My puppy has scabs, no appetite, loose stool, and shakes. What to do?

Question

My puppy is about 6-7 months old and is acting funny. He recently has had a loss of appetite and his stool is a little loose. He shakes sometimes, and we have been finding tiny little scabs on his body. It is weird because he acts normal most of the time. We do not know if this is something to worry about or not. What should we do? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 6 months and 18 days old | 10 lbs

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Toby is feeling unwell. Scabs on his body may be a sign of a skin disease such as parasites (fleas, mites), bacterial infection, fungal infection, or allergies. These can all cause itchiness and discomfort, which may be why he is shaking and has a loss of appetite. Stress from discomfort can also cause loose stools. It is also possible that Toby is dealing with multiple health issues, i.e. the skin problem may be separate from his loss of appetite and loose stool. Causes for the latter two issues include gut infection (gastroenteritis), pancreatitis, gut parasites, or food allergies. Given these many possibilities, it would be best if Toby got checked out at a vet within the next 1-2 days. They can determine the cause of the skin issue through physical exam and possible skin scraping or cytology tests. If they are suspicious of gut parasites, they may recommend checking a fecal sample. At minimum, they can prescribe medication to help improve his comfort, correct any dehydration, and treat his diarrhea. In the meantime, some things you can do at home include: 1) bathe him with a gentle aloe and oatmeal shampoo which can help to provide some relief in case of allergies. 2) transition his food to a bland, easily digestible homemade diet such as boiled chicken and plain white rice. Small, frequent meals will also help him to digest it easier. 3) add a probiotic supplement such as Fortiflora to help restore his normal gut flora. I hope this helps, and that Toby is feeling better soon!

My puppy has scabs, no appetite, loose stool, and shakes. What to do?

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