My dog has pale gums, diarrhea, and is losing weight. Is it serious?

Hi. I am very sorry about Holly being so sick. I am very concerned about her pale gum color. She could have a true emergency going on right now - and she should be seen by a veterinarian right away. Pale gums are related to lack of perfusion or anemia (low red blood cell count). Any of the reasons that cause pale gums are a true emergency and she should be examined right away. Very best of luck to you and sweet Holly.

Unless there is massive blood loss in the diarrhea, resulting in the presence of frank blood or digested blood (the stool looks black in these cases), diarrhea cannot cause anemia. I'm glad to hear that Jack is still acting normally despite his diarrhea and slightly lighter pink gums. Gum color can change for a wide variety of reasons, including those associated with blood loss and low blood pressure. A bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice sounds like a great idea for Jack. If his diarrhea continues or worsens, or if he becomes lethargic, vomits, refuses to eat or drink, or has any breathing changes, I recommend taking him to the vet for further evaluation. I hope he's feeling better soon!

Hi. The pale gums and weight loss are very serious signs! I don't know the age, or sex, or history, so it's a bit hard to review the most likely possibilities. But with pale gums and weight loss, 8d be concerned about internal bleeding, cancer, immune mediated disease, parasites, k8dney disease, and many more. An exam, lab work, and x-rays will be needed to get down to the the potential cause. I would recommend getting him seen right away.

Oh dear! Pale or white gums can be associated with severe anemia, shock, or heart failure - this is a very concerning sign that warrants immediate veterinary attention. A warm dry nose is a pretty non-specific sign that doesn't really mean anything in particular, and a pale or thinning haircoat can be associated with any kind of long-term illness. It sounds like Bae may be seriously ill, so I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic tonight to be seen. If this isn't possible, then I would take him to your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning. Your veterinarian can do blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

I am sorry Molly is not feeling well..If mollys mucous membranes (inside of there mouth) are pale I would be concerned she is anemic. It is possible Molly could have parasites. Tapeworms can cause weight loss,anemia,and an itchy rectum. Anemia happens to a patient when red blood cells are being destroyed ( parasite or immune mediated disease ), lost ( trauma, damaged spleen) or not being made (bone marrrow disease ). I would recommend taking Molly to a veterinarians to see if she is anemic and possibly the cause. A complete blood cell count will look at the concentration of her red blood cells and show if she is anemic. A fecal exam will test for parasites like tapeworms.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. This could absolutely be due to anemia given her pale mucous membranes. I recommend that you have Snow evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a good night! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

If she has pale gums then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately to determine the cause and treat, especially if she also has abnormal breathing. Please call your vet or go to an emergency clinic. She could have an infection, parasite, clotting/bleeding problem, hemolytic anemia, mass, etc. and may need immediate treatment.