Expert: Patti - 8/6/2008

Question
Hi Patti,

I own a male (intact) shih tzu who will be 8 years in September. He has always been a lean built dog with high energy but he knows how to relax too! He has consistently weighed 14 pounds all of his adult life. I don't know what he weighs now but he looks thinner. You can't see his ribs but you can feel them and the backbone: not outrageously or anything. You could always feel them. He has this hourglass figure that I understand is optimal in healthy dogs but he just seems skinny to me. He eats once a day and snacks a couple times but he will hold out for a couple days for food he really wants and ignore the dog food. I also take him for several mile hikes daily. He doesn't seem like an old dog at all - he runs, jumps skips, wriggles when he sees people and he has never been sick. Only an ear infection once. I should find a way to weigh him. He may be near his 14 pounds but I don't know. Should I be able to feel his ribs and backbone? When you stand over him he is only about 5 inches wide across the middle back but his body has always been long and lean.

Answer
Hi Lillie,

As with people, any sudden unexplained weight loss mean a trip to the doctor.

Sudden or unexplained weight loss can be a sign of a number of issues, some relatively easy to correct, and some quite serious. Don’t risk overlooking a potentially serious problem.

Best of luck,
Patti