Is dog weight loss and poor eating linked to recent tooth extraction?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 7 years and 8 months old
my dog has two teeth out 6 weeks ago, since then she hasnt been eating the same and has lots a fair amount of weight, could this be linked or could there be another issue?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 13th, 2017
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Bella it's hard to say. Were the teeth extracted by a vet or did they just fall out? If they just fell out she may have more diseased teeth inside her mouth that need to come out. Either way, I recommend having a vet look at Bella and do an oral exam. I would also recommend blood work to gauge internal organ function. This is a good place to start to determine weight loss. They may also want to take radiographs or put her under anesthesia to see what's going on with her teeth under the gum surface. Good luck and kisses to Bella!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 1st, 2019
Bella is likely in a lot of pain from her dental disease. I recommend you contact your veterinarian about scheduling a dental cleaning for her, during which they can extract any teeth that are rotten. See the link below for more information http://www.vohc.org/veterinary_periodontal_disease.html
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My dog suddenly is not eating, when she does eat sometimes she whines like it hurts to chew. I know she's always has had really bad breath & problems with her teeth. I bought her softer food but she's still not eating. She's lost weight & is not her
Poor Bella! Having "bad teeth" can certainly be uncomfortable and lead to a decreased appetite and weight loss. She may also have a low grade infection which could compound the problem.
Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian for confirmation or to diagnose any other underlying conditions. If she does have periodontal disease, a complete dental cleaning may be indicated. Extractions may also be required.
Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options such as CareCredit (CareCredit.com) with your veterinarian. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through local charities or Red Rover (redrover.org).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was fat I’m the beginning. Now she has lost a lot of weight and won’t eat and barely drinks . What’s wrong
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Weight loss, inappetence and decreased water intake are all signs of a possible gastrointestinal issue such as pancreatitis, dietary indiscretion, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion and obstruction, infections, among others. These types of conditions can progress rather quickly which is why I recommend that you have Bella evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. Diagnostics that will likely recommended include bloodwork and abdominal imaging. At the very least they can prescribe medications to make her feel better. Hoping for a quick recovery! Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
six & 1/2 yr old Merri my rescue cat had 7 teeth extracted two weeks ago and she is obviously losing weight; a weight scale is in another part of the apartment building. the missing teeth are: lower rt rear molar, lower first and last left mola;
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Merri. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. I worry that the extraction sites are either not healing well or are painful to her. Her veterinarian will examine her mouth and see of an infection os present. Antibiotics or pain medication may be prescribed. In the meantime, continue offering soft foods to encourage her to eat. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Bella has periodontal disease. Try to brush and has had dental cleanings. Had 6 remaining teeth, recently lost one and 2 are loose. I believe the vet is going to extract them all. Can a dog live normal/healthy life without teeth? Is not having teeth
Hi. I'm sorry for Bella's mouth troubles. Unfortunately Yorkies tend to be predisposed to dental disease. If Bella's remaining teeth are loose or diseased, they should be extracted by your vet. She will feel so much better! My sister in law adopted a little yorkie that I rescue who needed all of his teeth removed due to periodontal disease once he was first found. He eats like a champ and gained weight after his teeth were extracted because he could finally eat without pain. Some dogs may reguire canned or soft food after a full mouth extraction but some still prefer their hard kibble (small bites) Once she is healed from the extractions, usually there is no further oral disease, though her mouth should still be checked at her annual veterinary visits. Good luck to Bella, but I'm sure she'll feel better after her procedure.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is eight years old. We had a dog that this dog was really close to but he passed away. Before he passed away, my dog started losing weight. After he passed, my dog lost a lot of weight much faster. He also has only been eating half of his port
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! While the worsening in weight loss could be related to the loss of your other pet, the fact that there was already weight loss makes a medical issue more likely. There are plenty of conditions that can cause weight loss such as inflammatory diseases, intestinal malabsorption, cancer, among many others. I highly recommend that you have Elvis evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to gather more information and start with diagnostics such as radiographs, blood work and a GI panel. So sorry for the loss of your other pet. Good luck and have a good day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
So my dog is losing weight the first time she was 8lb then months later ahe was 7lb now shes 6lb should i be worried
Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. Yes, this unexplained weight loss in Mia definitely worries me. 2 lbs of loss in a large dog wouldn't be too alarming, but in Mia's case she's lost 25% of her original body weight and that should absolutely be investigated. It is never normal for a dog to lose this much weight and almost certainly indicates a medical problem. I recommend bringing Mia to the vet for evaluation. Anticipate that your vet will likely start with an exam, then will probably recommend checking a fecal sample and running bloodwork. Dramatic weight loss in young dogs can be due to problems with digestion (such as inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatic insufficiency), congenital issues (such as a liver shunt), intestinal parasites, and (less commonly) cancer, among other things. I hope this helps and you can get to the bottom of Mia's weight loss soon!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My lab mixed is about 10 years old and is having dental problems. I have noticed that she is having a hard time eating and is losing weight. So I'm going to switch her to a senior soft food. But I was wondering if there might be a recommendation o
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would recommend that you switch her to a canned or wet diet that may be easier for her to eat. Also, if she appears to have a severe dental disease, an evaluation by a veterinarian is warranted. They may be able to evaluate her teeth and see if she would benefit from having a dental cleaning or perhaps having teeth extractions. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is losing weight and her breath smells like infection. Just like when a human has infection. She also seems to be mildly lethargic. She is eating OK maybe little less than usual.
Poor Layz! If her breath smells terrible and is eating less than usual, I would suspect that she may have a dental problem. Dogs need regular dental care just like humans, and if they don't get it, they can develop severe gingivitis, a tooth root abscess, or a rotten tooth among other conditions. She would be eating less because it's painful for her to eat. I would give your vet a call today to set up an appointment for her. The vet can examine her mouth, and if they feel that there is a dental problem, will want to do a dental scaling, cleaning, and polishing. It's best for her health to have this checked out as soon as possible, as dental problems that are left untreated can lead to further health problems such as abscesses on the liver and heart infections. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
I’m worried my dog may have gum disease as she’s not eating enough
Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Thank you for the photo, it is helpful. I agree with you and am also concerned Shilo has dental disease (and potentially periodontal disease). I can't know for sure the full extent until the plaque is removed but it looks like there is some gingival recession affecting both of the smaller teeth behind her upper canine tooth. It also looks like there is a far amount of plaque or potentially infection around the base of those teeth. Depending on severity, there may be a pocket of infection under the gum line. Plus exposure of the tooth roots can be uncomfortable and this could make Shilo not eat well. Here is a link about Periodontal Disease: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ Here is a link with general information about pet dental care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ I recommend to make an appointment this week with Shilo's veterinarian for an exam. They can give her a thorough exam a
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is 7 and has lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks and iv had him checked for worms and it was negative and his gums are bright red but not tarter on his teeth I have them cleaned regularly and he is running a temp of 102 and his heart and lungs sounded good
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! I can see that Stone is a little thin from the photos, and the amount of weight he has lost in the past 3 weeks is definitely cause for concern. The next steps after checking for intestinal parasites include blood work to make sure that there isn't an underlying infection present and that organ function is normal. It can also determine that food is being digested and nutrients are absorbed appropriately. X-rays and an ultrasound can rule out masses, obstructions, and inflamed bowels. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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