Allie's Muscle Wasting

Allie is a sweet, loving, senior Maltese. She has not lost her appetite, and her weight seemed stable. However, Allie has been losing muscle. So much so that she looked like skin and bone.

How could she be wasting away before her owner's eyes and yet her weight remaining the same?


Dog Conditions - Real-Life Stories: Allie's Muscle Wasting

I am not going to include a photo, but it is as bad as your scariest imagination. Allie's hair was thinning too. Otherwise, she didn't seem to have any other symptoms.

Allie did have an annual vet visit.


She received a physical exam, they checked her heart and ran a mini blood panel. I don't know what their mini panel includes but it didn't show anything alarming. Allie's muscle wasting was attributed to age.

Does age cause loss of muscle?


Muscle atrophy or muscle wasting can have some causes which can be related to age. In general, it's either because they don't get sufficient stimulation to be maintained or don't receive the nourishment they need. Either of those can mean a bunch of things.

For example, pain or neurological conditions can make the dog unwilling or unable to move. Because muscles are a high maintenance tissue,  the body won't tend to them if they are not being used.

Changes in metabolism and various systemic diseases can also result in muscle atrophy.

Allie's veterinarian didn't seem to make much of her condition, though.


I have friends whose dogs looked like Allie due to either diabetes or kidney disease. Allie's owner was urged to seek a second opinion. Often people see the same veterinarian their dogs' entire lives and can't even imagine going to another. It was the same with my brother-in-law. Sometimes, though, getting a second opinion is a must.

Allie's owner did decide to see another veterinarian.


The new veterinarian ran comprehensive labs. Allie's liver values were over the roof. The veterinarian recommended following up with ultrasound, which they did.

Unfortunately, Allie has liver cancer. At this point, there is more cancerous tissue than actual liver. Allie has virtually no liver function. Amazingly, she's not showing much of any sighs apart from the muscle loss.

Allie will spend her remaining time being spoiled to get the best out of her days. Would her chances have better if her liver cancer got caught early?



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What were the first signs you noticed? How did your dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?

Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you.

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Do you know what your dog is telling you about their health?

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Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog

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Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is an award-winning guide to help you better understand what your dog is telling you about their health and how to best advocate for them. 

Learn how to see and how to think about changes in your dog’s appearance, habits, and behavior. Some signs that might not trigger your concern can be important indicators that your dog needs to see a veterinarian right away. Other symptoms, while hard to miss, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or limping, are easy to spot but can have a laundry list of potential causes, some of them serious or even life-threatening. 

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