My older dog's spine is showing and hips look narrow. Is he sick?

Adorable! Aging muscle wasting can cause the back bone to be more prominent. If she is not losing weight then keeping her exercising will help maintain her muscle mass. Is she is losing weight I recommend increasing her food and bring her in for a senior exam and blood panel. They will check her teeth too to make sure everything is normal for her age. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Muffy.

Chronic diseases and cancer can cause a condition known as cachexia where they get very skinny; but they would also have other signs of disease. The hallmark of cachexia is muscle wasting; so if Val seems to have a lack of muscle on the upper legs and spine, then I would be worried that there is some chronic condition. If the legs look like they have good muscle and the spine is not obviously jutting out, then this is not cachexia and would not be a concern. I'm assuming the veterinarian had already ruled this out, so that's why they would not be too worried. If it's not cachexia, then it is probably a good thing that she is thin, because skinny dogs, on average, are healthier and live longer. If it is cachcexia, then I would have the bloodwork checked for any signs of disease or organ failure. I would also check for parasites, as this can cause weight loss over time. I hope that helps and all is well with Val.

I would definitely recommend some blood work, if this hasn't been done recently. Older dogs are prone to a number of health issues that can cause decreased appetite along with being less active - chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism are two possibilities that are both very common. In many cases, these issues are treatable (at least to some extent) once a diagnosis is made, so it's well worth checking for them if you can - hopefully, there are some things you can do to make him feel better for as long as possible, even though he's getting older.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dogs. Hip and knee pain is a common cause of rear limb lameness in large breed dogs. Arthritis tends to develop in either or both joints making the animal reluctant to move. Over time they will lose muscle mass in the rear limbs as they bear more weight on the front end to compensate. This could be what you are recognizing in your dogs. Other causes of weight loss include increased activity levels, diet changes (dog food can vary drastically in the number of calories per cup) or hormonal or metabolic disorders. If the dogs are acting ill, they should go to the veterinarian for further testing. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like what you are describing is weakness. Did your pup have a neurologic exam? What we look for is evidence of pain (although this can sometimes be inconsistent in pets), loss of sensation to the feet (does he fail to flip his foot back over when the top of his foot is placed down?), and presence or absence of reflexes. The results of these tests can help to determine if it's neurologic in origin and what portion of the spinal cord may be affected. Although, it can sometimes be hard to differentiate orthopedic from neurologic disease. Plain xrays of the spine are helpful to rule out any bony abnormalities, and sometimes we can see evidence of narrow disc spaces, but ultimately we cannot see the spinal cord, nerves leaving the spinal cord, or the soft tissues. If a neurologic problem is suspected an MRI is often needed. But, there are also some other conditions that can cause weakness that are metabolic in origin (has your guy had any senior lab work recently?) or related to loss of signaling to the muscles (for example a disease called myasthenia gravis) or related to a degenerative process such as degenerative myelopathy. If there is a component of pain detected on exam then anti-inflammatory pain medication may help. If you feel like things are getting worse it would be a good time to have a re-evaluation with your family vet. Another option as well, if a neurologic process is suspected, would be to have a consult with a veterinary neurologist. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

So sorry Poppy is having this problem. There are many possible causes including kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal issues, infections, etc. The only way to know the cause is to have a vet do a workup with blood work and x-rays. If she has had the lumps for many years then they are likely not related to the problem but your vet could aspirate them to confirm. Please call your vet and have her seen as soon as possible.

Dogs can get thin as they get senior or geriatric. I recommend giving a good quality senior diet and you may try adding in another small meal during the day or before bed. Giving additional healthy dog treats will increase the calories he’s eating to prevent continued weight loss. If he starts not eating well, or the weight loss continues I do recommend a veterinary exam and tests to determine the reason so you can start any treatment if needed before he gets too debilitated. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Oban.