One of my german shepherds has recently started losing weight for what appears to be no apparent reason. After having the vet look over her and take a blood test it was confirmed there is nothing medically wrong. Ive tried worming her (thinking it could be tapeworm) and also increasing her food to three meals a day and tempting her with meat, eggs, whole milk etc and despite eating alot more than usual she is still losing weight. It cant be stress as nothing has changed with me or her and shes not due in season. Its nothing to bad at the moment but shes starting to look skinny!!! Before i take her to the vets again does anyone have an other possible diagnosis i can try to treat or any tips.

thanks lauren xxx

Is there a possibility it could be hookworm? This can be more difficult to diagnose. Actually, I think it gets forgotten about. Worth speaing to the vet just to check.

Hi Lauren,

If you take her to the vet again, make sure to bring a stool sample so they can examine it for worms under a microscope.   Also, if you haven't used a wormer supplied by the vet I would get one from him/her and worm again.

Have your dogs been outside a lot in cold weather?   Cold weather by itself can burn a lot of calories.

Stacey

Thank you both for your replies.

I have recently wormed her with Flubenol from my vet but i guess it just could take time to work. She hasent been outside alot just for walks so i dont think its the cold weather. Ive been looking up about worms and it seems to be she has prehaps had hookworms as her symptoms are very similar. The vet has reccomended i worm her again in two weeks to get rid of any straggelers so i guess i just have to build her back up. does anyone know of any rich food which will put the weight back on. Vet has suggested "active dog food" but i dont really want to change her main complete food. Id rarther just mix summet with it or offer additional meals and snacks.

There is no reason to feed "active" or a "working" dog formula.  One of the best ways to add weight is to add oil and so you could give her 1000mg of Fish Body Oils per day along with 400 iu of Vitamin E; you cannot overdose on this and both will be good for her immune system, skin and joints.  Tripe (green and raw) is another way of putting on weight or feeding fatty cuts of meat.

Type  "satin balls recipe" in your search engine,alot of show people use this recipe to put weight on their dogs quick before a show,it is also vet approved,it is said to put weight on a dog within days
But rule out any health problems first or else it wont do him any good.

christine

Thank you Christine for that tip, I have found the recipe.

Your welcome lily.
If anyone else tries it let me know if your dog likes it and if it works.
If anyone is confused about the "total cereal" in the recipe it"s just breakfast cereal but i was told not to use cornflakes or weetbix etc. i use "all bran" try and use as natural one as possible.
I have yet to hear of a dog that doesnt like it,even my fusspots love it but beware it does put on weight QUICK.

christine

thank you greatly christine

i have rushed out to buy ingredients immediatly

the recipie i found says use milk soaked porridge oats!!!

will let you know how she gets on!!