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I belong to a group of dog breeders and dog lovers, where dog lovers and dog sellers display their dogs either for competition or adoption into a new home, sometimes last week, someone posted a dog that he claimed was a Caucasian breed. While I was shocked at the dog's condition, I am not always particularly eager to drop my opinion publicly.

So, I waited until other people had something to say on the issue, and group members all talked about how unfair the owner of the dog was, but for me, I know that the dog could be eating but still remain malnourished, let me take you through what malnutrition really means and possibly how we can prevent it in our dear pets.

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Malnutrition in dogs occurs when there is an imbalance or a deficiency in nutrients, the build-up of a consistent lack of nutrients would make the body lose weight, and body fat and even make the dog emaciate over time. This condition is not so common in dogs with owners, it is very common amongst homeless dogs or homeless animals that have been previously mistreated by their owners. 

The funny thing about malnutrition is that it could result in obesity in some cases, so a dog that appears to be adding so much weight may actually be a malnourished dog, obesity, emaciation, allergies, loss of fur and rickets is all disorders that could spring up from malnutrition. The disorder caused by malnutrition in some cases could be triggered by the presence of medical conditions and parasite infestations.

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These signs in your pet could be an indication that something is not balanced when it comes to his/her diet and there is a need to have it checked; A dull coat, Body odor, Dandruff, Bad breath, Flatulence, Excessive hair shedding, skin disorders, Obesity, Skin disorders, Constant infections, Weight loss, and Stunted growth. 
Apparently, the purpose of treating a malnourished dog is not just to make them gain weight, but it is to ensure that they are fed appropriately and fed right.

Diet plays a major role when it comes to impacting health and when there is an issue with a malnourished pet, it automatically means that the dog or cat is not getting sufficient calories. The presence of an underlying health issue has the ability to play a major role in the cause of malnutrition, as illness or disease could make it highly difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.

The faster one is able to understand the signs of malnutrition and understand what is going on with the pet, the quicker it would be for you as the pet owner to begin to look out for the option of possible remedies. Working with a standard vet to help you figure out what exactly the problem is, will indeed be an added advantage. The more investigation you are able to carry out about what the deficient nutrient is, the better it would be to begin treatment. 

The more there is a better nutrient source from real food provided to pets, the better it is for your malnourished pet. In a highly severe case when your pet requires instant medical attention, he may be given intravenous fluids or other forms of supportive treatment as prescribed by the vet. If the underlying cause of the malnourishment came from the intake of low-quality food, there could be a recommendation for a proper upgrade of food products depending on the size, age, and activity level.  

After rescuing an abused dog that appears to be so thin, the next thing is not to start feeding the dog excessively large meals, in some situations, a starving dog will have severe negative side effects when given excessive food on the instance since the body is still too early to absorb a significantly high nutrient amount. Remember to always serve fresh, clean water all the time.

#### <center>Conclusion.</center>

That your dog has started to recover from malnutrition does not mean the visit to the vet needs to stop, malnutrition poses a serious danger to your pet if left untreated for a long time, it could create a highly irreversible danger to the life of your pet and finally death. It is not an easy task to take care of a malnourished pet, you also need to be sure that there is no other underlying health issue, which is the more reason why it is necessary to seek professional help.

#### <center>References.</center>

https://canna-pet.com/articles/malnourishment-dogs-signs-symptoms/

https://wagwalking.com/condition/poor-nutrition

https://authenticapets.com/en/blog/malnutrition-in-dogs-cats

https://canna-pet.com/articles/signs-malnutrition-dogs/

https://www.cuteness.com/article/symptoms-malnutrition-dogs

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354079338_Laboratory_profile_of_malnutrition_in_hospitalized_dogs

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6123354/

https://cerberusdogfood.com/health-research/research-articles/malnourishment-in-dogs/