How to tell if your dog has lost weight: a note for pet owners
Not all owners fully understand what is the normal weight for a dog.
This is why there are quite a lot of obese pets among four-legged friends.
However, if a dog is losing weight rapidly and this is visible to the naked eye, there is reason to worry.
Why did the dog lose weight?
The following signs indicate that your pet is losing weight:
- the animal's ribs are visible to the naked eye and it seems that there is no fat layer at all;
- at the base of the tail, bones protrude outward;
- vertebrae and other bones can be easily felt under the skin;
- The spine is easily visible from above.
The reasons may lie in nutrition. For example, some dry foods are too unbalanced in their composition, so the pet may starve.
Rapid weight loss can also indicate illness. And only a doctor can tell you which one, since such a symptom is typical for toothache, gastrointestinal problems, and more serious problems, including cancer.
Dogs also lose weight as they age, as they find it increasingly difficult to maintain muscle mass and develop gastrointestinal problems.
