Dog Losing Weight Chronic Diarrhea

Trixie, a 2-year-old, 44-lb (20-kg) spayed German shepherd crossbreed, was presented for an ≈3-month history of chronic, marked weight loss and small bowel diarrhea. Stool was voluminous, pale in color, and soft and unformed in consistency. Her owner reported that Trixie had a good appetite and appeared to be healthy otherwise. Trial treatment with a hypoallergenic and novel protein diet for 3 weeks did not ameliorate the diarrhea or weight loss.

On physical examination, Trixie was bright, alert, and responsive. Vital signs were within normal limits. Her BCS was 2/9 and she had marked muscle wasting (Figure). Abdominal palpation was normal, and soft, yellow feces was detected during rectal examination; flatulence was also noted. The rest of the examination was within normal limits.

Differential diagnoses included intestinal parasitism, chronic enteropathy (eg, food-responsive enteropathy, antibiotic-responsive enteropathy, immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy), protein-losing enteropathy, juvenile neoplasia, chronic intussusception, chronic foreign body, hypoadrenocorticism (ie, Addison’s disease), chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and infection with Pythium spp, which is endemic in Florida.

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Because of Trixie’s dramatic weight loss, abdominal radiography and ultrasonography were completed on the day of presentation. Radiographs were unremarkable but revealed mild loss of serosal detail, presumably secondary to patient emaciation. Ultrasound images revealed no mural thickening, abdominal mass, lymphadenopathy, or other abnormality. Adrenal glands were slightly decreased in size.

), folate, canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI), and baseline cortisol levels were obtained (Table). The results demonstrated a decreased cTLI, which was diagnostic for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Cobalamin was also decreased, which was consistent with ileal pathology. Baseline cortisol was increased, ruling out hypoadrenocorticism.

She was also given 1 cyanocobalamin tablet daily (1 mg PO every 24 hours is recommended for dogs weighing >44 lb [20 kg]).

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Her owner was instructed to closely monitor Trixie’s stool for improvement in consistency, frequency, and volume and to return to the clinic every 2 weeks for assessment and monitoring for weight gain. Lifelong treatment with enzyme replacement therapy and cyanocobalamin is recommended for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Trixie was also empirically dewormed with fenbendazole (50 mg/kg/day for 5 days).

Trixie was returned for a recheck examination 2 weeks after presentation. She was rapidly gaining weight, and her stool had improved in quality but was still soft; however, she had also started periodically vomiting daily. Tylosin (25 mg/kg every 12 hours) was given because of her history of low cobalamin in conjunction with the high prevalence of dysbiosis and antibiotic-responsive enteropathy (formerly called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).

At the next recheck examination, the owner reported that Trixie was thought to be completely back to normal (ie, prior to the development of clinical signs). There were no GI signs, her BCS was 4/9 and expected to continue to improve, and her weight had increased to 57 lb (26 kg). Over the next few months, her BCS returned to normal (ie, 5/9) and her weight increased to 66 lb (30 kg); pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy was tapered to a lower dose. Tylosin was stopped without recurrence of signs ≈6 weeks after diagnosis. Cobalamin supplementation was continued, and Trixie was transitioned to a primary care veterinarian.Wag! Walk serviceWalking Get their steps in Wag! Drop-In serviceDrop-Ins Brief home visit Wag! Sitting serviceSitting In your home Wag! Boarding serviceBoarding In Caregiver's home Wag! Training serviceTraining 1-on-1 sessions Wag! Premium serviceWag! Premium Save 10%+

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Diarrhea is not a disease itself, but a sign of illness or underlying disease. The increase of the passage of loose stool can come on as an acute episode, or be a chronic occurrence. Diarrhea also means a decrease in the bodily absorption of water, electrolytes, and required nutrients. How serious the illness is will be determined by how long the diarrhea has been going on, and what signs accompany it.

Diarrhea is a common ailment for dogs, and can range from a mild case to very severe. Described as frequent, liquid stools, diarrhea can be secondary to serious illnesses such as cancer, or milder causes like an intestinal infection. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, consult a veterinary caregiver. If treatment is required to resolve the issue, and it is not started soon enough, the situation can quickly escalate to dangerous, due to dehydration and nutrient loss.

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Your Dog Has Diarrhea?

The signs of diarrhea may vary according to whether the episode is of an acute nature, or whether your dog is having a chronic problem. If the diarrhea lasts more than a day or two, or if your dog really looks unwell, contact the veterinarian without delay.

The causes of diarrhea can be numerous and range from mild to serious. Some causes are more easily treated than others, and the regimen for resolving the problem can be more involved. Do not delay if your dog is ill with diarrhea. Solving the problem, and getting your pet back to good health will be faster and more successful with prompt care.

When you bring your dog to the clinic, the veterinary team members will be ready to assess the condition of your pet. Be ready to provide as much relevant information as possible. The veterinarian may ask the following questions.

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If possible, it'll greatly aid the diagnosis if you are able to bring a stool sample to the clinic. The veterinarian will want to test for illnesses such as parvovirus. A stool sample analysis can also point to a parasitic infection if that is the case.

A complete blood count, electrolyte panel, and urinalysis may be done. This helps the diagnosis because bloodwork is a great indicator of how well your dog’s organs are functioning. Results of these tests may also indicate if there is an infection of a bacterial, fungal, or viral type.

Radiographs, sometimes done with a barium contrast, can indicate abnormalities in the intestines. Further diagnostic imaging may include ultrasound or endoscopy. An endoscopy will be done under general anesthetic. Endoscopy through the mouth will show the condition of the stomach and intestine. Done through the rectum, the procedure can show the colon and large intestines, which may show signs of damage, cancer, or polyps.

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A biopsy of the small intestine or large intestine may be recommended. It must be noted that a biopsy of the large intestine must be done surgically. If warranted, your veterinarian may suggest getting the opinion of an internal medicine specialist.

Treatment protocols will always begin with treating any underlying illnesses or diseases that may be affecting your furry canine friend. This is paramount to resolving the diarrhea.

If your dog is very sick or dehydrated when you arrive at the clinic, hospitalization could be how the treatment commences. Intravenous therapy is the best way to stabilize your pet and return system levels to normal ranges.

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If there is a presence of bacteria or worms, appropriate medication will be prescribed in the form of antibiotics or deworming drugs. Antidiarrheal medicine could be given, or depending on the cause; there may be the administration of medications to control the motility (movement) of food through the intestine.

Some protocols can be followed at home, with the direction and support of your veterinarian. For example, acute small intestinal diarrhea can be treated by withholding food for 12 to 48 hours (but never water). If the diarrhea stops, you can slowly reintroduce bland foods such as rice, potatoes, chicken, or cottage cheese in small portions 3 to 6 times per day. The veterinary caregiver can also prescribe a commercial intestinal diet.

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Why Is My Dog Losing Weight—royal Canin ®

Keep the veterinary team up to date on the recovery of your canine family member. Improvement in the diarrhea should be seen within a day or two. If your pet is not getting better, a change of treatment may be necessary. Perhaps additional medication is needed, or further testing is required. Chronic diarrhea could necessitate lifetime dietary management or medication.

Taking care to keep your pet away from garbage, unsuitable foodstuffs, and items that may look like fun to ingest or chew is important. Do not make sudden dietary changes, or feed your dog table scraps. As well, regular visits to the veterinary clinic (for example, to check for parasites or worms) are part of the preventative measures you should take against the recurrence of diarrhea.

Hello so sorry to hear that your dog is not feeling good. Since he is young I really worry about parvo. It would be best for your vet to see your dog and test him for parvo. At home you can give boiled chicken and rice. Also try to syringe water to keep him hydrated

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It seems once a month (for the past 5 months) my dog will experience urgency and diarrhea throughout the night every beginning at 2AM and continue on every 2 hours (4AM, 6AM). This will typically last 2-5 days. Once she wakes in the morning (8AM)