Why Is My Pet Losing Weight Even Though They’re Still Eating?

Pet owner watching a tan dog eat from a bowl in a bright kitchen.

Why Is My Pet Losing Weight Even Though They’re Still Eating?

Have you noticed your dog or cat looking thinner recently, even though they are emptying their food bowl just as quickly as always?

When a pet refuses food, pet parents immediately know something is wrong. However, if your pet is eating normally—or even begging for more meals—it is easy to assume they are healthy. Unfortunately, persistent weight loss in a pet with a normal or increased appetite is often a medical red flag.

At Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola, veterinary exams and diagnostics can help investigate unexplained weight loss. A healthy appetite does not rule out disease. Losing weight while eating normally deserves a veterinary evaluation.

Why is My Pet Losing Weight While Eating?

When a pet consumes enough calories but still loses weight, their body may be having trouble digesting, absorbing, or using nutrients, losing nutrients, or using more energy than expected. A normal-looking appetite does not always mean calorie intake meets their needs.

Common medical causes include:

  • Endocrine Disease: Diabetes mellitus can cause weight loss in both dogs and cats. Because the body cannot use blood sugar properly, the pet’s cells receive too little energy, leading to weight loss despite an increased appetite. In cats, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) raises the body’s metabolic rate.
  • Digestive Disorders: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) reduces the pancreas’s production of digestive enzymes. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can interfere with intestinal nutrient absorption. Both can cause weight loss.
  • Intestinal Parasites: Some intestinal parasites can cause weight loss by damaging the intestinal lining, interfering with nutrient absorption, or causing blood loss.
  • Chronic Illness: Cancer and other chronic diseases can alter metabolism and cause loss of fat or muscle, sometimes despite adequate food intake.

(Note: A decrease or complete loss of appetite also deserves attention. If your dog refuses food entirely, contact a veterinarian promptly, especially if other symptoms are present.)

What Should You Do?

Do not rely on increasing your pet’s daily food portions alone. Extra food cannot address every cause of weight loss and should not delay a veterinary exam. Your veterinarian can assess your pet’s calorie intake and dietary needs alongside possible medical causes.

Instead, your pet requires a comprehensive veterinary exam. At Olive Branch Pet Hospital, our in-house diagnostic laboratory allows us to run blood chemistry and urinalysis tests. These tests can help investigate diabetes and kidney disease; some conditions require additional testing. When appropriate, we also utilize ultrasound and endoscopy to examine internal organs and the digestive tract.

(Are you noticing other changes? If your pet is also drinking excess water and urinating frequently alongside their weight loss, tell your veterinarian.)

Veterinarian gently examining a gray-and-white cat on a blue non-slip mat.

Schedule a Pensacola Vet Checkup

If your furry family member is losing weight despite a strong appetite, it is time to find out why. Our veterinary team can investigate possible causes and recommend an appropriate treatment or nutrition plan based on the findings.

Call Olive Branch Pet Hospital at (850) 477-2901 to schedule a diagnostic exam. We know your animals are more than just pets—they’re family!

My Dog Is Limping: When It’s More Than a Minor Injury

Owner observes a yellow Labrador standing on a shaded porch with one front paw slightly raised.

My Dog Is Limping: When It’s More Than a Minor Injury

A limp is a sign that something is interfering with the normal use of one or more limbs. Veterinarians call this lameness. It can originate in a paw, muscle, tendon, ligament, joint, bone, nerve, or even the spine. A mild limp that quickly resolves after activity may be minor, but limping that persists, worsens, returns, or keeps your dog from bearing weight deserves veterinary attention.

Why is my dog limping?

Some causes are easy to spot, such as a torn nail, injured paw pad, or a foreign object stuck between the toes. Others are deeper and cannot be identified at home. Sprains and muscle strains can cause sudden soreness, while orthopedic conditions—such as cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease, a luxating kneecap, arthritis, hip dysplasia, or a fracture—may also change the way a dog walks.

Age, breed, size, activity level, and whether the limp started suddenly or gradually can help narrow the possibilities. For example, an older pet that becomes sore after playing may have a different underlying problem than a dog suddenly limping on a back leg or front leg after a jump.

When should a limping dog see a veterinarian?

As a general rule, any mild limp that does not improve with rest warrants an examination. Dogs do not always cry or whine when they are hurting, so seemingly normal behavior does not rule out pain.

Prompt veterinary evaluation is highly recommended if your dog is not putting weight on a leg, appears significantly painful (such as trembling or panting), has noticeable swelling, or if the limp is worsening. Emergency care is especially important after major trauma, if there is an obvious fracture or deformity, or if your dog cannot stand or walk without assistance.

How does a veterinarian diagnose a limp?

A lameness evaluation usually begins with your dog’s history and observation of how they stand, walk, and move. The veterinarian will then examine the paws, limbs, joints, muscles, and spine to look for pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, or joint instability.

Depending on those findings, diagnostic imaging or other testing may be recommended. Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola offers in-house veterinary diagnostics for injured pets, including ultrasound.

Owner gently cradles a resting brown-and-white dog's front paw.

What should I do while my dog is limping?

Until the cause is known, limit running, jumping, rough play, and strenuous activity. If your dog allows it safely, briefly check the paw pads, nails, and between the toes for an obvious superficial problem. Recording a short video of the limp can also be helpful, as some dogs may move normally at the veterinary hospital due to excitement or adrenaline.

Do not give your dog human pain relievers unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so. Drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can cause serious, life-threatening adverse effects in dogs.

Treatment always depends on the diagnosis. Some dogs may need strict rest and veterinarian-directed pain management, while others may benefit from laser therapy for pain and mobility, orthopedic treatment, or surgery. Olive Branch provides orthopedic surgery for pets requiring procedures such as fracture stabilization or joint repair.

If you are looking for a veterinarian for a limping dog, a proper examination can help identify the source of discomfort and determine the safest next step for recovery.

If your dog is limping, especially if the problem is persistent, painful, or worsening, schedule a veterinary examination with Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola to find out what is causing it and discuss the appropriate next step.

Blood in Pet Urine: When to See a Vet in Pensacola

Gray tabby cat standing beside a clean litter tray at home.

Seeing blood in your pet’s urine—a medical condition known as hematuria—is never something to ignore. Whether you have a dog or a cat, hematuria can be caused by bladder inflammation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder or kidney stones, trauma, and, less commonly, tumors or bleeding disorders. Because the exact cause cannot be determined by color alone, a veterinary exam is the safest and most important next step.

What Does Blood in Pet Urine Look Like?

Hematuria may make your pet’s urine look pink, red, rust-colored, or streaked with visible blood. In some cases, the urine appears completely normal to the naked eye, and microscopic blood is only detected during a diagnostic urinalysis.

You may also notice your pet exhibiting other urinary symptoms, including:

  • Urinating more often than usual
  • Squatting repeatedly or producing only small drops of urine
  • Crying or straining in the litter box or yard
  • Licking their genital area excessively
  • Having sudden accidents in the house

Because these symptoms can occur with several different—and potentially serious—urinary conditions, it is crucial not to assume your pet simply has a routine UTI.

When Is Blood in Pet Urine an Emergency?

While any blood in the urine warrants a prompt veterinary visit, some urinary symptoms require immediate emergency care.

Seek urgent veterinary attention if your pet:

  • Is repeatedly straining to urinate but producing little or no urine
  • Appears increasingly painful, vocal, or distressed
  • Develops vomiting, loss of appetite, or profound lethargy

A urethral obstruction (blockage) prevents urine from leaving the bladder and can become life-threatening quickly. Male cats are at a particularly high risk for urinary blockages because their urethra is exceptionally narrow and easily plugged by urinary crystals or mucus.

If your pet is still passing a normal volume of urine and otherwise acts comfortable, it may not be a critical emergency, but they should still be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Urinary Problems?

A urinalysis examines the physical and chemical properties of urine, as well as the urine sediment. It helps identify red and white blood cells, crystals, bacteria, and changes in urine concentration, which helps narrow down the possible causes of your pet's symptoms.

At Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola, we offer complete diagnostic services, including in-house urinalysis. Depending on your pet’s physical exam, our veterinarians may also recommend blood chemistry or ultrasound to further evaluate the kidneys, bladder, and overall urinary tract health.

Veterinarian using a stethoscope to examine a cream-colored dog on a non-slip mat.

Why Is Prompt Veterinary Evaluation Important?

Urinary problems can look very similar from the outside, yet their causes and treatments are entirely different. An untreated infection can spread to the kidneys, while tiny bladder stones can grow or shift and cause a sudden blockage. Early evaluation can help identify the underlying issue and guide treatment before your pet’s discomfort worsens or complications develop.

Notice blood or other changes in your dog or cat’s urine? Contact Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola to schedule a veterinary exam and appropriate diagnostics.

For the emergency signs above, seek immediate veterinary care instead of waiting for an appointment.

Early Cancer Signs in Pets Most Owners Miss: When to See a Vet

Owner gently runs a hand over a golden dog's shoulder while the dog rests on a rug.

Cancer can be difficult to spot early because dogs and cats often show only small changes at first. A new lump, gradual weight loss, lower energy, appetite changes, persistent limping, unusual bleeding, or changes in bathroom habits can all warrant a veterinary exam. These signs do not automatically mean cancer, but they should not be dismissed as “just aging” either. Understanding pet cancer starts with knowing what is normal for your specific dog or cat so you can catch these subtle shifts before they progress.

What Early Cancer Signs Are Easy to Overlook?

  • A lump that seems harmless: Many lumps are benign, but appearance and feel alone cannot reliably tell you what a mass is. New growths, rapidly changing lumps, or masses that change texture or size deserve a professional evaluation.

  • Slow weight or appetite changes: Losing weight without a diet change, eating less, chewing differently, or becoming unusually picky may signal pain or illness, including some gastrointestinal cancers.

  • Less energy or a change in routine: A pet who stops greeting you at the door, tires faster on walks, sleeps more, or withdraws from normal activities may simply seem older. However, persistent behavior or activity changes are worth discussing with your veterinarian.

  • Bathroom changes: Straining to urinate or defecate, blood in urine or stool, or a lasting change in stool habits can have many causes. Cancer is only one possibility, but these signs require prompt evaluation.

  • A cough, breathing change, or unexplained limp: Persistent coughing, labored breathing, recurrent lameness, swelling, or pain can point to problems involving the chest, bones, joints, or other tissues.

  • Sores or mouth changes that do not resolve: Non-healing wounds, oral swelling, bleeding, difficulty chewing, or trouble swallowing should never be ignored.

How Do Veterinarians Check for Cancer?

There is no single routine blood or urine test that can conclusively confirm or rule out cancer in every pet. Evaluation usually starts with a physical exam and may include bloodwork, urinalysis, imaging, or sampling suspicious tissue. Depending on what is found, cytology or a biopsy may be needed to identify the type of abnormal cells and guide next steps, which could include tumor or mass removal or exploring other pet cancer treatment options.

At Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola, our diagnostic services include blood chemistry, urinalysis, ultrasound, EKG, and endoscopy. Ultrasound can help veterinarians evaluate internal organs and growths, while routine laboratory testing provides important information about a pet’s overall health and organ function.

Veterinary clinician listens to a gray-and-white tabby cat's chest with a stethoscope.

When Should You Schedule an Exam?

Labored breathing, heavy bleeding, or straining to urinate with little or no urine requires immediate emergency veterinary care.

Schedule a veterinary visit when a new change persists, worsens, or simply does not fit your pet’s normal behavior. Senior pets and pets with known health concerns may benefit from more frequent visits, such as twice-yearly routine wellness exams, to establish a healthy baseline and catch abnormalities sooner.

Finding a problem early does not always mean it is cancer. It does mean you have a better chance to understand what is happening and make informed decisions sooner.

If you have noticed a new lump, unexplained weight loss, or another persistent change in your pet, schedule an exam with Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola so the cause can be evaluated promptly.

When Is a Dog Cough Not Kennel Cough? When to See a Vet

Pet owner holding a phone toward a beagle standing beside a sofa at home.

When Is a Dog Cough Not Kennel Cough? When to See a Vet

If you are wondering when a dog cough is not kennel cough, the answer often lies in their other symptoms, medical history, and how the cough sounds. While a dry, honking cough after being around other dogs often points to kennel cough—also known as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC)—a cough can also indicate pneumonia, tracheal collapse, heartworm disease, or heart conditions. Because the sound alone cannot confirm the cause, a veterinary evaluation is essential.

What Are the Symptoms of Kennel Cough?

Classic kennel cough typically starts suddenly after recent exposure to other dogs at a park, grooming salon, or during boarding and daycare. The cough is usually dry, harsh, or “honking” and may end with gagging or retching.

CIRDC is not a single infection; it can involve various viruses and bacteria. Despite the dramatic cough, many dogs with uncomplicated kennel cough remain bright, active, and interested in food. However, puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to complications like pneumonia.

When Is a Dog Cough Not Kennel Cough?

A persistent or moist cough, or coughing with other signs of illness, may signal complications of kennel cough or another condition. A dog’s cough can originate in the throat, windpipe, or lungs, or be associated with cardiovascular disease. Chronic bronchitis and tracheal collapse can cause repeated, long-term coughing, while pneumonia usually brings a cough alongside a fever, poor appetite, or breathing changes.

In Pensacola, heartworm disease must also be considered. Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworms damage the lungs and cardiovascular system. A mild, persistent cough may be a sign, although early infection often causes no symptoms. Olive Branch Pet Hospital strongly recommends year-round prevention for Florida pets to avoid this dangerous disease.

When to See a Vet for a Dog’s Cough

Call your veterinarian promptly if your dog’s cough is persistent, worsening, or accompanied by exercise intolerance, thick nasal discharge, a moist cough, lethargy, fever, or reduced appetite. Seek immediate emergency veterinary care for:

  • Labored breathing, or rapid or open-mouth breathing at rest that is not normal panting
  • Blue or gray gums
  • Severe weakness, fainting, or collapse
Veterinarian listening to a golden retriever’s chest with a stethoscope during an exam.

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose a Dog's Cough?

The first step is a comprehensive physical exam and a careful review of your pet’s history. Your vet will ask when the cough started, what it sounds like, recent dog-to-dog exposure, your pet’s vaccination status, and their heartworm prevention record.

Depending on the exam findings, further testing may be necessary. Blood chemistry panels help assess overall health, while chest X-rays evaluate the lungs and airways. Olive Branch Pet Hospital offers comprehensive in-house diagnostics, including blood chemistry, EKG to assess the heart’s electrical activity, and ultrasound to evaluate internal organs. Testing is selected according to your pet’s symptoms and examination findings.

A cough is a symptom, not a diagnosis. If your dog has a persistent, worsening, or unusual cough, schedule a veterinary exam with Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola to help identify the cause and determine the right next step.

Does My Pet Need an Ultrasound? A Vet Explains When It Helps

Cat receiving an abdominal ultrasound while a veterinarian scans its abdomen and an owner gently comforts it.

Does My Pet Need an Ultrasound? A Vet Explains When It Helps

When your veterinarian recommends advanced imaging, it is completely natural to wonder, does my pet need an ultrasound? The short answer is no: not every dog or cat does. However, when a physical exam, bloodwork, urinalysis, or ongoing symptoms leave important medical questions unanswered, an ultrasound can provide important information that other tests may not provide.

As a safe, non-invasive form of veterinary diagnostic imaging, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures of the structures inside your pet’s body. While traditional X-rays are excellent for evaluating bones and viewing broad patterns in the chest or abdomen, ultrasound is specifically designed to examine the internal architecture of soft tissues and organs.

What Can an Abdominal Ultrasound for Pets Show?

An abdominal ultrasound for pets allows a veterinarian to thoroughly evaluate internal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and intestines. A dog ultrasound or cat ultrasound can reveal:

  • Changes in organ size, texture, or shape
  • Abnormal fluid in the abdomen
  • Internal masses, cysts, or tumors
  • Intestinal abnormalities
  • Certain ingested foreign objects

Because ultrasound produces moving images, it can provide real-time information about organ motion. Doppler ultrasound can also assess blood flow. These findings are always interpreted alongside your pet’s history, exam, and other lab results, rather than serving as a stand-alone answer.

When Does a Veterinarian Recommend an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is generally recommended when a pet has persistent, unexplained symptoms or abnormalities. Common reasons include:

  • Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
  • Significant appetite changes or unexplained weight loss
  • Signs of abdominal discomfort or pain
  • Ongoing urinary problems
  • Abnormalities found on routine lab work

For example, routine laboratory testing might reveal abnormal liver or kidney values. An ultrasound can look directly at those specific organs to see if there is a structural change, such as inflammation or a mass, that explains the abnormal lab result. This distinction is important: bloodwork tells us how the body is functioning, while an ultrasound shows us what the internal structures actually look like.

Does an Ultrasound Always Give a Diagnosis?

Not always. While ultrasound is a highly powerful diagnostic tool, it does have physical limitations. Sound waves cannot easily pass through air, such as gas in the stomach, or dense bone, which can sometimes obscure the view. Additionally, some diseases occur on a microscopic cellular level and do not create visible physical changes on an ultrasound.

Even when it doesn’t yield a definitive diagnosis, an ultrasound often narrows the list of possible causes or identifies the next appropriate step, such as a targeted biopsy. Sometimes, successfully ruling out a major concern is the exact value the ultrasound provides.

Veterinarian reviewing ultrasound images with a pet owner while a dog sits calmly beside them.

Veterinary Ultrasound in Pensacola, Florida

As part of our complete veterinary services in Pensacola, Olive Branch Pet Hospital provides veterinary ultrasound in Pensacola to help get to the bottom of your pet’s health issues. Ultrasound is just one of our comprehensive in-house diagnostic services, which also include blood chemistry, urinalysis, EKG, and endoscopy. The most appropriate test always depends on your pet’s specific symptoms, examination findings, and medical history.

If your pet has persistent symptoms or abnormal test results, schedule an exam with Olive Branch Pet Hospital to find out whether ultrasound or another diagnostic test can provide the answers you need.

Feline AIDS

Feline AIDS

Feline immunodeficiency virus or FIV (similar to HIV or Human AIDS) is an infection that attacks the immune system of the cat. Up to 1 in 12 cats tests positive for FIV nationally. In cats that are at risk or clinically ill, the infection rate rises to as high as 15%. This percentage is higher here in Florida as I diagnose this disease at least 3 to 4 times monthly.
FIV is a lentivirus that is transmitted primarily thru bite wounds, but also may be acquired from the mother while pregnant. Unlike Feline Leukemia, the virus is not transmitted thru intimate contact such as with grooming behaviors, because the enzymes in the mouth destroy the virus just as HIV is in humans.
Clinical signs usually begin 6-8 weeks after infection and include low white blood cell counts (wbc fight infection), neurologic signs (behavior changes, dizziness, seizures) and severe sickness in general. Cats with AIDS have poor immune systems and do not fight common illnesses as normal cats would. In other words, a simple cold can kill a FIV infected kitty! Many FIV infected cats will have no specific signs of illness and can live 4-5 years without any problems. This disease, however, will eventually kill the patient as does HIV in humans.
There is no treatment or drug cocktails in veterinary medicine as there is in human medicine. There is a new vaccine, however, that was introduced in July 2002. A patient must test negative for FIV before vaccinating. There is a series of 3 vaccines initially with 1 vaccine given each year thereafter.
Any kitty that goes outside at all in Florida is at risk for FIV infection. It is transmitted primarily thru a bite wound commonly occurring during a cat fight. This is a terminal illness, but the vaccine has tested almost 100% effective in preventing the disease. As always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to call the hospital for more information.

Ear Infections

Ear Infections

More than half of the patients I see daily have some form of ear disease (Otitis Externa). Most of these cases are preventable with some regular ear maintenance. This month’s article will review ear disease causes and some easy prevention techniques.
Signs of ear problems include itching leading to head shaking and scratching at the area. Soon to follow can be redness, a malodorous discharge from the ear or ears and possible a head tilt.
Common causes are flea allergy, food allergy, atopy (like hay fever), mites and others. Predisposing factors include pets with floppy ears, hot humid environments (Florida), narrowed ear canals in certain breeds, pets that swim, tumors as well as others. Secondary to these conditions, the patient will develop a bacterial and/or yeast infection.
Treatment involves identifying the primary cause of the infection. Whereas fleas and atopy are the number one underlying reason in Florida for otitis, recent research has shown that food allergy is very common as a cause of treatment failure. (See the monthly article archive for further information regarding Flea Allergy, Food Allergy and Atopy) Microscopic evaluation of the ear discharge is necessary for identification of the bacterial and/or yeast involved. Once identified, topical and if necessary, oral medication is prescribed for a week or longer to clear the infection. A recheck is usually required at this time to assess treatment success.
Prevention is the best treatment, especially when it comes to ears. Pets which are predisposed to these diseases will require more regular care than others. Simply using an approved veterinary ear cleaner weekly, after baths and swimming will prevent visits to the veterinarian for treatment. We use V.E.T. Ear Cleaner exclusively because of studies which show excellent yeast and bacterial kill as well as effective gentle cleansing. I do NOT recommend alcohol, vinegar/water or most over the counter ear cleaners which tend to be irritating.
As always, if you should have any questions or concerns regarding this months health article, please feel free to call the office.

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia(FeLv) is one of two diseases we routinely screen for in new kittens and outdoor cats, with the other disease being Feline Immunodeficiency Virus(Fiv)or Aids. Thankfully, we are not seeing this disease too often due to diligent vaccinating and routine screening.
FeLv is caused by a C-type retrovirus or oncornavirus that has a propensity to cause cancer of lymphoid cells and bone marrow stem cells. FeLv is spread by carriers in the saliva (richest source), urine and feces. Thus biting and intimate contact (mutual grooming/oral contact) is a very common mode of transmission. FeLv may also be passed in utero (transplacental) from mother to fetus, however most kittens die at birth. Survivors may mount an immune response and overthrow the virus resulting in a cure, become a carrier (10%) or have active disease.
The primary stage of illness has varying severity and may last several weeks. One may see enlarged lymph nodes and low grade fever. Two to four weeks after infection, anemia and low platelets may be seen. In 70-90%, the patient’s immune system will overthrow the virus and fully recover. Others will become carriers and continue to worsen. In carriers, the virus will cause cancer (lymphoma, blood related cancer etc), anemia (1/3 to 1/2 of patients develop severe anemia) and immunodeficiency (simple infections can cause severe disease and/or death). The average lifespan of a FeLv carriers is 1/2 to 1 year. Cats with active disease will usually die from a common respiratory infection or “cold” due to a poor immune system caused by the virus.
Diagnosis is accurate, simple and takes 10 minutes. Currently we use the Idexx Snap test which utilizes a few drops of blood. It also screens for Fiv or Aids.
Prevention is always better than treatment. Several commercially available vaccines are available and are very effective. Two vaccines are required initially 3 weeks apart and then once yearly thereafter.
This is a very serious and lethal disease. Some pets can live fairly normal lives, but will eventually die from the virus or illness caused by the virus. Early testing and proper vaccinating is key to hopefully someday eradicating this disease.
As always, please feel free to contact the clinic if you need further information regarding Feline Leukemia.