weight loss in dog.?

Question

I've got a 3 year old poodle who is underweight. Im very concerned about him. He is so underweight that I can feel his spine & all his ribs, including his hip bones. I had blood tests performed when this 1st started & everything was normal except for high enzyme levels. Bile acid test was performed which was normal thank god. He slowly gained weight but has lost it all again. Im deeply worried. He eats everything in sight, pies, peas potatoes, gravy etc including 3 bowl full of dog food and dry dog food too. Nothing is making him gain weight. He drinks a lot and seems to shake a lot like he is always cold. Hes also very energetic. Hes upto date on his vaccinations and worming tablets. This is not worms! My dogs ill & I dont know what with. Any ideas what could be wrong with him? Plz help. Thank you.

Im from UK and there isn't any boarding hospitals here. Only admittance as emergency and dog will be kept however long is necessary. Could this be diabetes? im starting to think it might be or fast metabolism or something. His fur seems dull as well & his skin is dry.

Yup his thyroid was checked. Everything came back normal except for Very high Enzyme levels which the Vet said was a indication of Liver failure. His liver was then checked twice and this came back well within the normal limits. Definitely isnt CHF (heart failure). My other dog has this and my youngest is too young and has no symptoms of it at all hun. Hes a neutered male and there is no females in the vicinity. Hes been on the Hills special diet for 6 months straight. Vet advised to give him loads of human food as it contains a lot of fat to "feed him up" but isn't working. Hes eating enough dog food to feed 4 dogs. It doesnt make sense.

Answer 1

How about x-rays? If all lab work came back looking ok, that doesn't mean there couldn't be a tumor that is making this dog very ill. Maybe heart failure? The next course of action would probably be an x-ray and more extensive lab work. Was the thyroid levels checked? This generally isn't done with normal lab work, as it's more costly (lots more costly). Call your vet again and ask to be seen. Have a paper and pen ready with questions and write down the answers and any other possible causes this could be that the vet talks about. Poor little guy needs something done quick before it's too late and his internal organs start to shut down. Good luck.

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Answer 2

Your dog should have a complete blood panel done by the vet. There are many things that could cause a lot of weight loss in a short period of time, diabetes being one of them. Bloodwork will be able to rule out what it's not, and possibly tell you what it is.

Answer 3

I'D TAKE HIM 2 ANOTHER VET AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING THE OTHER VET MISSED AS IT DON'T SOUND RIGHT AT ALL.

P.S AFTER FINDING OUT YOUR IN THE UK HAVE YOU TRIED THE PDSA? AS I TOOK MY DOG 2 A VET AND PAYED £180 FOR THEM 2 DO A BIOPSY ON MY DOG AND THEY FOUND NOTHING THEN I TOOK HIM TO THE PDSA AS I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THEY FOUND OUT HE HAD CANCER BY DOING ANOTHER BIOPSY.

I FIND THE ANIMAL CHARITY'S ARE BETTER THAN VET'S AS THEY ARE IN IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE ANIMALS AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LOW WAGE AND SOME VET'S (NOT ALL THO) ARE JUST IN IT FOR THE MONEY AND SEEM TO ME TO KEEP GIVING YOU MORE APPOINTMENTS TO MAKE HIGH VET BILLS AS THEY KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR ANIMAL AND WILL PAY ANYTHING TO GET THEM WELL AGAIN.

GO TO THE PDSA OR RSPCA IS MY ADVICE, I FOUND BOTH MUCH BETTER THAN A PRIVATE VET.

GOOD LUCK AND I DO HOPE YOU FIND OUT WHAT IS UP WITH YOUR LITTLE DOGGY VERY SOON.

Answer 4

I would say get a second set of blood work (test) done by another Vet. Also, have them to put him on whatever medications they think would help him (including vitamins). Also, ask them for a prescription diet which then they will give you a food that is prescribed for him to eat. Also it wouldn't hurt for you to Board him with a hospital for a few days so they can monitor him also. That way they can see for themselves. Be sure to ask questions of why this is happening and if you board ask detail questions.

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If they are diabetic they will drink lots of water and drink water constantly until they throw it up, does your dog drink alot of water constantly?

Answer 5

I would definitely get a second opinion from another vet. You may want to have his thyroid checked for hyperthyroidism. Thyroid problems are common with dogs and I have several friends whose dogs have thyroid problems. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you feel there is something wrong with him, you might want to consider getting a 2nd opinion (another vet). Did they check thyroid?

Are there unspayed females in the home or close vacinity? My male doberman tends to slim down quite a bit when one of our females or the neighbor's female are in heat.

Hill's Science Diet has a high calorie food called "a/d". Comes in a can about the size of a can of cat food. You can add it to his usual dry food. Cut out the people food !

Answer 7

I would have your dog checked for diabetes. Some dogs that require insulin loose weight rapidly. Your dog might require injections twice daily

Answer 8

rearrange your furniture for 17 minutes

Answer 9

vanquish hunger with volumetrics

Answer 10

you should have his thyroid tested as they are just like people as dogs can either gain or lose weight from a thyroid problem. my dog gained weight from it. if he drinks alot and is cold he could have hyperthyroidism and that's when the dog is cold and pees alot as that's what happened to my dog. don't let it get out of hand becuase my dog when her levels dropped started getting seizures. ask your vet to check the for hyperthyroidism and i bet that's what your dog has. go read on the internet about it.