Why is my pitbull puppy limping, not eating, losing weight?

Sorry to hear that Stinky isn't feeling so great. The symptoms you are describing could be an indication of many different problems, or even multiple problems at once. If there is a primary gastrointestinal issue, it could be due to an infection, an inflammatory / immune mediated process, indigestion, hepatic / renal disease, parasites, or even a cancerous process ( not very likely or common in a puppy ). If there is a primary orthopedic issue, the most common thing to consider in a puppy would be a traumatic injury. Other causes of lameness can be infectious / inflammatory disease, congenital issues, and cancerous processes. Certain tick borne disease ( lyme disease in particular ) can cause both of the symptoms you are describing. Considering you live in an area of California high in ticks carrying this disease, this would be pretty high on my list of possible differentials. If Stinky is not currently protected against fleas and ticks, I would definitely get him on something. Get him to the vet when they are open tomorrow and see if they can help you figure things out. Hope this helps!

Lameness, loss of appetite and energy are definitely concerning. This can be caused by tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease. There are also certain bone and joint diseases that only affect growing puppies, and need to be ruled out with an x-Ray. I recommend having your appointment sooner rather than later, you may want to call your vet and ask for an earlier appointment.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I would recommend having Bucky examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The limping on the back leg and coughing may be related. If he has a bone tumor it may have spread to the lungs causing the cough. These symptoms could also be completely unrelated and he may have bronchitis or a respiratory infection along with a leg injury such as a torn ACL. I would have his leg and chest x-rayed to see if there are any concerning changes. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the symptoms you are describing, I would recommend having Zeus examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. He may be in pain from a leg injury causing him to not want to move much and also could be affecting his appetite / thirst. Another possibility is that Zeus is currently dealing with Tick Paralysis. There are also other possible causes but these are just a couple. I would get him in sooner rather than later and if that means taking him in as an emergency, I would certainly do so. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Limping is a sign of pain, and some dogs will have a poor appetite with higher levels of pain. I would recommend that Jax be checked out by a vet to figure out why he is limping (possible bone fracture, muscle sprain, muscle spasm, etc.) so that he can be appropriately treated. Other causes of a poor appetite in a puppy include nausea from dietary intolerance or indiscretion, food allergy, intestinal parasites, GI blockage, gastroenteritis, bacterial or viral infection, among a few others. These can be discussed at the same appointment that is made to have the limp checked out.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dogs. Hip and knee pain is a common cause of rear limb lameness in large breed dogs. Arthritis tends to develop in either or both joints making the animal reluctant to move. Over time they will lose muscle mass in the rear limbs as they bear more weight on the front end to compensate. This could be what you are recognizing in your dogs. Other causes of weight loss include increased activity levels, diet changes (dog food can vary drastically in the number of calories per cup) or hormonal or metabolic disorders. If the dogs are acting ill, they should go to the veterinarian for further testing. I hope this information helps!

You can try restricting activity to just leash walks for elimination. Prevent any running, jumping or rough play. If the lameness does not begin to improve after 24-48 hours, then Bella should be seen by your veterinarian. If you notice any bruising or swelling, this is also reason for an exam. Do not give her any OTC medications for pain as many are toxic or easily overdosed. Contact your vet to discuss pain management if necessary.