Dog Losing Weight but Seems Healthy, Eating Well, Drinking a lot of Water and Losing Hair

Dog losing weight but healthy

Have you noticed your dog losing weight rapidly and are concerned? This post seeks to unravel the causes of weight loss in dogs as well as what to tell out of situations in which the dog losing weight is accompanied by other symptoms such as drinking lots of water, losing hair and increased, diminished appetite or even looking healthy and eating well.

Dog Losing Weight

Depending on the breed, age, and gender of your dog, there is a specific ideal range of body weight. This may, however, not be obvious for mixed breeds. With the ideal weight in mind, excessive weight gain or loss are all a concern as they determine a dog’s well-being. Weight loss in dogs does not only have physical effects on the dog but on their health too.

A dog that has been overweight will see the owner induce mechanisms of weight loss. While in such cases the cause of shedding is induced, it is possible for dog weight loss to occur without any intervention being made. This is what we explore below including the causes and what to do to alleviate the condition.

Causes of a Dog Losing Weight

A dog losing weight may be caused by something as simple as getting the portion quantities wrong. There also are serious health problems that can lead to rapid loss of weight in dogs. These are discussed in details below.

Mal-nourishment

One of the conditions confused with malnourishment is poor nutrition. While poor nutrition will see your dog have a dull coat, problems defecating, have extra layers of fat and poor dental hygiene due to inadequate nutrients, malnourishment results in loss of weight as the dog does not get enough. A dog suffering malnourishment will shed up to 10 percent of its body weight. It is basically as a result of an inadequate supply of food.

Malnourishment may occur as a result of neglect, abuse or lack of proper information on how much a dog should be fed. The signs that come along with it are low energy levels, a deteriorating physical appearance with the ribs becoming visible and susceptibility to illnesses.

Dental Problems

Weight loss in dogs could stem out of dental issues. The presence of dental abscesses, gum disease, and teeth decay are all painful conditions. These may scare the dog away from food as he associates eating with the pain. When a dog fails to eat as they should for a long period, their daily food portion requirements are not met and as a result, the affected dog sheds weight.

In the same way, mouth lesions are painful and may deter your dog from eating thus contribute to their weight loss.

Pregnancy

Just like in humans, pregnancy in dogs comes with nausea and other symptoms. During the first stage, it is possible for a dog to lose weight from nausea and vomiting. Additionally, pregnancy could bring forth a lack of appetite, poor digestion, and lethargy. All these may contribute to reduced weight. The weight should come back once the symptoms subside which mostly happens with the maturation of the pregnancy.

Parasitic Infestation

Intestinal parasitic infestation may be hard to identify. When a dog is affected, the host competes for food with the parasites. The end result is a massive weight loss in dogs. A great pointer to this is the fact that the dog feeds properly but always seems hungry and is shedding some weight.

Anxiety

When a dog is experiencing anxiety issues, it may exhibit symptoms that will contribute to dog losing weight. According to the webmd.com, one of the signs that your dog has anxiety is a loss of appetite. Additional symptoms that may contribute to loss of weight are accompanying gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Liver Disease

The liver plays a vital role in the body. Through it, sugars and essential carbs are made available to the body. A dog that suffers from liver disease is not in a position to metabolize essential nutrients and as a result, the body starts using fat deposits to compensate for used energy.

Their appetite also decreases thus contributing to weight loss. In addition, they will experience additional symptoms such as increased thirst, the presence of blood in the stool or urine, frequent urination and vomiting.

Thyroid Disorder

The thyroid gland gets stimulated by the pituitary gland to produce hormones. These hormones enhance the chemical processes in the body. These then enhance metabolism in the body. When there is an excess production of thyroid hormones, the body cells and other body tissues are pushed to work excessively. As a result, there is increased metabolism which leads to weight loss. Your dog will also experience diarrhea and anxiety among other symptoms.

Dog Losing Weight but Eating Well, Normally, the Same or More

My dog is losing weight but eating very well. 320 What could be the problem? When it comes to dog losing weight, it is usually easy to point out the cause if the dog is experiencing a loss of appetite. How, then, is it possible for a dog that is eating just fine, has the normal daily portion or even more to lose weight?

There are a number of instances when a dog that is eating well can experience weight loss. A dog that is infested by either internal or external parasites competes for nutrients with them. As such, the usual amount does not yield enough nutrients for a dog. The dog could also have increased appetite but still loss weight when experiencing parasitic infestations.

In addition, diseases such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes may result in weight loss despite a dog feeding just fine. These things will come with additional symptoms which can help identify the real cause of the same.

My Dog Is Losing Weight but Seems Healthy

A dog may have visible weight loss but still appear healthy. This may be seen as they maintain the same energy levels and remain active. At times a dog may become too hyperactive and have an increased level of activity. Where there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for the weight loss, it could be that the amount he is consuming is just not enough. This could occur even when he is offered the recommended amount of food for his size. Talk to your veterinarian to find out what the cause for weight loss could be.

My Dog Is Losing Weight and Drinking Lots of Water

A dog losing weight and having the additional symptom of drinking a lot of water should elude concern from the owner. It should prompt an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Petcha.com notes that the two leading health issues that come along with the symptoms of weight loss and excessive drinking are diabetes mellitus and kidney failure. These need timely intervention to ensure that they are controlled and managed.

Dog Losing Weight and Hair

My dog is losing weight and hair. What should I make out of it? A dog that loses weight while shedding its hair could be signaling a number of things. The dog could be suffering from malnourishment as a result of not getting enough food. This leads to deteriorating health as well as an unhealthy coat. It could also be indicative of parasitic infestation. There also are a number of health conditions that could see a dog experience the two symptoms concurrently. Your veterinarian will carry out the necessary tests so as to point out accurately what is ailing your dog.

What to Do about Dog Losing Weight

As seen above, the reasons why your dog may be encountering weight loss are countless. Without relevant tests and extensive know how it can be hard pointing out what the exact cause is. It is, therefore, best to take your dog to the veterinarian for diagnosis. Once this has been achieved, the weight loss can be addressed by dealing with the cause. Do as you are directed thereafter to ensure your pet stays healthy.

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