My 12 year old dog is losing weight. The Vet did blood work and the results came back normal. He seems to be hungrier and also eliminating more. Could the commercial food he is eating be passing right through his system and not being absorbed or utilized?
2007-01-07 02:48:56 · 5 answers · asked by Jennid 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Whay kind of blood work? If you ony did a Panel/CBC then you need to start getting more diagnostic blood work done.
2007-01-07 02:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by manetna2 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a little surprised your vet didn't recommend a particular food or feeding schedule.
With most "commercial" brands, just as much going in comes out. If he is losing weight, he may need something higher is calories. Science Diet a/d is very high calorie, but it comes in very small cans (like the size of a cat food can).
You can boil some chicken and drain off the water, and boil it again for about 3 min (helps remove fat/grease). Retain water from second boiling. Run chicken through the food processor, mix in some cooked white rice and a little water from the boiled chicken and put 1/4 - 1/2 cup in ziploc baggies and freeze them.
Add to regular feedings. The protien from the chicken is great for them.
2007-01-07 03:05:55 · answer #2 · answered by Pam 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Increased appetite without weight gain can be caused by several things. Not being able to absorb nutrients from its food is one possibility, but it may also have a tape worm, a hormonal disorder (like Cushings), or more likely - diabetes. Cushings (Hyperadrenocorticism) is probably the most common cause of increased appetite in dogs over 9 years of age.
We suggest getting a second opinion; ask the vet to check for hormonal disorders, diabetes and tape worms. A low dose dexamethasone suppression test will help to rule out Cushings, for example.
2007-01-07 03:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As dogs age they do not process the food as well.
You need to be feeding a senior diet for your pet.
If he is loosing a fair amount ofweight I would look at doing more testing to see if something is going on. Depends on what type of blood pannel you had done where I would go from there.
Sometimes as they age it is harder to keep weight on them and they do need to eat more. Make sure you are feeding a very high quality diet that is high in fat and calories.
2007-01-07 02:58:59 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is he peeing more, or just pooping more? If he is peeing more, did your vet do a blood test for diabetes? My 14 yr old last summer starting eating more, losing weight, drinking, and peeing more. We found out she was Diabetic..So the vet thinks there is no problem? Its not normal to just keep losing weight. I'd suggest they run more tests or get a new vet..
2007-01-07 02:57:04 · answer #5 · answered by misstikal311 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋