My GSD is thin, not eating, and straining to poop. Should I see a vet?

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!

I am sorry to hear that your dog isn’t feeling well. Many different problems can cause the signs your are seeing. These include Addison’s disease, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and exocrine pancreatic Insufficiency , and even cancer. EPI is common in shepherds and this could certainly happen in young dogs. Ideally an examination and blood work should be done by a veterinarian for a diagnosis. If that is the problem then adding pancreatic enzymes such as Prozyme and feeding a bland diet such as hills i/d can make a big difference. Best of luck and I hope you get an answer soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Losing weight fast is usually a sign of a serious medical condition, unfortunately this is also a very general symptom, you will need to take him to the vet to get it checked first, he will need to have a blood test and xray/ultrasound done to start with.

As a breed, German Shepherd‘s tend to be thin dogs and some lines are more thin than others. Continue feeding him a high-quality, high protein diet. I recommend the brand Royal Canin. Be careful with exercise and make sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Lastly, Colt is not done growing yet. The first year of life is devoted to upward growth and the second year of life is when pets fill out so he is still developing. I hope this helps. You may speak with your veterinarian about sending off a blood sample for analysis to find out if the platelet count is truly abnormal or if any blood parasites or seen. Best of luck.

It would be worth rechecking a stool sample to be sure the giardia is cleared and also to check for signs of poor digestion. German shepherds are prone to very sensitive digestion and in some cases are unable to digest regular food due to an enzyme deficiency from the pancreas. In these cases, diet change to a hydrolyzed food and enzyme supplementation can be very helpful to restore body weight

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cesar. This is not a normal consistency of feces. The stool should be formed and solid. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian for fecal testing. An infection should be ruled out. A diet change can help to improve stool quality if those tests are negative. Finally, there is a condition known as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) that is common in his breed. I recommend discussing these possibilities with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!