Dog Symptoms Guide

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Weight Gain
The most common nutritional problem in dogs nowadays is obesity! Up to 50% of all dogs are overweight and about 10% of all dogs are clinically obese!

By far the most common reason for a dog to gain weight is overfeeding. Most owners are unaware that they are doing this. Although nearly all types of food come with a feeding guide, most owners also feed titbits or treats and the daily intake of energy often exceeds the nutritional needs of the dog.

Another reason for weight gain is the lack of exercise. This is of course related to the first point, as it is a balance between food intake and energy use, in the shape of exercise, which determines the weight of the dog. Lack of exercise may of course be a consequence of a clinical disease, such as heart disease or arthritis.

There are also several diseases and conditions which can directly affect the weight of the dog. One of these is Cushing’s Disease, a hormonal condition. Another one is Hypothyroidism, an under-active thyroid gland. Diabetes can sometimes lead to weight gain as well. Then there is heart disease, which can lead to weight gain due the retention of fluid. Tumours can sometimes grow so large that they are noticed mainly due to the weight gain of the dog.

If your dog is gaining weight despite a controlled feeding and exercise regime, you should ask your vet for advice.

Weight Loss
Dogs can lose weight as a result of many different conditions. The most obvious is the insufficient uptake of food. This may sound silly, but in some cases dogs simply do not get fed enough food! Most cases of weight loss, however, are the result of actual physical diseases and conditions.

One of the possible reasons is mal absorption. This is when the gut can not absorb all the ingredients from the food. This can be the result of intestinal disease, like chronic enteritis for instance, especially if it involves a large part of the intestine.

Another possibility is mal digestion. This is a problem with the digestion of the food by intestinal enzymes. The latter are produced by the pancreas, a gland in the abdomen next to the liver, and a lack of these enzymes causes insufficient uptake of the nutrients from the food.

There are also several conditions which affect the metabolism as such. One such condition is hyperthyroidism, caused by an overactive thyroid gland. Diabetes mellitus can also cause weight loss as the body can not utilise the glucose in the blood stream due to a lack of the hormone insulin.

Cancer is also often a cause of weight loss, especially in older patients. This is because the cancer takes up a lot of the energy from the food for its own growth. Chronic diarrhoea can also cause weight loss, as the body does not get the chance to absorb the nutrients from the food, which is passed too quickly. Chronic vomiting causes weight loss due to the lack of ingestion of food in the first place.

As weight loss can be caused by so many different conditions, it is always advisable to contact your vet for advice.

Worms
There are many different types of worms in dogs. The two most important ones are roundworms and tapeworms. Other types are hookworms and whip worms. Worms can cause loss of condition, a dull coat, coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea and in severe cases death! Roundworms can also affect humans, especially children, in whom they can cause permanent eye damage.

Adult roundworms resemble white strands of spaghetti and can be transmitted in several ways. Larvae, immature worms, can be transferred to pups from their mother before birth, through the womb, or with the mother’s milk. Adult dogs pick worms up from the environment or by eating mice and earthworms, which could harbour larvae. Eggs can survive in the environment for several years!

Tapeworms resemble long flattened strands of rice grains. They can be as long as 5 metres! They shed segments which can sometimes be seen around the anal opening of dogs. These look like grains of rice and contain thousands of eggs. Tapeworms need an intermediate host for their development, usually a flea. Dogs ingest these fleas when grooming.

In most dogs it is impossible to tell whether they have worms or not. As most dogs will come into contact with worms at some time or another, it is advisable to always worm your dog at regular intervals.Your vet can advice you what the best worming regime is for your dog.