My dog is losing weight and quiet after a scary event. Is she sick?

As you know, Cushing's disease causes excessive cortisol (steroid) production, which can lead to an increased appetite. With the cortisol levels under control, Lucy's appetite may have regulated, but 13 pounds is a pretty significant weight loss. Normally, you should be able to easily feel (but not see) a dog's ribs and see a waistline when looking down on them from above. We can easily become accustomed to seeing overweight dogs as "normal" and can perceive a healthy weight as being too thin. (Without examining Lucy, I can't comment as to if she is truly underweight, or if her weight is appropriate.) Since her appetite has become picky and her Cushing's disease seems to be well controlled, there is also a chance that she has developed some primary intestinal issues (such as inflammatory bowel disease) chronic pancreatitis, or intestinal parasites. At this point, I recommend taking Lucy to her vet for another exam to assess her overall body condition and consider additional diagnostic testing (CBC, chemistry and abdominal ultrasound) to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that all goes well!

There are many things that could make Lucy skinny all of a sudden. Intestinal worms, kidney disease, neoplasia or inadequate calories are all potential causes. I would recommend to take Lucy into the vet for a fecal exam and some bloodwork. The fact that she doesn't want to eat could be an indicator that she does not feel good. Best to get her in quickly as diseases are easier to treat early. I hope this helps!

A decrease appetite and lethargy are common after the passing of a housemate as they go through a depression. The best thing is to have her checked by a vet to make sure there are no medical problems that can cause this and then they can add medication to help her handle the depression if needed. You can always try special food and treats such as boiled chicken and rice or chicken broth to the diet if she is just eating less to see if that encourages her more.

If he has lost weight and is lethargic than he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have a dental problem, infection, parasite, metabolic/endocrine disease, etc. and your vet can run lab work and take an x-ray, if needed, to help determine the cause. If it caused by stress and anxiety from losing your other dog than your vet can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac or Trazodone to see if that helps.

Poor Lucy. She could be suffering from electrolyte imbalance after labor, an infection in her uterus or mammary glands, a puppy that she never delivered that is now infected or more. You could try to offer her some plain boiled chicken (no bones) and white rice or canned dog food to see if you can entice her to eat. If she won’t eat, I would strongly recommend to have a vet look at her. Your vet will be able to run blood work and even X-rays if needed. They will be able to recommend to best treatment plan for her and get her started on the proper meds (even appetite stimulants) to help her feel better. I hope this helps.

I recommend to call the previous owner and ask if he has always been finicky or if this is out of character. Also make sure to feed the same diet he was eating at his original home. Since Lucius can't talk and tell you why this is happening, it's best to play it safe. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. Make sure to bring in a fresh stool sample for parasite testing. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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!