My dog is losing weight, eating well, but has low energy. Why?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Stone is a little thin from the photos, and the amount of weight he has lost in the past 3 weeks is definitely cause for concern. The next steps after checking for intestinal parasites include blood work to make sure that there isn't an underlying infection present and that organ function is normal. It can also determine that food is being digested and nutrients are absorbed appropriately. X-rays and an ultrasound can rule out masses, obstructions, and inflamed bowels. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

He definitely looks very thin. The biggest concern with a dog that eats well, but doesn't gain weight is that he has a disease or heavy parasite burden. There are some inherited diseases like liver shunts that can cause them to be unthrifty like this and there are some acquired infections like Babesiosis that can also cause them to look like this. The only way to know is to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. I recommend taking him soon, because he doesn't look like he has much left to lose. It's also good to bring a stool sample to the vet, so they can check for worms. I hope that helps and Wekko gets better soon.

The best way to know if Lewis has parasites would be to have his feces checked for them by a veterinarian. Signs of parasites can vary from no signs to weigh loss, diarrhea/vomiting and lethargy. It depends on what type of parasites are present and how many are there. Some parasites can also spread to people. There are many reasons pets can be underweight and knowing the parasite status is important. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Zoey. There are so many things that can cause weight loss, lack of appetite and lethragy like an infection, parasites, liver or kidney disease, a pyometra (infection if the uterus), cancer, and much more. I would have you vet take a look at her. Your vet will be able to do blood work and possible x-rays if needed. They will be able to get her started on the proper treatment plan to help her feel better. I hope this helps!

Poor Max! Losing weight despite being fed can be a sign of a medical illness, such as diabetes, intestinal parasites, or an inability to properly digest nutrients. I would make sure Max is up to date on his deworming treatment, and if he isn't, you will need to get one from the vet. The constant scratching could be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. I recommend taking him into your vet for an exam. The vet can do a physical exam, routine blood tests, and a urinalysis to see if there is a medical cause behind him losing weight. The vet can also do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm if he is up to date on his flea treatment. I would take him into the vet tomorrow for an exam.

Weight loss can be caused by many problems. A few of these include parasites, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer. I would certainly be worried about the lump on her side and whether or not it is associated with why she is losing weight. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely recommend blood work to help determine why she is losing weight as well as sample the lump to find out if it is anything concerning. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I recommend to have Mony examined by the veterinarian. The weight loss and the decreased energy likely represent illness. This could range from something like a parasite infection to an infection in her uterus. Since she can't talk and tell you whats happening, I recommend to play it safe and have her examined. Regarding the fleas, baths don't tend to work well to control fleas. I recommend to use a monthly flea product. Top products for dogs are oral products such as Simparica and Nexgard. You will need to switch all the pets over to a good flea product. Make sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian first. These products are generally safe for all pets but there are some conditions which are contraindicated for the oral products. Cleaning up and treating the house and yard will also help but it will not clear all the fleas. The main control is making sure the pets are on good products. This is what will ultimately stop the infestation. Also remember every female fleas lays about 50 eggs a day and it could take up to 6 months before the eggs hatch. Therefore, you will need to treat for at least 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.