Weight loss and diarrhea in a research dog

A 3-year-old female Basenji/Greyhound cross was referred for veterinary att ention due to anorexia, diarrhea, and poor body condition. She was being ma intained as a potential breeder to preserve her line, which had been used a s an IACUC-approved model of airway hyper-responsiveness (1) and was experi mentally naive. The dog was current on her vaccinations and had no prior hi story of medical problems. She was individually housed in an indoor/outdoor run in a rural environment and was fed commercial dry dog food. On her initial examination, the dog was afebrile and weighed 10.68 kg, indi cating a weight loss of 6.14 kg (36.5% of body weight) in the last 3 months . Abnormal physical findings were limited to cachexia, periodontal calculus , firm enlargement of the left stifle region, and muscular atrophy of the l eft hindlimb. The heart rhythm was irregular, but no pulse deficits were de tected. Abdominal palpation was unremarkable save for an apparent lack of i ngesta in the gastrointestinal tract.