Cancer is generally more common in older dogs, and malignant forms can be life-threatening. Weight loss is associated with several malignant cancers in dogs, including hemangiosarcoma , lymphoma and osteosarcoma. With these tumors, weight loss may occur due to the metabolic demands of the tumor itself, or because pain and discomfort is causing reduced appetite and activity. Other canine cancers, such as oral melanoma , may make eating and swallowing more painful, causing the dog to avoid food.
Rather, weight loss is typically associated with chronic forms of the disease. Heinze explains. As the illness progresses, dogs generally feel unwell and experience vomiting, loss of appetite and dehydration. In fact, some dogs may appear to gain weight—despite a loss of appetite—due to fluid accumulation in the body. Generally speaking, Dr. The clinical signs associated with metabolic conditions are complex, and advanced diagnostic testing may be required to identify these conditions.
GI problems can lead to weight loss over time. Pets who are suffering from these types of conditions will generally be significantly underweight, no matter what type or amount of diet is offered. Oral pain, says Dr. Also, dogs with advanced dental disease generally feel unwell and may lose body condition. As dental disease progresses, oral bacteria can spread throughout the body, leading to painful infections in the heart, liver and kidneys.
While not as common as other causes, Dr. Dogs are generally adaptable to our lifestyles, but they are also highly perceptive and will notice even minor changes in their surroundings. Bartl explains that changes in the household or the addition of a new pet could be possible sources of stress-induced weight loss. If your dog appears highly nervous or depressed, then she may be more interested in factors other than her food.
Fresh diets provide quality protein, but also the fiber and moisture that can keep your dog satisfied. Feeding nutrient-dense, bioavailable food will keep your dog healthy as they reduce their overall intake of food. Another way to help your dog drop some extra weight is by controlling, and possibly reducing, their treat intake.
Here, again, quality and quantity matter. Dog owners who feed their dog healthy food yet still feed highly processed, high-carb, high-calorie treats are potentially missing a big source of weight gain and health issues. Osborne, and many other vets, recommend using single-ingredient treats like fresh veggies and fruit. For a lighter, and perhaps better, substitute, try plain canned pumpkin, which weighs in at just five calories per tablespoon.
Our bond with our dogs is so special, and every dog owner wants to see the happy excitement a treat brings. But you can get that joyful response with healthy treats, or with smaller portions. Food is key, but no weight loss plan, or health maintenance plan, is complete without exercise. The most obvious, and important, activity for your dog is walking. The amount of walking your dog needs, or wants, depends on their breed and general health. But while conventional wisdom says that some dogs need less exercise than others, all dogs need to move.
While the recommended minimum of daily exercise is 20 minutes, twice a day, many dogs will need much more. For many breeds, an hour of exercise a day is a good target.
If your dog needs to lose weight, try to increase the amount of exercise they currently do. Introduce new activities slowly to avoid injury. And, unless your dog has been trained for or slowly introduced to these kinds of activities, leave the extreme sports to your own weekend hours—too-vigorous, or repetitive activity can put your dog at risk of joint problems.
Also, keep weather conditions—like high sun—in mind if your activities are outdoors. Try these seven tips to trim excess pounds from your pet and keep them trim. Instead, ask your veterinarian to calculate the proper number of calories your pet needs each day. Multiply this figure times The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has done studies to show that feeding as few as 10 extra tiny kibbles of food per day can add up to a pound of weight gain per year in indoor cats and small dogs.
After you calculate how many calories your pet needs, determine how much food you should feed each meal — and measure it. I am anti-junk treats. Choose low-calorie, no-sugar goodies that provide a health benefit. I like single ingredient treats such as sweet potato, salmon, and blueberry bites or functional treats that provide a bonus such as helping to keep teeth clean or promote mobility.
Whatever treats you give, be sure to count those additional calories. Many pet owners feed the proper amount of food but sabotage their efforts by adding one or two snacks throughout the day.
As few as 30 extra calories per day means your pet gains over three pounds in a year. Break treats into peewee pieces and divvy them out whenever your pet earns it. Instead, use treats only as a reward for good behavior. Pets and people need to learn to earn extra goodies. Vital Veggies As an alternative to highly-processed store-bought treats, try offering baby carrots, green beans, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, sliced apples and bananas or ice cubes.
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