And when you see that he’s starting to shed pounds, you need to act quickly. As a responsible pet parent, it’s up to you to be on the alert for changes. Unfortunately, your senior dog can’t tell you when he’s feeling bad. With early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, many dogs will live a normal lifestyle for many months or years, according to the VCA hospital group. Kidney failure is diagnosed by doing a complete urinalysis and a blood chemistry analysis. In addition to significant weight loss, other symptoms include: One of the earliest symptoms is increased water consumption and urination. For most small dogs, the early signs of kidney disease occur around 10 to 14 years, while larger dogs may develop the disease as early as age 7. Image used with permission by copyright holderĮxperts at the VCA hospital group say chronic kidney disease in dogs is associated with aging. Kvamme says that depending on the severity of the liver disease, if the cause is addressed before long-term damage occurs, the prognosis can be excellent. Treatment for liver disease can include fluid therapy, antibiotics, medications to control vomiting and gastrointestinal inflammation, or surgery to remove cysts, gallstones, or cancerous portions of the liver. In addition to weight loss, other common symptoms include: In an article published on PetMD, veterinarian Jennifer Kvamme describes the liver as “a multipurpose organ that detoxifies the blood, helps break down drugs, metabolizes sources of energy, stores vitamins, and glycogen, produces bile acids necessary for digestion, and manufactures important proteins necessary for blood clotting.” According to Kvamme, one of the most common symptoms of liver disease is jaundice, a yellowish tinge to the skin most often noticed in the eyes, gums, and ears. These improvements allow for more accurate diagnoses and better treatments for dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, as the cancer research field has grown for humans, there have been great improvements in the care of animals with cancer as well. In addition to weight loss, symptoms of cancer in dogs may include:Ĭhemotherapy, radiation or surgery, or a combination of these can be used to treat cancer in dogs. Veterinarians say that the ultimate test for cancer is confirmation via a biopsy. A diagnosis of cancer may be based on X-rays, blood tests, and the physical appearance of tumors. Looking for signs your dog has ticks? These telltale symptoms mean you have a flea or tick problemĭo puppies sleep a lot? These are the perfectly normal sleeping habits of a healthy pupĪccording to the AVMA, more than half of dogs over age 10 will develop cancer. Why does my dog have a bald patch on their tail? Here are the answers you need
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