My 11-year-old Boxer is skinny. Should I worry if he's happy and eats well?

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.

He is very under weight. While parasites may be compromising things, it is unlikely the source of his problems. His belly may be getting larger from accumulating fluid. Heart worms are common in the south and cause heart failure and liver congestion in severe cases. The fluid build up may be from an infection or tumor or an disease with his intestines. I am afraid he is to the point where he needs to be taken to a vet for further testing to find out the problem.

I would agree that Thor is much thinner than he should be. There are many different reasons for weight loss and muscle wasting, including hormonal conditions, parasitic conditions, certain infectious / inflammatory conditions, simply not eating enough over a long period, and of course, certain cancers. My advise to you would be to have Thor examined by your regular veterinarian via physical exam. They will determine if there is a need for further diagnostic laboratory work or imaging. It is often very difficult to make a diagnosis via physical exam unless there is some obvious and palpable inside of or on the outside of the animal. Supportive information via lab work and imaging is very often needed. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Stone is a little thin from the photos, and the amount of weight he has lost in the past 3 weeks is definitely cause for concern. The next steps after checking for intestinal parasites include blood work to make sure that there isn't an underlying infection present and that organ function is normal. It can also determine that food is being digested and nutrients are absorbed appropriately. X-rays and an ultrasound can rule out masses, obstructions, and inflamed bowels. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

He actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine him to be sure, but the biggest indication that he is not underweight is the fact that he appears to have well-developed muscles. Dogs of this breed tend to be naturally lean and put more weight on their muscles rather than their ribs, or belly. If I was concerned that he was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing him to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate him, so you can ensure he's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed him unnecessarily. Dog obesity is a big problem in the U.S., which means that the average person thinks a fat dog is at ideal weight; and a dog with an ideal body condition, or a lean body condition is thought to be starving. The truth is that the lean dogs are statistically healthier and live longer than overweight dogs. Some dogs (much like people) are able to naturally maintain a lean body condition. Leo is one of those dogs, but would urge you to have a veterinarian examine him to make that call. Below is a link to a body condition scoring guide. This is what veterinarians use when assessing whether a dog is overweight or underweight. We prefer them to be at a BCS of 4 or 5, but some are naturally at a 3. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf At this time, I recommend feeding him normally and would not recommend a diet change until he can be evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope that helps and all is well with Leo.

Is it when she goes through a heat cycle? I would get some blood work on her to make sure systemically there is nothing going on. I would also document when her cycles are to see if she is losing weight while she is going through a heat cycle since it can be hormones. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.