My older dog's spine is showing and hips look narrow. Is he sick?

Question

My American Bulldog is 8.5 yrs old and it seems like his spine is more exposed and his hips have narrowed. Pet's info: Dog | American Bulldog | Male | neutered | 105 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. Being able to see the spine and hip bones more than you used to is a common sign of weight loss in dogs. There are lots of things that could cause this in an older dog like Dempsey, including chronic liver or kidney disease, intestinal absorption issues, heart disease, or even cancer. Because of this, I would recommend taking him to the vet for a check-up when you're able to. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help determine what is causing the weight loss and get him started on appropriate treatment if a problem is found.

My older dog's spine is showing and hips look narrow. Is he sick?

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