My rescue German Shepherd is thin, eats a lot. Does he have worms?

Hi. I'm not sure how old she is, but yes, I recommend getting her seen for basic exam and lab work. She could still have worms even if you don't see them with the naked eye. So a fecal test to the lab would be the first step. Basic lab work to make sure liver and kidneys and electrolytes are all normal will need to be to be checkee as well. A common condition in German shepherds is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This is a condition in which the body isn't able to digest or absorb nutrients properly. The pets eat well and act hungry, but don't gain weight. There is a test for this condition as well. Your veterinarian will help guide the diagnostics once the exam and symptoms are reviewed. Good luck.

Yes, some dogs are just thin! It is good you noted her stool is normal and that she is eating well. Before I chalk it up to being naturally thin, there are a few things I would want to make sure of including parasites, disease and nutrition. It is always a good idea to rule out parasites with a stool sample to the lab since they can be microscopic. GSD are also prone to a disease that can make it very hard for them to gain weight but typically these dogs have 'greasy' looking stools. There are tests to rule this out. I would also make sure she is on a high protein food- your vet may recommend a prescription working dog food if she is thin to the point of concern. But if all this checks out and she is naturally thin- then I would be glad to have a dog that watches her weight:) I hope this helps!

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.

It's possible that he still has intestinal worms. Not all worms are killed by routine deworming, so I would recommend a fecal test by your veterinarian to see if he has any current parasites. He does look a little on the thin side, but not a ton. Most pets are overweight and so sometimes people think healthy dogs are too thin. I think it would be reasonable to increase his food by 10% to see if he fills out a bit. You want to be able to easily feel his ribs and hips, but not see the bones.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. She does look very slim. A test for EPI will be definitely a very good idea as the symptoms are consistent with EPI and this disease usually affects German Shepherd Dogs. You local vets will be able to take a blood sample and send it off for testing towards EPI. Good luck

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Keep in mind that you may perceive him as being eating a lot but his caloric intake may not be sufficient for his body weight. This is easily calculated with the following formula: Trooper's body weight (in kilograms [which is his weight in pounds divided by 2.2]) multiplied by 30 plus 70. This total you multiply it by 1.8 and the result would be the amount of calories that he should be eating per day to gain and maintain a healthy body weight. You can always find the caloric intake of the food you are feeding Trooper online. If you have any questions regarding how to calculate his needed caloric intake per day, contact your veterinarian. Good luck and have a great day!

German Shepherd Dogs are predisposed to a disease called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) which causes chronic diarrhea and weight loss due to maldigestion. This disease is fairly simple to diagnose and treat. Here is a link with more information on this disease: https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1627