My dog's skin is very loose and I can pull it. Is this normal?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Puppies normally have a lot of loose skin. If Lucas is healthy, is gaining weight appropriately and hasn’t lost weight I think he is fine. Also if their coating is thinning then it can cause the loose skin to be more obvious. Have a good day!

Loose skin is associated with weight loss and aging. I would weigh Biscuit and keep an eye on her weight over the next couple of months. A little weight loss ia normal in an older dog. However, too much or continued weight loss would be an indication that Biscuit may have an underlying medical condition and needs a check-up with her veterinarian.

Some breeds of dog can have wrinkling over the skin and neck as a normal thing. Unless the area is irritated, red, or bothersome to Charlie, and he is otherwise healthy and acting normal, I wouldn't worry.

Hello there! It sounds like Brownie needs veterinary help at this point. While loose skin is common in puppies and is not necessarily abnormal, inactivity in a dog this young is not normal and may indicate a health problem. I'm assuming that by ORS, you mean oral rehydrating solution, like Gatorade or Pedialyte. This makes me think that you are concerned about dehydration. Loose skin does not necessarily indicate dehydration, but skin that does not return to its normal state after being pinched could indicate poor skin turgor, which may result from dehydration. A small amount of rehdyrating solution will probably not hurt Brownie, but it is also important to figure out why he isn't feeling well. I do not recommend changing his food suddenly as this may cause gastrointestinal upset, which could lead to diarrhea and further dehydration. If you plan on changing his food, you should do so slowly over a week's time to allow his system to adjust. I strongly suggest bringing Brownie to the vet to be checked out for parasites or other infections that may be causing his lethargy. Puppies of this age and size are particularly susceptible to disease, so a vet workup can prevent further decline. Good luck, and I hope that Brownie gets well soon!

Allergies should not cause a dog to lose weight. He should be examined by a vet for a workup. Your vet can run bloodwork to look for kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine diseases, cancer, etc. Please call your vet to schedule an appointment and work-up. Your vet could also prescribe an anti-histamine to control his allergies.

Minor skin and coat changes can be normal in older dogs, however it is always best to rule out anything underlying such as a metabolic issues, especially if you are seeing any other changes such as weight gain/loss, irritation of the skin, increases in thirst/urination, or changes in eating habits as these can all indicate a metabolic rather than an aging problem. If he checks out healthy, it may just be that he got the genetics for having a thinner coat, whereas some dogs may go gray faster or not at all, etc. Keeping the area groomed and free of mats may help keep any remaining hair from being pulled out, and in some cases a supplement such as fish oil or vitamin E may help with overall skin and coat health.

From what I can see on the photos, your dog looks healthy and to be of normal weight, However, it would be best to have two more photos, one of him standing up from the side and one from above so I can see the length and width of his back. Now that it is getting warmer and the days are longer, he will likely shed some fur. You do not want a fat dog. Here is a chart to tell you how to check the body condition of your dog: http://www.theoptimaldog.com/2013/08/07/introducing-the-varsity-pets-canine-body-condition-scoring-chart/