In the case of unexplained weight loss, a thorough examination and blood work will be performed. A blood chemistry panel and urinalysis can reveal a number of disease processes that lead to weight loss. Routine wellness checkups can help monitor the pet’s weight to discover trends over time. Twice a year veterinary visits are recommended for all geriatric (over seven) pets. Because dogs and cats age much faster than a human, a year is almost the equivalent of a human decade.

The prognosis for managing a disease is always better when discovered early in its progression. The chance of slowing or even reversing the weight loss depends entirely on treating the underlying cause. Increasing the amount of food given to a pet is likely to be a temporary solution. The metabolic changes that are causing the pet to shed pounds cannot be overcome by increasing the calories.

Bladder infections are common in dogs and cats and may be straight forward ascending bacterial infections (bacteria enters the bladder through the urethra), or they may have complicating factors such as bladder or kidney stones. A persistent urachus is a congenital deformity where the tube that connected the bladder to the umbilicus stays partially intact after birth. It can harbor bacteria making infections persistent and recurring. An x-ray can be used to diagnose stones and abnormalities in the urinary tract anatomy. Bladder infections can be secondary to metabolic disease. Diabetes causes high levels of glucose (sugar) in the urine which can feed bacteria. Any disease that causes increased water consumption and urination makes the pet more susceptible to infection.

Cats can be diagnosed with feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) wherein there is no primary infection causing inappropriate urination. It is an inflammatory process in the bladder that causes blood in the urine, straining and accidents. Bacterial infections can become established secondarily to FLUTD.

Inappropriate defecation (bowel movements) may accompany urination or may occur alone. Causes of increased frequency of defecation and straining include intestinal parasitism (giardia, worms, coccidia) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In IBD, the immune system attacks the tissues of the intestinal wall and ultimately leads to bloody diarrhea. Food allergies may contribute to IBD, especially in cats.

Behavioral disorders that cause inappropriate elimination include separation anxiety, status related stress in cats, and incomplete house training in dogs. A medical cause of the behavior should always be ruled out first. Anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed along with behavioral modification training and desensitization.

Other names:

• Caniche
• French Poodle

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1400’s

Height:

• 10 inches or less

Weight:

• 5 to 7 pounds

Personality:

• Candidate for most intelligent breed of dog.
• Extremely willing to please.
• Happy, lively, and playful.
• Easily trained.
• Friendly and outgoing.
• Poodles love everybody.
• An excellent family dog for those who are prepared to maintain the coat.

History:

The Poodle originated in Germany as a water retriever (Pudel means water in German).  Today there are three sizes:  toy, miniature, and standard.  They are all judged by the same standard of perfection and are identical in every respect except height.  The toy, which is the smallest of the three varieties, is a miniaturized version of the Standard.  This diminutive Poodle was never used for sporting purposes. It was, instead, the pampered darling of the French nobility.

Body Type:

• A squarely-built, active dog that carries itself with dignity.
• Hanging ears are not altered.
• Upright tail is carried at an angle to the body.  It is docked.

Coat:

• The long coat of the poodle is double.  The outercoat is wiry curls.  The undercoat is thick and woolly.
• If unhindered, the outercoat forms thin cylindrical mats known as cords.  Corded Poodles are rarely seen in the United States because they are difficult to keep clean.
• Any solid color is permitted.  Common ones are black, white, apricot, brown, blue, or silver.
• The skin color of Poodles varies.  Skin may be pink, blue, silver, or cream.
• Requires professional grooming every five or six weeks.
• Two clips are allowed in the United States show ring:  the Continental and the English Saddle.  Puppies are exempted from this and can be shown in a puppy clip (their hair isn’t long enough to accommodate the adult clips) until they are one-year old.
• The face, feet, and base of tail are shaved in all the clips.
• A full coat may take two years to develop.

Health and Wellness:

• The immense popularity of this breed has resulted in many genetic defects.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Patent ductus arteriosis.
• Tetralogy of Fallot.
• Von Willebrand’s disease.
• Distichiasis.
• Portosystemic shunt.
• Legg-Perthes disease.
• Congenital deafness.
• Cataracts.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Addison’s disease.
• Atopy.
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).
• Immune mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT).
• Urolithiasis (oxalate and struvite).
• Collapsing trachea.
• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
• Sialocele.
• Cushing’s syndrome (PDH and AT).
• Mitral insufficiency.
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).
• Sebaceous adenomas.

What you should know:

• In spite of the name, the French Poodle is not Gallic.  It is a breed made in Germany.
• The pompoms and topknots of the Poodle had a utilitarian origin.  As water retrievers, Poodles needed the chest and head hair to protect vital organs from the cold.  The pompoms are placed on the joints to protect them from becoming arthritic.
• Victorian merchants often had advertisements cut into the coats of Poodles, and hired someone to walk the dog around.  A sort of living billboard.
• Grooming contests attract international teams, clipping Poodles into artistic creations.  Prizes are in the thousands of dollars.
• The smaller varieties of Poodle are used as truffle sniffers.
• Poodles are beautiful and they know it.  You might even describe them as vain.
• Love to be pampered, and it is easy to spoil these adorable clowns.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Caniche
• French Poodle

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1400’s

Height:

• Over 15 inches (average is 25 inches)

Weight:

• 50 to 55 pounds

Personality:

• Candidate for most intelligent breed of dog.
• Extremely willing to please.
• Happy, lively, and playful.
• Easily trained.
• Friendly and outgoing.
• Poodles love everybody, although the Standard size is less accepting of strangers.
• An excellent family dog for those who are prepared to maintain the coat.

History:

The Poodle originated in Germany as a water retriever (Pudel means water in German).  Today there are three sizes:  toy, miniature and standard.  They are all judged by the same standard of perfection and are identical in every respect except height.   The standard, or largest size, is thought to be the original Poodle.  Although the American Kennel Club (AKC) classifies it as a non-sporting breed, it still retains its hunting abilities and remains an exceptional swimmer.  The Standard is often seen in circuses and obedience rings.

Body Type:

• A squarely-built, active dog that carries itself with dignity.
• Hanging ears are not altered.
• Upright tail is carried at an angle to the body and is docked.

Coat:

• The long coat of the poodle is double.  The outercoat is wiry curls.  The undercoat is thick and woolly.
• If unhindered, the outercoat forms thin cylindrical mats known as cords.  Corded Poodles are rarely seen in the United States because they are difficult to keep clean.
• Any solid color is permitted.  The most common colors are black and white.  Apricot, brown, blue, and silver are possible.
• The skin color of Poodles varies.  Skin may be pink, blue, silver, or cream.
• Requires professional grooming every five or six weeks.
• Two clips are allowed in the United States show ring:  the Continental and the English Saddle.  Puppies are exempted from this and can be shown in a puppy clip (their hair isn’t long enough to accommodate the adult clips) until they are one-year old.
• The face, feet, and base of tail are shaved in all the clips.
• A full coat may take two years to develop.

Health and Wellness:

• Subject to less genetic problems than the smaller sizes, probably because it has never been overbred.
• Hip dysplasia.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV, also commonly called bloat)
• Patent ductus arteriosis.
• Tetralogy of Fallot.
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Portosystemic shunt.
• Metabolic bone disease.
• Cataracts.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Addison’s disease.
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).
• Immune mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT).
• Idiopathic epilepsy.
• Sebaceous adenitis.
• Urolithiasis (oxalate and struvite).
• Chronic hepatitis.
• Cushing’s syndrome (PDH and AT).
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (digit, black Standard).
• Sebaceous adenomas.

What you shouldl know:

• In spite of the name, the French Poodle is not Gallic. It is a breed Made in Germany.
• The pompoms and topknots of the Poodle, which seem so frivolous, had a utilitarian origin. Water retrievers, the Poodles needed the chest and head hair to protect vital organs from the cold. The pompoms, you will notice, are placed on the joints to protect them from becoming arthritic.
• Victorian merchants often had advertisements cut into the coat of a Poodle and hired someone to walk around with the dog. Sort of a living billboard. Grooming contests attract international teams which clip Poodles into artistic creations. Prizes are in the thousands of dollars.
• Poodles are beautiful and they know it. You might even describe them as vain.
• Love to be pampered and it is easy to spoil these adorable clowns.
• Does not shed.
• Suggested for allergy sufferers.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Sidney Silky
• Australian Silky Terrier

Country/Date of origin:

• Australia
• 19th century

Height:

• 9 to 10 inches

Weight:

• 8 to 11 pounds

Personality:

• A bundle of energy with a true terrier spirit.
• One-family dog.
• Does not like strangers.
• Noisy.
• Makes a good watchdog.
• Possessive of its people and territory.
• Likes to get its own way—and usually does because it is so insistent.
• Difficult to train.

History:

This feisty little terrier was created in Sidney, Australia by crossing Australian Terriers with Yorkshire Terriers.  It got its diminutive size from the Yorkie and its ruggedness and spirit from the Aussie Terrier.  It was first shown in 1907 as the Sidney Silky.  The first representatives of the breed were imported to the United States in the 1950’s and it was accepted for registration by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1959.

Body Type:

• A small, terrier-type dog with a long, lightly-built body.
• Tail is docked and carried erect or semi erect.
• Small, prick ears are held erect and not altered.

Coat:

• The fine, silky, single coat (that gives the dog its name) is long on the body and head and short on the face, ears, and lower legs.
• Silky Terriers must be a blue and tan color.  The blue varies from gunmetal to slate or silver-blue.
• Coat is parted on the head and down over the back to the root of the tail.
• Not much shedding but the coat mats easily.

Health and Wellness:

• Legg-Perthes disease.
• Tracheal collapse.
• Patella luxation.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Atlanto-axial sublucation.
• Periodontal disease.
• Color dilution alopecia.
• Mitral insufficiency.

What you should know:

• Wants to be boss.
• Very quick moving.
• Makes an excellent snake killer in its native Australia.
• This is a small terrier, not a Toy dog, in spite of the way the American Kennel Club classifies it.
• Sturdy, robust, and fiery in nature, there is nothing delicate about this dog.  It is a lot of dog in a little package.
• The relative rarity of the Silky Terrier makes puppies hard to find.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Caniche
• French Poodle

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1400’s

Height:

• 10 to 15 inches

Weight:

• 15 to 16 pounds

Personality:

• Candidate for most intelligent breed of dog.
• Extremely willing to please.
• Happy, lively, and playful.
• Easily trained.
• Friendly and outgoing.
• Poodles love everybody.
• An excellent family dog for those who are prepared to maintain the coat.

History:

The Poodle originated in Germany as a water retriever.  Pudel means water in German.  Today there are three sizes: toy, miniature and standard.  All sizes are judged by the same standard of perfection and are identical in every respect except height and weight.  The miniature, middle of the three varieties, is a miniaturized version of the Standard.  It is thought that the Miniature Poodle was not used for sporting purposes.  It was, instead, the pampered darling of the French nobility.  Some were used as truffle hunters because of their trainability and good noses.  They have gained renown as performers in the circus ring.  Today, the Miniature version is the most popular of the Poodles.  It is one of the most popular dogs in the whole world.

Body Type:

• A squarely-built, active dog that carries itself with dignity.
• Standard does not specify weight but given weight is an average.
• Hanging ears are not altered.
• Upright tail is carried at an angle to the body.  It is docked.

Coat:

• The long coat of the poodle is double.  The outercoat is wiry curls.  The undercoat is thick and woolly.
• If unhindered, the outercoat forms thin cylindrical mats known as cords.  Corded Poodles are rarely seen in the United States because they are difficult to keep clean.
• Any solid color is permitted. Common colors are black, white, apricot, brown, blue, or silver.
• The skin color of Poodles varies.  Skin may be pink, blue, silver, or cream.
• Requires professional grooming every five or six weeks.
• Two clips are allowed in the United States show ring: the Continental and the English Saddle.  Puppies are exempted from this and can be shown in a puppy clip (their hair isn’t long enough to accommodate the adult clips) until they are one-year old.
• The face, feet, and base of tail are shaved in all the clips.
• A full coat may take two years to develop.

Health and Wellness:

• The immense popularity of this breed has resulted in many genetic defects.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Patent ductus areteriosis.
• Tetralogy of Fallot.
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Distichiasis.
• Glaucoma.
• Epiphora.
• Portosystemic shunt.
• Legg-Perthes disease.
• Congenital deafness.
• cataracts.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Addision’s disease.
• Atopy.
• Urolithiasis (oxalate and struvite).
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).
• Immune mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT).
• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Collapsing trachea.
• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
• Sialocele.
• Cushing’s syndrome (PDH and AT).
• Mitral insufficiency.
• Intervertebral disc disease.
• Sebaceous adenomas.

What you should know:

• In spite of the name, the French Poodle is not Gallic.  It is a breed made in Germany.
• The pompoms and topknots of the Poodle, which seem so frivolous, had a utilitarian origin.  As water retrievers, Poodles needed the chest and head hair to protect vital organs from the cold.  The pompoms are placed on the joints to protect them from becoming arthritic.
• Victorian merchants often had advertisements cut into the coat of a Poodle, and hired someone to walk around with the dog.  Sort of a living billboard.
• Grooming contests attract international teams, clipping Poodles into artistic creations.  Prizes are in the thousands of dollars.
• Poodles are beautiful and they know it.  You might even describe them as vain.
• Love to be pampered, and it is easy to spoil these adorable clowns.
• Does not shed.
• Suggested for allergy sufferers.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Reh Pinscher
• Zwergpinscher
• Min Pin

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1800’s

Height:

• 10 to 12- 1/2 inches

Weight:

• 8 to 10 pounds

Personality:

• Lively and alert.
• High-spirited with unique personality.
• Always on the go.
• Due to aggressive nature, males have a tendency to mark territory with urine.
• Intelligent.

History:

The Miniature Pinscher looks like a tiny Doberman Pinscher.  Although both were created in Germany, they are not related.  The Miniature Pinscher, bred as a stable ratter, is several centuries older than the Doberman.  The breed was originally called the Reh Pinscher because of its resemblance to the tiny roe deer of Germany (Reh in German means deer).  Miniature Pinschers were brought to the United States in the 1920’s as companions and farm ratters.  They became quite popular, although it is difficult to find them today.

Body Type:

• Tiny, square-shaped, and high-spirited with a distinctive hackney gait.
• Some dogs develop self-standing ears, but ears are commonly cropped.
• Tail is docked short and is carried erect.
• Eyes are full, slightly oval, clean, and bright.

Coat:

• Short, smooth coat that is hard to the touch.
• Permissible colors are solid red, black with tan markings, or chocolate with rust markings.
• Low grooming requirements.

Health and Wellness:

• Legg-Perthes disease.
• Congenital deafness.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Follicular dysplasia.

What you should know:

• Must have room to exercise or will become hyperactive.
• Noisy.
• Min Pins love to be pampered.
• Often mistaken for the Toy Manchester Terrier.  It is easy to tell the two breeds apart, as the Miniature Pinscher has a docked tail and a very level back.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Dutch Barge Dog
• Wolf Spitz
• Chien Loup

Country/Date of origin:

• Netherlands
• 1500’s

Height:

• 17 to 18 inches

Weight:

• 55 to 66 pounds

Personality:

• A delightful little companion.
• Loyal, alert and protective.
• Intelligent but quite stubborn.

History:

The Keeshond is named after Cornelis “Kees” de Gyselaer, the leader of the Dutch rebels who rose up against the House of Orange in the late 18th century.  The King used the Pug as his symbol, so de Gyselaer chose his own dog to be the symbol of the revolution.  The dog became known as the dog of Kees or Keeshond.  It made the Keeshond famous.  Of course, being the symbol of a political movement can have its drawbacks, too.  When the monarchy regained power, the Keeshond disappeared from the cities.  A few of the barge captains kept it as a guard dog, and as a result it got its other name, the Dutch Barge Dog.  The present day Keeshond was first shown at a dog show in Holland in 1891.  A breed standard was drawn up in 1933 in its native land, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not approve one until 1949.

Body Type:

• Typical Northern sled-dog type of medium size.
• The fairly long, plume tail is tightly curled over the back and is not altered.  A double curl is most desirable.
• The high set ears are small and erect.  They are not altered.

Coat:

• The bushy, double coat consists of a thick, downy undercoat and a long, straight outercoat that stands well away from the body.
• Reflecting the dog’s oft used descriptive name, Wolf Spitz, the Keeshond is gray.  It sports a pale gray or cream undercoat with an outercoat that is a mixture of gray and black hairs.
• The neck has a heavy ruff of longer hair and the long feathering on the legs resembles britches.
• The feet and face have short soft hair.
• Characteristic dark markings frame the face with spectacles.
• Requires frequent brushing.
• Seasonal shedding may overwhelm the owner.

Health and Wellness:

• Tetralogy of Fallot.
• Ventricular septal defect.
• Renal dysplasia.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Idiopathic epilepsy.
• Alopecia X.
• Primary hyperparathyroidism.
• Melanoma.

What you should know:

• Pronounce the name kayshond.
• The plural of Keeshond is Keeshonden, utilizing the Dutch form.
• Puppies are born black, or seal brown, and fade to white by four months.
• The wolf markings may take 18 months to develop.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Teckel
• Doxie
  

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 18th century

Height:

• Miniatures:  5 to 6 inches
• Standards:  6 to 10 inches

Weight:

• Miniatures:  under 11 pounds
• Standards:  10 to 20 pounds (larger animals are not disqualified)

Personality:

• A happy, fun-loving personality has made this breed immensely popular all over the world.
• Gets along well with other pets.
• Likes to play.
• Each of the three coat varieties has a slightly different personality.  The wirehaired is more playful than the other two.  It is almost impish.

History:

Made in Germany, the Dachshund was most likely bred from the same ancestors as the Basset.  The six different types of Dachshunds reflect the various animals that it was used to hunt.  The larger smooth haired dogs went to ground after badger and fox.  The smaller smooths went to ground in the smaller den tunnels of weasels and rabbits.  The long and wire haired varieties were better able to tear through brambles and thickets than their smooth coated relatives.  The breed has been popular in the United States for over a hundred years. It is one of the foundation breeds of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Body Type:

• A long, low dog with short, bent forelegs.
• Designed to go to ground after badger and fox.
• The wirehaired variety is allowed to have slightly longer legs than the other two Dachshunds.
• Long tail is carried straight out behind and is not altered.
• Hanging ears are long and are not altered.

Coat:

• Coat on the wirehaired variety is a uniform, short, thick, rough, hard outercoat with a fine shorter undercoat.
• Wirehaired Dachshunds must have a beard and bushy eyebrows.
• The hair on the ears is not long.  It is shorter than that on the body.
• Allowed colors are: single color—red or black (although not desirable), and a grizzle called wild boar; two colored—black, chocolate, gray, and white each with tan markings; and dappled—a clear brownish or grayish color with dark irregular patches of dark gray , brown or black (neither color should predominate).
• The most popular colors of this variety are red and wild boar.
• Hand stripping is required to keep a Wirehaired Dachshund in a show coat.  Otherwise, grooming is moderate.

Health and Wellness:

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV).
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Portosystemic shunts.
• Pattern baldness.
• Acanthosis nigricans.
• Microphthalmia.
• Cryptorchidism.
• Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia.
• Congenital deafness.
• Juvenile cellulitis.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Mast cell tumor.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Intervertebral disc disease.
• Urolithiasis (cystine).
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
• Ear margin dermatosis.
• Pemphigus foliaceus.
• Sudden acquired retinal degeneration.
• Cushing’s syndrome (PDH & AT).
• Mitral insufficiency.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (digit).
• Lipoma.

What you should know:

• Dachshunds do not have a strong doggy odor and adapt well to city life.
• Dachs means badger in German, and the dog got its name from the animal it was bred to hunt.
• A cheerful companion.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Teckel
• Doxie
  

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 18th century

Height:

• Miniatures:  5 to 6 inches
• Standards:  6 to 10 inches

Weight:

• Miniatures:  under 11 pounds
• Standards:  10 to 20 pounds (larger animals are not disqualified)

Personality:

• A happy, fun-loving personality has made this breed immensely popular all over the world.
• Gets along well with other pets.
• Likes to play.
• Each of the three coat varieties has a slightly different personality.  The Smooth is the most stubborn of the trio.

History:

Made in Germany, the Dachshund was most likely bred from the same ancestors as the Basset.  The six different types of Dachshunds reflect the various animals that it was used to hunt.  The larger, smooth-haired dogs went to ground after badger and fox.  The smaller smooths went to ground in the smaller den tunnels of weasels and rabbits.  The long and wire haired varieties were better able to tear through brambles and thickets than their smooth coated relatives.  The breed has been popular in the United States for over a hundred years.  It is one of the foundation breeds of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Body Type:

• A long, low dog with short, bent forelegs.
• Designed to go to ground after badger and fox.

Coat:

• Coat on the smooth variety is short, glossy, and lies close to the body.
• Allowed colors are: single color—red or black (although not desirable); two colored—black, chocolate, gray, and white each with tan markings.
• The most common is the black-and-tan; and dappled—a clear brownish or grayish color with dark irregular patches of dark gray , brown or black (neither color should dominate).
• Minimal grooming.

Health and Wellness:

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV, also commonly called bloat)
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Portosystemic shunts.
• Pattern baldness.
• Acanthosis nigricans.
• Microphthalmia.
• Cryptorchidism.
• Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia.
• Congenital deafness.
• Juvenile cellulitis.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Mast cell tumor.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Intervertebral disc disease.
• Urolithiasis (cystine).
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
• Ear margin dermatosis.
• Pemphigus foliaceus.
• Sudden acquired retinal degeneration.
• Cushing’s syndrome (PDH) and AT)
• Mitral insufficiency.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (digit).
• Lipoma.

What you should know:

• Smooth-coated Dachshunds are the most popular variety.
• Dachshunds do not have a strong doggy odor and adapt well to city life.
• Dachs means badger in German, and the dog got its name from the animal it was bred to hunt.
• A cheerful companion.