I have a 1 1/2 year od black lab, named Zoe. Since September she has lost 12 pounds First started out with severe diarehhea, we have since gotten that under control. But she just keeps dropping the pounds. She has had several blood tests, stool tests, and enodscopy done, still they can't come up with anything. She has been placed on several high fat diets, which either cause more diarehhea or doesn't help with the weight gain. I am seriously concerned that this weight loss will never get under control and we will lose her . If anyone has any information that could help, i would be forever grateful.
I'm assuming a hyperactive thyroid has been ruled out with the blood tests. It not, it may be a consideration. Although unusual in dogs, it's possible, and weight loss is one of the symptoms. My first question is to ask how well she eats. Does she eat enough food (and does she keep it down)? Since your dog has had several tests done, if she is eating well, my best guess would be some type of disorder where the intestines are not absorbing the nutrients the way they should. Has she been tested for any type of malabsorptive disorder, including infection with Giardia? This parasite can interfere with fat absorption, and a high fat diet would aggravate the symptoms as you described. Weight loss (a.k.a. anorexia) is a common symptom associated with Giardia infection. When she has diarrhea, is it very light colored and extremely smelly and/or greasy looking? Chronic infection is possible with Giardia, and the symptoms you describe put it at #1 on my rule-out list. If a fecal exam hasn't been done, or was negative, if it were me, that's the first thing I'd get done (or repeated if it was done before). There is also an antigen test for Giardia that can be done on the stool if the microscopic exam is negative. If not Giardia - Has the vet mentioned the possibility of an inherited disorder of some type?
I'm sure others will have some ideas too.
Are there any symptoms other than diarrhea/loose stools and weight loss? What treatment (if any) has she been on so far?
Wishing you all the best and hoping you find an answer.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Hi, thanks so much for responding. Yes, hyperactive thyroid has been ruled out as well as pancreatic enzyme disorder. She eats great, can't get enough, typical lab She does keep it down, and only has diarehha if we change her food. Her stool has been tested a few times but not since October, I will definelty be dropping off another sample tomorrow and asking for the antigen test. When she does have diarehhea, its consistenccy varies, for example. The vet changed her food on Friday, she started with the runs today, it does appear greasy and light colored. They want to do exploratory surgery in two weeks if this new diet does not put weight on her. She only seems to be able to tolerate Nutro..everything else gives her the runs, which, in turn makes her lose more weight. Ugghhh!! Its so frustrrating! I appreciate your help. I will let you know how the stool test turns out.
Thanks again,
Sandy
You're welcome. The light colored, greasy stool strongly suggests a problem with fat digestion and/or absorption. Giardia is a possible cause, but a pancreatic enzyme problem or other intestinal disorder could be involved, including a physical defect in the intestinal mucosa, liver, bile duct, or pancreas. I assume that's what they'd be looking for in the exploratory surgery. I hope you're lucky and it turns out to be the Giardia. BTW - bacterial infection (pseudomenbranous colitis) can sometimes cause this too - was she on antibiotics right before it started? (Were liver enzymes normal? What about the red blood cells?).
Just thinking - I know you've tried many things, but since fat seems to cause her problems, have you tried the opposite - a low fat, bland diet (boiled white meat chicken and white rice only) to see if it helps?).
Again - good luck!
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
I would rule out malabsorption problems and overgrowth of bacteria. You said tests were done, but exactly what types of testing? Was an immunological profile ever done, was a TLI ever done to confirm no indication of pancreatic enzyme deficiency? Was the fecal ever cultured?
I agree with Traci, and a second opinion is definitely needed. When you are not getting answers, and there is no improvement when so much time has passed, do what you would do for yourself, and get a second, or even third opinion if necessary. If you have a teaching veterinary hospital nearby go there, or to a very large, well-known clinic with several vets who specialize in various illnesses.
I'm not sure if it was an immunilogical profile, all my paperwork on it is with my husband right now, he took it for a friend to look over. But I do know that the vet said on Friday that her enzymes were fine and she said it is not pancreatic enzyme disorder, she also said, a canine with that condition usually has gray colored stool shaped like a cow patty..which our Zoe doesn't. But I am printing out all of your great responsed and taking them with me, I will also be making an appointment at the University of Pennsylvania Vetinarian School of Medicine, hopefully they can get me right away. Thank you all so much.
Hi all, just a quick update. The allergen free food is not agreeing with her, at all I dropped off another stool sample yesterday and insisted they run a screen for the Giardia..they insist that is not it, they said last October she was treated with metronizodole (sp?) and that would have killed it off...so they are still saying if by next Friday she has not gained they want to go in and do the full exploratory surgery and biopsy. I did contact another vet, faxed the records over and will be taking her their on Friday..but from everything I gave him, they seem to be in agreement with my current vet. Fingers and toes are crossed that something will show up in her stool.
First started out with severe diarehhea, we have since gotten that under control. But she just keeps dropping the pounds. She has had several blood tests, stool tests, and enodscopy done, still they can't come up with anything. She has been placed on several high fat diets, which either cause more diarehhea or doesn't help with the weight gain. I am seriously concerned that this weight loss will never get under control and we will lose her 
. If anyone has any information that could help, i would be forever grateful.
She does keep it down, and only has diarehha if we change her food. Her stool has been tested a few times but not since October, I will definelty be dropping off another sample tomorrow and asking for the antigen test. When she does have diarehhea, its consistenccy varies, for example. The vet changed her food on Friday, she started with the runs today, it does appear greasy and light colored. They want to do exploratory surgery in two weeks if this new diet does not put weight on her. She only seems to be able to tolerate Nutro..everything else gives her the runs, which, in turn makes her lose more weight. Ugghhh!! Its so frustrrating! I appreciate your help. I will let you know how the stool test turns out.