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If your pet is experiencing chronic weight loss, this is considered a \u201cGREEN\u201d case on our Fast Track Triage system. This means emergency care isn\u2019t needed, but your pet should be evaluated by your family veterinarian within the next few days. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Maintaining a healthy weight and body condition is a crucial part of your dog or cat\u2019s health. It’s the same for pets as it is for people: getting daily exercise and eating a balanced diet increases your pet\u2019s quality of life and helps prolong it. But what if you notice a slow, but steady, weight loss in your dog or cat?<\/p>\n This can be a worrisome change that happens over weeks to months. <\/span>As soon as you notice <\/span>a<\/span> pet\u2019s unexpected weight loss, <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> important to <\/span>determine<\/span> the cause and begin a <\/span>treatment <\/span>plan. But where do you even start? <\/span>Here\u2019s<\/span> an outline to help<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The best place to start is <\/span>to<\/span> schedul<\/span>e<\/span> a visit with your family veterinarian. <\/span>They will complete the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This <\/span>initial<\/span> evaluation will help narrow down <\/span>the source of the issue(s) <\/span>and help your veterinarian <\/span>determine<\/span> a treatment <\/span>or management <\/span>plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In addition to your pet\u2019s weight loss, i<\/span>t is <\/span>important<\/span> to outline <\/span>other <\/span>signs or changes in your pet that you notice at home. <\/span>Note these <\/span>observations<\/span> (keeping a journal is a great idea) and share <\/span>them<\/span> with your veterinarian. <\/span>Signs may include:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your pet\u2019s <\/span>initial<\/span> evaluation could reveal something as simple as <\/span>they\u2019re<\/span> not receiving enough calories after switching to a new food. <\/span>However, your veterinarian may note changes in lab work <\/span>indicating<\/span> a more <\/span>serious concern<\/span>.<\/span> Diseases that commonly cause chronic weight loss include:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your family veterinarian will help formulate a treatment plan, but if additional diagnostics or management are necessary, you may be referred to see an internal medicine specialist.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During your visit with an internal medicine specialist, they may perform advanced diagnostics such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or a specific lab test. If warranted, biopsies or other samples may be recommended. Additionally, treatment options like a diet change or specific medications will be discussed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly, a follow-up plan will be made so you have a clear idea of when to recheck your pet’s condition and what to expect on that visit. The goal of your pet\u2019s internal medicine visit is to provide as much information as possible about your pet\u2019s condition and to formulate a plan to get them feeling better.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n D<\/span>etermining<\/span> the cause of your pet\u2019s chronic weight loss can seem overwhelming<\/span>, but <\/span>with your veterinarian\u2019s guidance, you can find answers and begin a treatment or <\/span><\/span>management<\/span><\/span><\/a> plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you have any questions or concerns about your pet\u2019s weight, contact your family veterinarian or ask about a referral to <\/span>our<\/span> <\/span>Internal Medicine Service<\/span><\/span><\/a> to meet with one of our board-certified internal medicine specialists.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More Reading:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nVisit Your Family Vet<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nMonitor Your Pet<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat to Expect Next<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/h4>\nWhen to Visit a Specialist<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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