Farm Dog Losing Weight With Some Blood in Her Stool
We have a five year old, spayed female, "terrier mix" (pit bull) who has lost perhaps as much as ten pounds in the last two months. Several weeks ago I got Panacur from our veterinarian and wormed all of the dogs (six of them)for three days. I wormed her twice (for three days - a week apart). She is the only one who is broaching being underweight and the only one with some blood in her stool (which I just observed over the weekend).
We live on a farm and she runs many miles a day with the other dogs. She is not on any medications (not even heartworm preventive, I am sorry to say) and has had no health issues in the past. She does not act like she feels bad, her appetite is good, and we have made no changes to diet or routine.
Her veterinarian says it could be almost anything......Thoughts?
Weight loss of that size despite a good appetite needs a proper workup. Possible causes include parasites Panacur doesn't cover, such as the common flea tapeworm or protozoa like coccidia, reinfection from the farm environment (whipworms often need repeat treatment), as well as tick-borne or heartworm infection (since she's not on prevention), digestive problems such as poor absorption or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and other illnesses.
Ask your vet about a fecal test for several parasites, blood tests including a heartworm and tick-disease test, and tests for digestion and absorption. Weigh her regularly so you can track any change.
See blood in dog stool for common causes of bloody stool.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
