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My 7-year-old dog is losing weight fast. What tests should my vet do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Male | neutered | 7 years and 9 months old | 61 lbs

My dog is 7 and has lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks and iv had him checked for worms and it was negative and his gums are bright red but not tarter on his teeth I have them cleaned regularly and he is running a temp of 102 and his heart and lungs sounded good my vet said so I was wondering is my vet missing something or what should my next step be . He still has energy but wears down faster then normal and he eats none stop but it’s like nothing helps him gain weight I have even added puppy to his diet

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Mariya Gugel, DVM

Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 15th, 2018

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!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 9th, 2018

    Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would certainly consider intestinal parasites as a cause, especially with weight loss, so I would recommend asking your veterinarian to run these tests. The weight loss has be concerned that there is something else that is going on that has not yet been diagnosed. If blood tests are coming back normal, I would recommend having an abdominal ultrasound performed to see if there are any abnormalities that may indicate Cooper has Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or some other GI inflammatory disease. 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.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My dog has worms and is losing weight. What vet test is needed?
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Intestinal parasites can be ruled out quickly with a fecal test. Once your vet determines the type of parasite, they can recommend the appropriate dewormer. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any questions you have!
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My dog is losing weight, pooping a lot, and tired. Does he have worms?
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.
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Why is my dog lethargic and losing weight if blood tests are normal?
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My dog is underweight and won't gain weight. What vet tests are needed?
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My dog eats a lot but is losing weight. Why is he so thin?
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My dog is losing weight, eating well, but has low energy. Why?
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What tests for my senior dog losing weight despite eating a lot?
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