Why is my dog losing weight and breathing hard but still active?

I am mostly concerned about the weight loss, lethargy (depression) and the labored breathing. This is certainly not normal for such a young dog. From the symptoms you are describing, a metabolic disorder seems most likely. Options are hyperadrenosorticism (Cushings), hypothyroidism (although this is not consistent with the weight loss), certain sex hormone disorders, and certain immune mediated disorders. Since this has been going on for such a long time, I would advise a consultation with a specialist at this point. You can find a veterinary internist in your area on www.acvim.org.

I am sorry to hear about Pinta. These symptoms are unfortunately concerning, especially in an older dog. Difficulty breathing is a very serious condition and considered an emergency if she is struggling to get breath normally. Possible causes can vary from primary lung issues such as infections like pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, and tumors in the lung. Heart disease can also result in breathing problems, as can sudden anemia due to bleeding inside the body cavity. I would recommend getting Pinta into the vet as soon as possible, and if she is struggling to breath then she needs to visit the emergency vet if your vet is closed. They will examine her and likely recommend x-rays of the lungs. This will help them determine if treatment is possible or if she can be made more comfortable. Best of luck to you and Pinta.

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. As weight loss is involved it is likely to be a chronic condition, i strongly recommend taking Hannah to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated.

Hello there! While Luna's weight loss and poor coat may be from malnutrition, the heavy breathing and joint pain makes me concerned about other potential medical issues that she may be facing. First, be sure that she was on proper heartworm and flea/tick preventative while she was on the farm. Dogs that spend lots of time outdoors will come into contact with mosquitoes and parasites, which could explain some of her symptoms, should she have contracted a vector-borne disease like heartworms, lyme disease, or rickettsial infections (rocky mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis). The symptoms Luna is exhibiting could be indicative of any or all of these diseases. I also worry about intestinal parasites potentially stealing some of her nutrition, which can cause weight loss and a poor hair coat. All of these disease processes can be ruled out at the vet's office. A small blood test can check for heartworms and tick-borne diseases, and a stool sample can check for intestinal parasites. I h

Poor Bauer. Episodes of strange breathing are likely, in her case, to be due to her ongoing problems. Weight loss is also a concern as dogs with tumors often lose weight while the tumor continues to grow. I would recommend you to see your vet and discuss if there are any medications that could give Bauer some relief. She may benefit from administration of pain killers as lung mass can cause discomfort and potentialy abnormal respiration in your dog.

Losing weight could be a sign of many things and it could range from a poor quality dog food, to parasites to something unexpected in a young dog like kidney disease. I do recommend to be safe and have her examined by your veterinarian and have some basic lab work and a stool sample checked for worms. Pay close attention to her bowels for any loose stool, blood or any vomiting which could indicate something like IBD or pancreatic insufficiency. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am concerned that there ma be something else going on besides just a blood parasites. I worry that she may have something causing her to collect fluid in her abdomen like heartworms, heart problems, liver disease, cancer, or something else. I am concerned that she is losing weight and still have a bloated abdomen and breathing fast. I would have her rechecked by your vet as they may want to do additional diagnostics. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot you can do at home. Make sure she is eating even if you have to entice her with some plain boiled boneless skinless chicken and white rice. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Losing weight despite a good appetite and no vomiting or diarrhea is likely due to underlying intestinal disease. I would still highly recommend submitting a stool sample to your Vet. And even if it is negative deworm her again with a broad spectrum dewormer if it has been longer than 6 months. Then I would increase the amount to food fed to her, if she will eat it. If that doesn't do the trick I would put her on a higher fat content diet. So change brands. It might be worth taking her to the Vet and putting her on their scale to confirm that she is losing weight. If the above doesn't work then a vet exam is needed. I hope this helps and I wish Rosie the best!

Poor pup! That can be an indication of a medical problem, such as intestinal worms, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer among others. I would have your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible for a physical exam, blood tests, and urinalysis. Using these tests, the vet can diagnose what is causing the weight loss despite being fed and can discuss treatment options with you.

It is hard to tell if this is normal or not without seeing her. Please repost with a photo of your pet from up top and from the sides so we can evaluate her body condition score a bit more. If she is thin, then she may have some intestinal parasites as the cause, especially if her stools are a bit on the softer side. A dewormer is needed if that is the case, depending on what worms she has. We look forward to hearing back from you soon with attached photos! Best wishes and take care.