, for goodness sake! Treat your dog like your child.

Answer 8

there's something seriously wrong with your dog, take him to the vet ASAP
Good Luck

Answer 9

Take him to the Vet ASAP.

Answer 10

Vet NOW!