Congrats on your little one!
So, she is shedding...? Do you see thin areas on her body? With fur/hair loss, you always want to test thyroid, especially too with that weight!
Also, browse thru the symptoms of Cushings bc unfortunately fur loss is a major and common sign of it. As is "pot belly". Most generalist Vets are not skilled at recognizing, fully diagnosing properly, or treating Cushings bc -as you can see- it's a disease with a TON of diffuse symptoms that first seem unrelated - but they actually are! It's a very complex disease and if you need to go down the path of exploring this disease -- PLEASE talk to me or LoveToDream (Taylor) bc there are very specific things you should know and ask for of your Vet to get a proper diagnosis.
Symptoms of Cushings
Some dogs with Cushing’s disease show the classic symptoms, while other show only a few vague symptoms. The classic symptoms are:
-Polyuria/polydipsia (PU/PD)- This is excess urinating and excess drinking of water. It is one of the first signs of the disease, and usually precedes the other symptoms by a significant period of time. Several other important diseases cause these symptoms also, notably
liver disease,
kidney disease
pyometra, and
diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes).
-Pot bellied abdomen to the point a dog might look pregnant. It is due to hepatomegaly and abdominal muscle weakness (the mechanism of which was described above in the physiology section).
-Thin skin and usually symmetrical hair loss along the trunk. The hair might grow in lighter in color or lose its luster. It might not grow in well at all. Calcium deposits under the skin, called calcinosis cutis, occur on occasion. Secondary skin infections called pyoderma are common also. The skin might also be hyperpigmented.
-Muscle wasting over the head, shoulders, thighs, and pelvis.
-Polyphagia- excess appetite. This is often interpreted by clients as being healthy, since most people think of a sick pet as not eating well. In this case your pet is over-eating, which is consistent with Cushing’s.
-Other occasional symptoms include:
Pruritis (itchy skin)- due to secondary bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections of the skin
Panting- due to affects on the lungs or the respiratory center in the brain
Obesity
Anorexia (poor appetite)
Straining to urinate or blood in urine due to urinary tract infection or bladder stone
Weakness
Depression
Aggression
Lethargy
Corneal plaques
Irregular heat cycles in female dogs
Testicular atrophy in males and clitoral enlargement in females
Emesis (vomiting) due to pancreatitis
Ataxia (incoordination), blindness, circling, and seizures due to a large pituitary tumor or spread of a malignant adrenal tumor
Lameness due to a ruptured cruciate ligament
Intra-abdominal bleeding near the kidneys (retroperitoneal space) resulting in anemia, weakness, and abdominal pain