Why is my German Shepherd skinny and has yellow stools post-Giardia?

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

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.

The product is a good broad spectrum dewormer, but the picture is too blurry to tell the dosing . It should be labeled for how much to give on a weight basis. Intestinal parasites can cause weight loss, but in a German Shepherd Dog I also worry about exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This can cause diarrhea and significant weight loss as the dog Can not absorb nutrients effectively. A blood test called a TLI tests For that. If you do not have a veterinarian close you may consider traveling to see one as if it is EPI they can fail to thrive and actually starve to death even if they are eating normally. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor guy! Causes of vomiting are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infections, dietary indiscretion, foreign body, food allergy/intolerance, new food/treat.human food, intestinal disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or pancreatic disease. I am in agreement with you about your dog. German Shepherds, at least in the US have a lot of intestinal and pancreatic disease, specifically Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Sometimes they have both conditions. Symptoms of IBD are weight loss with or with out vomiting or diarrhea. Signs of EPI are weight loss and diarrhea. I recommend deworming him 3 weeks apart with Drontal plus to cover parasites: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1459 Then I would start him on a prescription hydrolyzed diet, you will need a prescription from a Vet. I like Royal Canin Ultimino or HP or Purina HA: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-hydrolyzed-protein-adult-dry-dog-food If there is no improvement in weight or vomiting in 2 months then consider a trial of pancreazyme (supplement for EPI), again you will need a Vet to prescribe it for you: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11245 I know there isn't a Vet close by but I highly encourage you to find one and have them examine your dog. It is best to figure out what is wrong with someone who can help you along the way. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!

Chronic diarrhea can be a frustrating issue! In a young German Shepherd, my main concerns for Charlie are that he may have intestinal parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or inflammatory bowel disease. If he has not recently had a stool sample checked for parasites, this is a good starting point. If no parasites are seen, consider discussing blood work (CBC, chemistry, B12, TLI, folate) and an abdominal ultrasound to try to get to the bottom of this situation. Probiotics (Fortiflora and Proviable are two brands) may be beneficial. I hope that all goes well!

There are many different reasons a dog can lose weight and many digestion issues can cause poor coat quality and colour due to reduced absorption of many nutrients. Try feeding a high quality skin diet balanced for optimal supplement for healthy skin and monitor improvement over 4-6 weeks. Royal canin skin care or German shepherd diet would be preferred options. A blood test and assessment for pancreatic function may also need to be considered