Healthy 5.5yr old golden losing weight

  Cancer comes to mind, unfortunately. I've heard of dogs losing weight from cancer before they had any other symptoms.

Weight loss can be a lot of things.  The first thing I'd tell them to do is a breed-specific thyroid panel -- either to Michigan State or to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet.

 weight **loss** can be hy**per** thyroid.  NOT good.  Far far better to catch that earlier than later because it can lead to hypertension which can be fatal.  It's totally treatable but dogs don't "act" like they have high blood pressure.

 I would also tell you to have them see if their vet *does* have a blood pressure cuff for a dog (strangely enough not all vet sdo). 

Otherwise -- tic an run the gamut from cancer to senior weirdness.  I would defintely have a broad spectrum blood panel done (not just a CBC and not even just a "senior" profile -- they may need to look **deep** to catch irregularities.

 Now -- at the same time -- Luna is hyPO thyroid -- and we didn't catch it until last year (and only then because I had it sent to Dr. Dodds).  But after we got Tink, the pug ran the basset beagle ragged (not that she minded) but I could NOT keep weight on Luna. 

 We were actually looking for hyper thyroid -- and nope - it came back *low*.  And many of you know that usually low thyroid means they are prone to being *over* weight not under.  (under is usually more a sign of hyper thyroid not hypo!). 

 Weird as it may sound -- yep, I've got a dog who is hypo thyroid and the one big *signal* was that we couldn't keep weight on her.  No skin problems, coat was great -- I just couldn't keep weight on her skinny butt (and it happened between year 5 and 6 as well). 

 To this day she eats THREE TIMES what Tink eats -- and it's only with thyroid supplementation that I can keep weight on Luna

So -- look at the thyroid.  It's not going to happen often that you see low thyroid manifest in low weight but it *can* happen.  But high thyroid is the scarey one.  And this can be futzy to find so honestly have them do it in a breed-specific panel because you likely wouldn't catch this on just a regular thyroid panel.

Thyroid would be easy -- it would be the easiest of all possibilities to be honest.

 Janice we both thought about cancer Golden's are especially prone to it

Callie she is planning on doing the thyroid and blood panel

Either thyroid or diabetis....low blood sugar or high, either way can cause weight loss.  I refuse to even think the C word.

kpwlee

According to my friend all digestive functions are fine

Did they determine this through proper testing I wonder or just by how the poopy looks?

Perhaps the addition of digestive enzymes may temporarily help.

I agree that the whopping blood panel would be a good idea.

Give her my best wishes and vibes.

C;mon folks -- this IS Bella -- this is Bugsy's Bella.  gosh darn it, it's time for Candles -- how many times have we applauded Bugsy's "friends" and see pictures.  Prayers and good thots of the infamous "I-Dog" variety.  I've heard just about enough of the "C" word today on too many fronts!!  Tis time for the Candles page!  (again!)

Candles page

Karen,

What you are describing makes me think of EPI (see here for a simple overview : http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2103&aid=331 and here for more details : http://www.epi4dogs.com/), especially the wanting of more food and the continued weight loss when her portion has been upped. There are some specific tests to measure the level of different digestive enzymes. Do you know if any were performed and if EPI was ruled out ? EPI is treatable but it is better to do so before the dog loose too much body weight.

Good thoughts for sweet Bella.

Thalie

What you are describing makes me think of EPI (see here for a simple overview : http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2103&aid=331 and here for more details : http://www.epi4dogs.com/), especially the wanting of more food and the continued weight loss when her portion has been upped. There are some specific tests to measure the level of different digestive enzymes. Do you know if any were performed and if EPI was ruled out ? EPI is treatable but it is better to do so before the dog loose too much body weight

That's what I was orriginally thinking!

  Given that Jessie has chronic pancreatitis, I was thinking EPI too. Some breeds such as GSD's can be prone to it, but it's not common in most dogs.

 Thank you all - I want to say that she is stable now with her weight and her coat and energy remain fine.  So we are all hopeful it just something that passed.  I will certainly update this thread if we learn anything else

LOL Callie this is his first and most significant love

  Thanks for the update Karen; I've been thinking about her lately.

kpwlee

So we are all hopeful it just something that passed. 

 Amen; hope she stays well.