weight loss in dogs with kidney disease
Why Your Dogs Losing Weight and What to Do
Its normal for a dogs weight to vary a little bit over time. If you change their diet to one that isnt to their liking, theyll probably lose a few pounds. Or maybe they are staying inside more during the winter; in this case, theyll probably gain a little.
But what about a dog that keeps losing weight and you dont know why? Unexplained weight loss can be the first sign that a health problem is brewing.
Why Is My Dog Losing Weight?
Weight loss in dogs has many causes. Problems with a dogs diet, environment, and health could all be to blame. Here are a few of the most common causes of unexplained weight loss:
A problem with their food: Dogs may eat less when there is something they dont like about their food. A change in diet may be to blame, or perhaps a large bag of food has started to go bad before your dog has finished it. Feeding too little or giving your dog low-quality dog food can also lead to weight loss.
Stress:A dog thats anxious or stressed may find it hard to relax and eat because they feel like they always need to be on alert.
Exercise: Dogs that start exercising more but dont take in more calories will lose weight.
The environment: Dogs require extra energy to stay warm when they spend lots of time in the cold. Conversely, hot temperatures can reduce a dogs appetite.
Reproduction:Pregnancy and lactation (nursing puppies) put extra nutritional demands on dogs. If they dont take in more calories, they will lose weight.
Dental disease and other oral problems: Any problem that makes chewing and swallowing painful or difficult will discourage a dog from eating.
Intestinal worms and other parasites: Parasites get their nutrition from their hosts, which can lead to weight loss in dogs.
Cancer: Cancer cells use energy to grow and divide, and this means that the energy is not available to the dog, so they often lose weight. Cancer can also directly affect a dogs digestive system and appetite.
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: Problems that affect the functioning of the digestive tract can reduce a dogs appetite or their ability to digest and absorb nutrients. Inflammatory bowel disease, lymphoma, adverse food reactions, or partial intestinal blockages could be to blame.
Nasal problems: Any condition that affects a dogs ability to smell their food can lead to a reduced appetite.
Diabetes mellitus: The changes in glucose metabolism seen with diabetes mellitus frequently lead to weight loss in dogs, even when they have a good appetite.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI): When dogs have EPI, they dont produce enough of the digestive enzymes needed to break down food and absorb nutrients.
Infections: Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections can directly affect the GI tract and lead to weight loss. Fighting an infection anywhere in the body requires extra energy, and if dogs dont eat more, they will lose weight.
Kidney and liver disease: When the kidneys or liver dont function properly, waste products of metabolism build up in the bloodstream, which can make a dog nauseated and not feel like eating. Dogs with kidney disease may also lose protein in their urine, which can lead to weight loss.
Heart disease: Weight loss is common as heart disease progresses. The exact causes of this are unknown, but the condition goes by the name cardiac cachexia.
Addisons disease:Dogs with Addisons disease (hypoadrenocorticism) dont produce enough of certain types of adrenal hormones, which can lead to poor appetite and weight loss.
Hyperthyroidism: Although hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs, it can increase their metabolic rate and lead to weight loss.
Neurologic conditions: Any disease that adversely affects a dogs ability to eat and swallow can result in weight loss.
Is My Dog Too Skinny?
Regularly checking your dogs weight by using an accurate digital scale is the best way to monitor for weight loss or gain. However, evaluating a dogs body condition score can also help you determine if your dog is too skinny. In general, a dog might be too skinny if:
You can easily see their ribs or other bony points.
When looking down from the top, they have a very pronounced waist.
When looking from the side, they have an exaggerated abdominal tuck.
When to See Your Vet About Your Dogs Weight Loss
A little bit of weight loss isnt always an emergency. As long as your dog doesnt have any other signs of illness, you could try to change their diet or environment to see if it solves the problem. But there are times when you should get your dog to a veterinarian ASAP:
Puppies shouldnt lose weight! As they grow, puppies should be gaining weight, so call your veterinarian immediately if your puppy is losing weight or getting too skinny.
Weight loss in a dog thats older or has an underlying health problem is always concerning. The risk of serious diseases that cause weight loss increases as dogs get older.
Weight loss combined with symptoms of illness is never normal. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog has difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, weakness, lethargy, increased thirst and urination, or any other worrisome symptoms. If your dogs symptoms are severe, call a vet immediately to determine if you should head to the clinic right away.
Rapid or pronounced weight loss should always get your attention. Any health problem can lead to serious weight loss. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog has lost more than 10% of their normal body weight or is losing 2% or more of their body weight per week. Heres what that can look like for dogs of different sizes:
Serious Weight Loss in Dogs
Normal Weight in Pounds | Current Weight in Pounds | Rapid Weight Loss |
10 | 9 | 0.2 pounds/week |
25 | 22.5 | 0.5 pounds/ week |
50 | 45 | 1 pound/week |
75 | 67.5 | 1.5 pounds/week |
100 | 90 | 2 pounds/week |
How Do Vets Treat Unexplained Weight Loss in Dogs?
A veterinarian will start by asking you a lot of questions about your dogs diet, appetite, environment, behavior, medical history, and any current medications (including parasite preventives) or supplements that you are giving. They will also determine how many calories your dog is taking in each day and if this amount should be meeting their energy needs.
Next, they will perform a complete physical examination and use the information they uncover to recommend treatment or further diagnostic testing. A basic laboratory workup includes a fecal examination, bloodwork, and a urinalysis. Additional testing can involve x-rays, ultrasound examinations, specialized lab tests for specific health problems, endoscopy, exploratory surgery, and tissue biopsies.
Whenever possible, veterinarians will recommend treatment for a dogs weight loss that aims to cure or at least improve its underlying cause. For example, they will prescribe a dewormer if a dog has intestinal parasites, dental care for damaged teeth, or antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Oftentimes, a change in diet can also help dogs regain the weight theyve lost. Options include:
High-calorie, nutrient-dense dog foods for generalized weight gain
Highly digestible diets when GI function is impaired
Dog foods with added fiber may be appropriate for some types of GI problems or for dogs with diabetes
Hypoallergenic dog foods made from novel ingredients, hydrolyzed proteins, or individual amino acids for food allergies and intolerances
Disease-specific diets like those designed to help manage kidney or liver disease
The right food and other treatments will depend on the specifics of your dogs case. Dont wait too long to get your dog the care they need. Its easier to manage a dogs weight loss when it hasnt had a chance to progress too far.
Featured Image: iStock/Capuski
The Basics of Losing Weight with Kidney Disease
Maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits, including increased energy and fewer health complications, and is especially important for people living with kidney disease. Losing extra weight can reduce the stress on your immune and cardiovascular systems, helping you stay healthier longer. Losing weight can also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, or if youre already managing these conditions, it can help you better control them.
If you also have type 2 diabetes, losing weight has been shown to improve your bodys use of insulin, helping control your blood sugar levels.
2As you lose weight, you may need fewer diabetes medications.
2Your weight is also linked to your blood pressureas you gain weight, your risk of high blood pressure increases.
3Therefore, losing weight can help lower your blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy weight can help keep your blood pressure in check. And lowering your blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Following a
kidney-friendly dietwill also help you lose weight by fostering healthy food choices. When living with kidney disease, your kidneys arent able to filter excess fluid and waste from your body, so its important to be mindful of what you eat and drink. With the support of your doctor and renal dietitian, youll learn how to read food labels and what to avoid. The good news is, there are so many healthy and delicious kidney-friendly recipes to choose from, so you dont have to sacrifice flavor or the things you love. Over time, as you become more aware of what youre eating and incorporate more kidney-friendly meals into your diet, youll naturally begin to lose weight by cutting out processed foods for fresh, nutritious foods.
10 Strategies for Putting Weight on a Dog With Kidney Disease
Kidney disease often leads to significant weight loss in dogs. Whats more, dog owners are sometimes compelled to switch to low-calorie diets as a means of managing this condition.
However, if your pup stays on this diet for too long or is unable to consume enough of it, they may experience muscle loss over time, making it a challenge to maintain a healthy weight.
This can potentially worsen the dogs condition, as reduced muscle mass puts additional strain on the kidneys.
To help your dog with kidney disease maintain a healthy weight, its important to implement effective strategies for weight gain without exacerbating their symptoms. This includes avoiding foods high in protein, sodium, and phosphorous.
In this post, Ill guide you through these strategies. Lets get started
How to Put Weight on a Dog with Kidney Disease
Much like humans, every dog has different caloric needs. While some may gain significant weight on a given diet, others may barely see an increase.
Therefore, I strongly advise you to make a trip to the vet if you notice sudden weight loss in a dog with kidney disease.
The vet will assess the dogs condition, determine the extent of muscle mass loss (not just fat), and investigate if there are any other underlying conditions.
Once you receive the green light from your vet, you can begin experimenting with the tips I recommend here.
1. Increase the Amount of Fats and Fatty Acids
Since your dog has experienced weight loss and likely a significant decline in appetite, its important to consider ways to help him maintain a healthy weight by increasing his intake of high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods.
One of the most effective methods is gradually incorporating more fats into his diet.
Fats are low in phosphorous and outperform proteins and carbs when it comes to providing bulk in your dogs food.
Since your sick dog can only consume a limited amount of food each day, opting for a calorie and fat-rich diet can assist in meeting his high-energy demands.
I recommend incorporating fatty meats like lamb or pork, whole milk products, a small amount of bacon for appetite stimulation and extra calories, and fish oil for its omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties and combat free radicals, ultimately alleviating pressure on the dogs kidneys.
Be sure to avoid foods that are overly oily or greasy, as they may lead to stomach upset and worsen your pups kidney disease symptoms.
2. Feed High-Quality Protein
To help your dog in maintaining a healthy weight, focus on providing high-quality protein.
This is crucial because your dog needs a sustainable source of energy, and nothing beats fats and proteins for this purpose.
However, not all proteins are created equal. Opt for high-quality proteins, which come from fresh, whole-food diets with easily digestible proteins.
Avoid low-quality proteins found in kibble and some commercial diets.
I highly recommend feeding your dog raw diets as they are easily digestible.
3. Provide More Frequent Meals
If your dog struggles to eat his meals in one or two sittings, splitting them into three or more portions throughout the day can really make a difference.
This way, he can receive all the intended nutrients gradually, which can aid in maintaining a healthy weight or even putting on a bit more.
4. Feed More Fresh Foods
Since your dogs appetite may have waned, dry food might not be as appealing.
In this case, turning to fresh foods can be a great alternative, as they tend to have stronger scents compared to dry options.
5. Regular Exercise
Alongside dietary adjustments, its important to ensure your dog is getting an appropriate amount of exercise to keep his system functioning optimally.
Exercise not only aids in building muscle mass but also stimulates a healthy appetite.
I understand that your dog may be weak due to his condition, but consider light exercise routines like short, leisurely walks.
If walking is too strenuous, try techniques such as holding him in your arms while gently bouncing up and down or using a trampoline.
These gentle movements can help stimulate his circulatory system.
6. Incorporate Supplements
Balancing protein, fats, phosphorous, and sodium contents in all your dogs meals can be a daunting task, especially if its your first time caring for a dog with kidney disease.
Fortunately, there are several supplements formulated to alleviate this burden and eliminate the guesswork.
The only drawback is that they may be pricier than other commercial foods.
However, here are some highly recommended options (based on the rave reviews they have received), all priced below $25.
7. Add an Appetite Stimulant to Your Dogs Food
As kidney disease progresses, your dog may lose his appetite, which can further worsen his condition.
To stimulate his appetite, consider adding sweet items like honey or maple syrup to his food.
This will help increase his interest in meals, allowing him to enjoy his food and get the nutrients he needs to maintain a healthy weight.
Always ensure that any appetite stimulant you use is free from sodium, phosphorous, or excess proteins
8. Increase Water Intake
Hydration is very important to a dog with kidney disease because, without sufficient water in the body, efficient filtration of blood is impaired.
Accordingly, always ensure that your sick dog is hydrated all the time by availing clean, fresh water all the time.
I highly recommend giving your sick dog filtered water to limit the amount of toxin load that gets into the system. Remember that tap water in most regions is loaded with a lot of toxins.
You can also increase your pups water intake by feeding him more wet foods, which inherently have higher moisture content.
If you have to give him dry foods, consider soaking them in water or appropriate doggy soup before feeding.
9. Change Diet Gradually
Regardless of the food you choose to help your dog gain weight, make sure to introduce it slowly to allow your dogs system to adjust.
This will also give you an opportunity to observe for any abnormal reactions and address any potential issues early on.
10. Manage Stress
If your dog is frequently stressed, hes less likely to maintain a healthy weight.
In addition to making dietary changes, create a calm and secure environment where he feels safe.
Spend plenty of time with him to strengthen the bond between you both. This will enhance his overall sense of well-being
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