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Why is my 14-year-old dog not eating, losing weight, and slowing down?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 32 lbs

Our 14 year old boy is not eating as well as usual. We were feeding kibble and watering it down, then switched to a raw food diet. He is still not eating as well. Recent vet visit he was ok, although slowing down quite a bit. Heart sounded fine, and he had his boosters. His dr said he was a little thin (14.9kg), previously he's been as heavy as 17kg. No other signs of trauma (such as vomiting, diarrhea, irregular breathing). Could this be age or should we seek blood test?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on May 30th, 2017

I would definitely recommend some blood work, if this hasn't been done recently. Older dogs are prone to a number of health issues that can cause decreased appetite along with being less active - chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism are two possibilities that are both very common. In many cases, these issues are treatable (at least to some extent) once a diagnosis is made, so it's well worth checking for them if you can - hopefully, there are some things you can do to make him feel better for as long as possible, even though he's getting older.

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    Answered By Rebecca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I love Samwise's name. Bloodwork in an older dog is never a bad idea. Especially since he is losing some weight and not eating well, bloodwork may help see if he has any underlying organ dysfunction. Make sure he also gets an oral exam as dental disease or tooth abscesses can cause dogs to stop eating. If bloodwork shows signs of disease, then adjustments to diet or medications may help this boy regain a good quality of life

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