Cachexia/Weight Loss

Overview:

Weight loss is not always a desired symptom. Sometimes, it can seem impossible to get certain animals to gain weight. While it is true that there are a few breeds that are naturally thin (Greyhound, Borzoi), there may be an underlying condition that is causing a pet to be thin or to lose weight.

Causes:

A patient will become thin if they are not getting enough nutrients. Typically, if the energy requirement exceeds the energy intake, weight loss will occur. This can be due to inadequate calorie intake (bad diet, painful eating), loss of nutrients from a gastrointestinal disease (parasites, pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease), or hyperactive metabolism of adequate nutritional supply (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer).

Symptoms:

Patients with weight loss can exhibit anorexia, but some patients eat ravenously and still lose weight. Some pets will vomit and have diarrhea along with their weight loss. Fever is not uncommon.

Treatment:

Treatment will depend on the cause of the weight loss. Blood work is vital to establish a diagnosis, along with a fecal examination. It is important to know if the patient desires to eat, but is unable. Parasites are fairly simple to eradicate. Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatic insufficiency are very manageable. Of course cancer has a poorer prognosis, but does have a potential to be treated depending on the type.