KING: To skinny?

[doglovin]

King has lost a bit of weight lately, and I'm not really sure if I should be concerned?I am worried. I only am, because he's an old dog [10yrs]. He is eating like a horse as usually, and eating his normal amount [3 1/2 cups a day + treats]. We usually have a hard time keeping his weight down enough so that he isn't FAT. It could be the cold weather though he is an inside dog.

You can see his ribs, and feel them. Not sure if that is good for an old dog.

Dax, I would appreciate your advice as well?

I just took these pictures of him.
Please remember that he is a thick boned dog, so what may appear as bulk to you may not be meat but just thick body frame.

EDIT: His arthritis is MUCh better this winter from last. I think that the chondroitin [ugh, Sp?] and glucosamine as well as the new food has REALLY helped him with that.

[Lessica Jake]

He looks a tad on the thin side to me, but nothing I would be terribly concerned about as long as he doesn't get much thinner.

How many of his ribs can you see? It should only be like the last 2-3, I believe.

[rutylr]

With old dogs there always a chance with cancer.If you are worried about it take the dog in.X-ray and do blood work.I would.
Donna

[doglovin]

Originally Posted by rutylr

With old dogs there always a chance with cancer.If you are worried about it take the dog in.X-ray and do blood work.I would.
Donna

What are some sign that he has Cancer?

[Dax]

He does not look too bad now. Take a bathroom scale and have your dad weight him - then weight himself (the difference is what King weights). Do this over a couple of weeks - if it continues to drop it could be the sign of something else being wrong.

Diabetes comes to mind for sudden weight loss. His coat looks good. He actually looks very good for a 10 year old dog.

[Dax]

Have you noticed that his poop has changed? Any bleeding from mouth or bum? Does he act sick? During his next visit (or if weight loss persists) , speak to your vet about your concerns.

Canine cancer symptoms
Unlike many other diseases, cancer begins without symptoms. There’s no sudden-onset fever or rash or cough, or spell of vomitting or diarrhea to alert the owner that something is wrong. Owners should therefore be vigilant, especially with older dogs and with breeds that have a history of inherited forms of cancer.

Annual checkups that include abdominal palpation, a thorough hands-on exam, and a look in the dog’s mouth are essential for early detection of many tumors, but owners must also check their dogs for any new or changed lumps or bumps and for emergence of the following symptoms1:

Abnormal swellings that continue to grow, especially in the nymph nodes.
Sores do not heal.
Bleeding or discharge from the mouth, nose, urinary tract, rectum, or vagina.
Offensive odor.
Difficulty eating or swallowing.
Difficulty breathing.
Difficulting urinating or defecating.
Hesitation to exercise or loss of energy.
Loss of appetite, weight loss.
Persistent lameness or stiffness of movement.
Lumps in the breast area.
Abnormality or difference in size of testicles.
Obviously, many of these symptoms are common in other diseases as well; an appointment at the veterinary clinic is necessary to determine whether they are signs of cancer

Diet
Dogs with cancer can become malnourished if their metabolic processes are affected by the disease or if they suffer from nausea, vomiting, or intestinal upsets as a result of chemotherapy treatment. Because optimum nutrition is necessary to fight the disease throughout the treatment period and to maintain optimum health when the treatment is over, Hills Pet Nutrition, the University of Colorado, and the Morris Animal Foundation pooled resources to create a special diet for cancer patients. The resulting formula is available as Hill’s Prescription Diet® Canine n/d.



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[BabyElephant]

He doesn't look skinny at all to me - he looks really good. I love his shiny coat! If you are concerned I would do what Dax suggests with the weighing scales - that way you can see what's going on and then make a decision as to whether or not a vet trip is in order.

[doglovin]

Our GR we had had diabetes, only she was terribly FAT. I guess it goes both ways?

King has a few of the above symptems. I'm going to talk to mom and dad about getting a check-up for King.

Kings symptoms:

Swelling on lower back
Weight loss
Stiffness of movement

[BratBoxers]

Originally Posted by DaxAriel's Toy

He does not look too bad now. Take a bathroom scale and have your dad weight him - then weight himself (the difference is what King weights). Do this over a couple of weeks - if it continues to drop it could be the sign of something else being wrong.

Diabetes comes to mind for sudden weight loss. His coat looks good. He actually looks very good for a 10 year old dog.

This is what i was thinking Diabetes for sudden weight loss he looks great for the age.

[doglovin]

Yes Thankyou, he is my handsome boy. He doesn't even have a grey face or anything, although he does have odd white hairs here and there. That only makes me worry about him more though. If he's not showing it on the outside... I go totally by things that are different in his attitude etc, always worried that something might be wrong. He DOES get very achey in the bones, and sometimes really weak when he tries to get up after sleeping, but it is better then last year. Maybe I need to relax more?