Why is My Dog Losing Weight? Dog Weight Loss Causes and Treatment

The media is full of reports about the increasing obesity problem in pet dogs. So, if your dog is losing weight, you should be pleased, right? If you have cut back on his food intake and increased his exercise, then you can certainly expect him to weigh less. However, if there has been no change to his diet and lifestyle, a sudden loss of weight may be a cause for concern.



There are three main reasons for such weight loss in dogs, and we will have a look at each one in turn.



1. Your dog may have difficulty absorbing food, so he's not actually getting enough nutrients to maintain his body condition. This can stem from a deficiency of digestive enzymes, so that his food can't be broken down enough for his intestines to absorb it. Alternatively, the problem can be with his intestinal wall, and nutrients may not actually be able to pass into his bloodstream.



2. If the nutrients in your dog's food are absorbed normally, there may be something wrong with how his body uses these nutrients. A good example is diabetes - a diabetic dog doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin, so he doesn't metabolise glucose properly. One of the symptoms of diabetes in dogs is weight loss.



3. Lastly, your dog may be using up nutrients faster than he can take them in. This is sometimes normal, for example a bitch feeding her pups - making milk uses up a lot of energy and nutrients. However, it can also occur in conditions such as cancer, where the growth of tumors can increase the body's metabolic rate.



What do you do if you are concerned about your dog's weight loss? Here are some guidelines, but do keep in mind that if you are in any doubt about your dog's health, make an appointment with your vet straight away.



If your dog is bright and alert, and otherwise appears perfectly healthy, you may want to play the waiting game for a little while. Feed him a little more at dinnertime, or change his kibble to one with a higher fat content. Make sure you treat him for intestinal worms, just in case they are contributing to the problem. If his body condition doesn't improve or he continues to lose weight, it's time to investigate.



Look for other symptoms that can give you a clue about what's happening inside your dog's body. For example, if he is a diabetic, he will drink lots of water, and urinate frequently. A problem with absorption of his food will often lead to diarrhea. As mentioned in "Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea - Dog Diarrhea Causes and Treatment" there are also other reasons your dog may develop diarrhea. If your dog is showing any abnormal behavior in association with his weight loss, he needs to be seen by a vet.



You can expect that your vet will want to perform blood tests and to examine your dog's stool. They may recommend x-rays or an ultrasound examination to check for tumors on the inside. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, but may include regular insulin injections to manage diabetes or the addition of digestive enzymes to your dog's food. Excessive drinking may not mean your dog has diabetes. My next article in this series, "Why Is My Dog Drinking Alot? Excessive Drinking In Dogs," discusses the reasons behind excessive drinking and urination in dogs.



Our dogs are like family to us and so naturally it's very upsetting when they become sick. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you knew how to give your dog a check-up, so you could spot a problem early? Before it became truly serious or even life threatening?

Diabetic Diets Helps Diabetes Symptoms and Help You to Lose Weight!

Have you been trying to lose extra weight, but the fad diets and diet pills just make things worse? You may never have been told this, not even by your doctor, but a diabetic diet can help you lose up to thirty pounds in sixty days, if followed and planned properly!



Overweight people run a statistically higher risk of contracting Type II diabetes. This disease is controllable and even potentially curable with proper dieting and regimenting of caloric intake. It in no way needs to be a lethal disease, but it is by far no laughing matter either. Many documented cases of limb loss due to this illness occur. The diabetes epidemic in our modern age has forced the hand of many private pharmaceutical and nutritional companies to release more strictly planned diabetic diet plans to prevent, control, and help eliminate this terrible disease afflicting so many people.



It is a fact that all major diet and weight loss plans are based around diabetic dieting plans, and medication is not enough to prevent, control, or cure it. Diet is absolutely key, and the value of it can in no way be overlooked. Medication alone is merely a band-aid that will never cure the symptoms, and your doctor may never volunteer this information to you.



This is why knowing the symptoms, causes, and treatment plans for diabetes, especially Type II, is crucial. In a world that has plunged into the information age, information is crucial in all aspects of life, and this is truly no exception to the rule.



Fortunately for all, many places offer strictly planned diabetic diets at no cost to you. If you want to prevent this disease from making your life miserable, costing you limbs, and potentially killing you, then it is a wise idea to research professionals near you who can provide this information. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, especially Type II, this is even more tantamount. A lot of free information abounds on the internet that can direct you to help right away.



This disease does not need to afflict you, cripple you, or kill you. Find out what a proper diabetic diet plan can do for your quality of life, health, and longevity today.

Diabetes - How to Lose Weight If You Have Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the curses of the 21st century. Type2 diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin to absorb the glucose levels in the blood. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood is higher than the permissible levels. Prolonged high levels of blood sugar can damage all the internal organs of the body. Type 2 diabetes, if uncontrolled, can lead to a number of deadly diseases.



Most people do not seem to realize the relationship between diabetes and food habits. Not surprisingly, more than 90% of people diagnosed with Type2 Diabetes are overweight! Recent food habits combined with easy, sedentary lifestyle is considered to be at the root of Type 2 Diabetes.



Diabetes has no cure. But, it can be managed very effectively. Since there is a close relationship between food habits and diabetes, it is obvious that changes in diet can help you manage diabetes. In fact, people with borderline diabetes can easily get rid of the excess blood sugar levels simply by losing enough weight. Even if you are diabetic, you can bring blood sugar levels under control by losing weight. According to the American Diabetes Association, reducing your weight by a mere 10 pounds can drastically change your blood sugar levels.



However, people with diabetes may find it extremely difficult to change their food patterns and control their calorie intake. This is because they have to strike a delicate balance in their food intake. Too many calories and they will put on weight, too little and they can easily slip into hypoglycemia. So, the diabetic diet must have all the required nutrients that the patient needs, in the right proportion. At the same time, it must also cut enough calories to help the diabetic patient lose enough weight.



One of the best ways in which people with diabetes can control their weight, eat in a healthy manner and still lose weight is by increasing their fiber intake. Vegetable and fruits are the best sources of natural dietary fibers. So, people with diabetes are often advised to take in plenty of fresh vegetables. However, diabetics cannot take in high amounts of fruits because fruits contain fructose, which in turn gets converted into glucose in the blood. Thus, diabetic patients cannot get their full supply of fiber from food alone.



That is why more than one-third of diabetic patients turn to natural fiber supplements. Guar gum is a natural, water-soluble fiber supplement that can be taken in without any side effects. It bulks up in the stomach, reduces hunger pangs and regulates blood sugar levels.

Diabetic Diets Helps Diabetes Symptoms and Help You to Lose Weight!

Have you been trying to lose extra weight, but the fad diets and diet pills just make things worse? You may never have been told this, not even by your doctor, but a diabetic diet can help you lose up to thirty pounds in sixty days, if followed and planned properly!



Overweight people run a statistically higher risk of contracting Type II diabetes. This disease is controllable and even potentially curable with proper dieting and regimenting of caloric intake. It in no way needs to be a lethal disease, but it is by far no laughing matter either. Many documented cases of limb loss due to this illness occur. The diabetes epidemic in our modern age has forced the hand of many private pharmaceutical and nutritional companies to release more strictly planned diabetic diet plans to prevent, control, and help eliminate this terrible disease afflicting so many people.



It is a fact that all major diet and weight loss plans are based around diabetic dieting plans, and medication is not enough to prevent, control, or cure it. Diet is absolutely key, and the value of it can in no way be overlooked. Medication alone is merely a band-aid that will never cure the symptoms, and your doctor may never volunteer this information to you.



This is why knowing the symptoms, causes, and treatment plans for diabetes, especially Type II, is crucial. In a world that has plunged into the information age, information is crucial in all aspects of life, and this is truly no exception to the rule.



Fortunately for all, many places offer strictly planned diabetic diets at no cost to you. If you want to prevent this disease from making your life miserable, costing you limbs, and potentially killing you, then it is a wise idea to research professionals near you who can provide this information. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, especially Type II, this is even more tantamount. A lot of free information abounds on the internet that can direct you to help right away.



This disease does not need to afflict you, cripple you, or kill you. Find out what a proper diabetic diet plan can do for your quality of life, health, and longevity today.

Diabetes and Weight Control

Many people suffer from the known disease of diabetes. Diabetes is a life threatening disease causing damage to major organs such as the heart, and kidneys. Heart disease is linked to diabetes as well. Diabetes can cause many secondary factors such as losing a limb, blindness, and stroke if not properly controlled. Healthy eating is needed to slow this process. The doctor will give you a diet to follow for healthy eating. The beginning symptoms of diabetes are a low blood sugar a precursor experienced by the person as light-headedness, slight confusion, and an increased heart rate. The person may also experience blurry vision and numbness at the lips. The person may also feel cold. At this point the person should go to the emergency room and become evaluated regarding the symptoms. A history of diabetes in the family in a positive risk factor for diabetes as it indicates that diabetes runs in the family. After a period of time, the blood sugar becomes high above the normal range. The normal blood sugar according to some lab affiliations is considered 70-120. Some labs use 80-120 or 110. It really depends on the lab testing the blood samples. After a firm diagnosis is made, treatment starts with monitoring the blood sugar and a change in diet. If the blood sugar goes down on its own it is probably type 2 diabetes. If it doesn't go down without the help of injected insulin, it most likely is type1 diabetes. A person needs to monitor their blood sugar two-four times a day as prescribed per the doctor. The specialist known as an endocrinologist can advise the person on taking care of the out of range blood sugar and to become educated an aware of the needs for treatment. There are many types of insulin.



Type 2 diabetes is treated with oral insulin or oral hypoglycemic. These medication help lower the blood sugar by increasing the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas. The beta cells of the pancreas become lazy when type 2 diabetes occurs. This often happens with large amounts of belly fat and the amount of insulin it takes to get rid of the sugar in the cells located within the human bloodstream. Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes. I wanted to mention borderline diabetes, which is controlled by diet and doesn't require medication. This is close to the type2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is controlled with synthetic insulin, which is injected into the person via the subcutaneous body tissue and is absorbed into the body. It directly lowers the blood sugar within the body by knocking the sugar out of the cells and then out of the body. The kidneys have to work hard and therefore the person is usually placed and a medication called an ace inhibitor, which protects the kidneys from getting damaged. The names of insulin are regular insulin, Lente insulin, Novolog insulin, and 70/30 mixed insulin. Actos, metformin and Diabeta are other forms of oral insulin, and insulin stimulates. Metformin is the insulin stimulator out of the list. The others are actual oral insulin, which lowers the blood sugar much quicker. By normal exercise and controlling body fat a person can live a much happier life. Protecting one's self against diabetes is done by lowering the body fat, eating less fattening meals, and drinking more water. Water helps lubricate the body and is a healthy source of a nonfattening drink.