Southern Animal Health
1251 Nepean Highway Cheltenham VIC 3192
9584 6100Β Β  Map
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  • Weight Loss

Weight Loss

Weight loss is terrific if we have an overweight pet that is on a specific diet in order to reach our ideal weight. Other than this it is of course a potentially serious problem, and an indicator of many potential diseases.

The list includes, depending on age:

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Metabolic disease such as diabetes
  • Organ failure such as hepatitis and renal failure
  • Gastro-intestinal disorders
  • Worms
  • Arthritis
  • Hyperthyroidism (very common in aging cats)

Hence again our list is extensive. The take home message is that if we have weight loss, it is almost always a sign of some sort of significant ongoing problems and should be investigated and worked up.

Often pet owners make the mistake of allowing weight loss to go on too long before being worked up, as the pet may otherwise be quite well and have a good appetite. Cancer for instance may often cause weight loss before it actually causes inappetance or lethargy. If unsure as to whether your pet has weight loss, weighing them regularly is important. Make sure you always use the same scales as different scales may have slightly different inaccuracies to each other. Of course if weight loss is obvious without the need for weighing, then see your vet and work the problem up.

Old pets: Pet owners often put weight loss down to the fact that a pet is ageing. This is in fact rarely the case. Even for ageing pets, weight loss is usually a sign of further problems and really should be worked up. If initial clinical examination and tests reveal no problem, then it may be a result of just ageing, but this is in fact far less likely than being an indication of an actual disease process.

Contact Us

9584 6100
1251 Nepean Highway
    Cheltenham Victoria 3192
Β info@southernvets.com

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Southern Animal Health

1 day ago

Southern Animal Health

Animals have played important supporting roles for Australians on the battlefields. They've helped the troops, acted as mascots and simply provided comfort and friendship. Army dogs helped sniff out the enemy and explosives, as well as find fallen soldiers. They even had special masks to protect them from poison gas attacks. Dogs were also great messengers; they could use their incredible hearing skills to warn troops when the enemy was approaching.

The sometimes forgotten heroes of war...
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Southern Animal Health

3 days ago

Southern Animal Health

What wonderful news! - #themuzzlesareoff for non-racing companion greyhounds!
****TUNE INTO NEIL MITCHELL - RADIO 3AW AT 9:30 TO HEAR THE MINISTERS ANNOUNCEMENT *** (full press release to follow)

According to Neil Mitchell on 3AW and Jaala Pulford's speech at yesterday's greyhound walk in Ballarat, the Victorian Government has listened to what ALL companion greyhound owners want and will be removing the requirement for non-racing greyhounds to be muzzled in public from 1st January 2019. A formal announcement by the Minister will be made later this morning....
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****NEWS: VICTORIANS – THE MUZZLES ARE OFF **** ****TUNE INTO NEIL MITCHELL - RADIO 3AW AT 9:30 TO HEAR THE MINISTERS ANNOUNCEMENT *** (full press release to follow) According to Neil Mitchell on 3...

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Southern Animal Health

2 weeks ago

Southern Animal Health

Southern Animal Health updated their cover photo. ... See MoreSee Less

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Southern Animal Health

2 weeks ago

Southern Animal Health

Did anyone else treat themselves to a mud facial over the weekend like this little guy? πŸ˜‚ ... See MoreSee Less

"Get a dog, they said, it'll be fun, they said" πŸ˜‚

VT

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Southern Animal Health

3 weeks ago

Southern Animal Health

Happy Friday! Show us the last picture of your pet🐢🐱🐰
#SAH

This is our Practice Managers rescue dog Gigi chilling at home
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