5 Reasons Why Your Dog May be Losing Weight Suddenly

As a dog owner, it can be concerning if you notice your dog is losing weight suddenly, especially if they are eating normally. There are many reasons why your dog might be losing weight rapidly. Sudden weight loss can indicate some serious health concerns, or it might be related to something that is simple to resolve. Being sure that your dog gets the care that they need is critical if something serious is causing the weight loss.

1. Dental Health Issues

Dogs can have dental health issues just like people. They can break teeth chewing on things, or they might have gum disease or a large buildup of plaque that needs to be removed. Some dogs are more prone to dental issues than others, but all dogs need to have their teeth cleaned by a vet on a regular basis. Dental concerns can be really painful for dogs, and this can lead to them choosing not to eat as much or not to eat at all.

Your vet can assess your dog’s dental health and see if your dog needs to have a dental cleaning or have teeth extracted. This is a key part of maintaining your dog’s health, and you should always consider this as a possible reason for your dog’s weight loss.

2. Parasites

Dogs can pick up parasites from eating things that are spoiled or from eating the feces of other pets in the home or at the dog park. There are many parasites that can take up residence in your dog’s GI tract and cause havoc on your dog’s well-being. Most of these parasites cause damage to the lining of the stomach and the gut, which can lead to a lack of appetite and other symptoms.

If your dog has diarrhea, no appetite, and a bloated belly, you should take them to the vet to have their stool sampled for signs of parasites. Thankfully, most parasites are quite easy to treat, and your vet will help you to put preventative measures in place as well that will keep your dog from getting parasites again. Dogs that are exposed to parasites frequently at doggy daycare or during their daily access to things like livestock will need to be kept on a parasite preventative to keep them from struggling with this issue on a regular basis.

3. Food Allergies

Food allergies can be common in dogs, and if they are eating food that does not agree with them, they can lose weight quite quickly. If your dog has diarrhea or has not been that interested in new food, you might just need to make a change back to their old food to eliminate their weight loss issue. Make sure that you consider taking your dog to the vet if you suspect that your dog has food allergies.

There are various prescription food types that can be ideal for a pet that is prone to food allergies. Your vet can also recommend changes in diet that will help your dog to feel better on a daily basis if they suffer from these kinds of allergies. Some dogs are more sensitive to specific types of food than others, which can make feeding them a bit more challenging.

4. Cancer

While this might not be the reason for your dog’s rapid weight loss, cancer is symptom of rapid weight loss. There are many kinds of cancer that can cause your dog to feel poorly and not have an appetite.

Your vet can do a variety of tests to rule out or diagnose your dog with cancer. Even if you do not think this is the reason for your dog’s weight loss, it is worth ruling this issue out for your peace of mind.

5. Obstructions

Dogs like to chew up toys, eat sticks, and generally put things in their mouths that are not edible. Sometimes these items can be swallowed and get stuck in a dog’s GI tract. This can lead to a lot of other symptoms as well, but rapid weight loss can be an early sign of obstruction. Making sure that your dog sees the vet if you think that it might have an obstruction is key. Obstructions can cause lots of damage to your dog’s GI system and often require surgery to alleviate.

Seek Veterinary Care if Your Dog is Losing Weight Suddenly

While your dog might be losing weight because they don’t like a new food you have given them or they are feeling stressed, they can also lose weight rapidly due to various health conditions that need to be attended to by a vet. It is always a good idea to make sure that your dog sees a vet if they are losing weight suddenly.

For more information, or if you would like to speak to a veterinarian, contact Emergency Veterinary Care Centers. We have several locations that are all staffed with expert and highly skilled teams ready to help!