LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Nelson,

I think this problem is worth investigating with your vet. If your dogs have free access to fresh water, there is no reason for your older dog to drink urine. It's not healthy for him because a number of illnesses are spread through contact with urine, including leptospirosis. At the ripe age of 14, there's a possibility your dog is beginning to experience some dementia issues. You might want to ask your vet perform an exam and evaluation to see if this is the case.

Right now, I recommend exercising your dogs separately to eliminate this problem, and I hope your vet can figure out what's going on. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi.. i have aa dog who is 14yrs old.. n another dog who is 2 years old.. my older dog started to rink my younger dog urine.. may i know wat does tis mean?

-- Contributed by: nelson yip

Hi Derek,

It sometimes takes more than one dose of worming medication to rid a dog of a bad infestation. In cases like this, doses are usually given two weeks apart.

My advice is to consult your vet, and let him or her know about your dog's behavior change after receiving the medication. I'm not sure what you mean by "wild", but perhaps the vet can reassure you whether or not your dog had an actual reaction to the medication. You'll also need to provide a stool sample so the vet can indentify the type of worms and make sure your dog gets the right medication to get rid of them.

Worms can really wreck a dog's health, so please contact your vet as soon as you can. Best wishes that all will be back to normal soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I bought a pup in october he was 6 weeks old and ever sense he throws up and their are worms, when he poops their are worms, but not all the time and his belly is not as big as it was after we brought him home, i gave him medicine but it made his behavior wild and now we are back to square one, any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: derek

Hi No Interest or Movement,

This is very concerning. How did the dog behave at the pet shop? Did he behave like a normal four-month-old pup? And did the new detachment happen after you treated him for fleas and worms? If this is the case, then I think his condition is somehow related to the treatments themselves. It's very important that you take the pup to the vet right away. If your own vet isn't open, go to the emergency vet. Some dogs have a reaction to some flea treatments, but there could be some interaction going on between the flea treatment and the wormer you used. Take the boxes from both products with you to the vet so he/she can see exactly what ingredients are in them.

Please let us know what you find out. The info could help others. Best wishes for your puppy's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have just purchased a 4 month old male poodle, he is not walking around, just sitting and panting. not eating or drinking. Does not respond to noice or movement. He was purchesed from a pet shop and we have treated him for flee's as he has many and just wormed him. could either the flee's and/or worms cause this behaviour?

-- Contributed by: no movement or interest

Hi Jane,

the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet right away for an exam. He may have trouble passing urine due to a kidney stone blockage. If that's not the case, the vet should be able to diagnose what's going on. This is the surest way to help your dog. Best wishes that all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,

My dog has inflammation in his penis area. It swells and protrude and remains erect. He is in obvious distress and crie when we try to look and touch that area. What can we do?

-- Contributed by: Jane

Hi SickDogMommy,

I'm so sorry to hear about what's happening. That slobbering might indicate nausea. Since this happened so suddenly, it's possible your dog ate something toxic. I totally understand about the veterinary costs, but your dog may need to be seen by someone. First, try looking around to determine if there's anything he could have eaten that he shouldn't. If it seems like a toxic substance, call your poison control center right away. They may be able to tell you how to treat or neutralize any possible toxin your dog may have ingested.

I wish there was more I could do for you, but I am not a vet myself. Best wishes for your dog's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is acting lethargic, has "slober" around his mouth and wet eyes. He was fine a few hours ago and now he isn't. He is drinking water but it seems to be a strain for him to do it. His stomach seems like he hasn't eaten in days but he just ate at 4 pm. any ideas...we don't have the money for an emergency vet.

-- Contributed by: SickDogMommy

Hi Danielle,

Yes, I think you should call the vet right away. This illness sounds like it's getting serious. Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our 6 year old lab mix has been lethargic for the past few days and has been vomiting this morning. Six times in all. She also is not willing to jump up and go out for her last walk of the night like she used to be. She has also been holding her tail down as if she felt ashamed of something. Ususally she holds her tail up. I'm wondering if we need to callthe vet.

-- Contributed by: Danielle

Hi Chervi,

This doesn't sound like typical diarrhea. I think the best thing you can do is have your vet examine your dog. Black stools that have a tar-like consistency usually have digested blood in them. Your vet can check to see if this is what's happening and work on a diagnosis and treatment from there.

Please let us know what you find out, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

What should we do if our dog diarreah? A black sticky liquid comes out everytime he loses bowel.

-- Contributed by: Chervi

Hi Kathy,

The best advice I can give you is to take this dog to the vet right away. If there were mice dropping, there's a chance a previous tennant put down some sort of pesticide to try to get rid of them. Be sure to let your vet know about the droppings when you take the dog in.

Best wishes that she will recover.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We are thinking that our boston terrier has gotten into something or she went thru anxiety. My fiance moved out, took the dogs with him on Sat. Then Sun. morning I took him to ER where he was admitted til Friday. His sister was feeding and watering the dogs. The boxer is fine but the BT was vomitting and had diarrhea. She is now staying cold and not acting normal. She just is not her active little self. We know that there was mice droppings in the place he moved to but they cleaned all those up. Any help would be appreciated.

-- Contributed by: Kathy

Hi Kellie,

I think this is something you may want to bring to your vet's attention. Perhaps your dog's blood sugar levels are dropping for some reason and that's causing the lethargy each morning that stretches into the day. I really can't be sure, so the best thing you can do is give your vet a call and relay what's going on. Your vet may need to run some blood tests to reach a proper diagnosis.

Best wishes for your pet's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 2yr old Beagle mix...he is up on all his shots..and has been taking heartworm meds. Yesterday he was acting lathargic...by the end of the day he was a happy go lucky dog. then this morning he was acting very lathargic again...he has vomited once nothing more. and his stools are fine. any answers you can give me would be greatly appreciated ...

-- Contributed by: Kellie

Hi Shelly, and welcome to the site.

If your dog is only mildly lethargic, she may just be fighting off a virus. However, if she seems very lethargic, it may be wise to take her to the vet. If you can, take her rectal temperature. Normal dog temperature ranges around 100-101 F. Anything above this is elevated. Let the vet know what her current temperature is when you call because this will help determine whether your dog needs to be seen right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your pet will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Please Help,

It's difficult to say what happened, but it sounds like your dog could have had some sort of seizure. The best thing you can do is call your vet and relay what happened. The vet may be able to make a diagnosis over the phone and then you'd know whether or not your dog needs to come in for a full exam and treatment.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope your dog will be alright. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has be lathargic today. She is now drinking. I do not think she has thrown up at all.

-- Contributed by: shelly logan

My Dog was stiff as a board last night and was burning up and was panting like she hadnt had a drink in a year what could cause this she seems to be fine this morning

-- Contributed by: Please help

Hi Booner,

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog's sores. Open infections have the opportunity to enter the bloodstream and congregate in other areas of the body. I think the best thing you can do is go ahead and make a veterinary appointment for your dog right away. I'm sure he'll feel much better once treated.

Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

help please... my dog apears to have sores on 2 of his paws and it seems to be getting worse. He also has watery eyes. What should i do bring him to the vet now or wait?? thanks

-- Contributed by: what should i do?

Hi Ron,

I know that a buildup of yellow pigment in humans is a sign of too much biliruben in the bloodstream and it means the liver is not functioning as it should. The best thing you can do is have the vet at least do a blood panel to check liver function. If this is a liver function problem, it will not get better on its own. In fact, it may even be too serious at this stage for treatment to be effective. All of that said, I'm not a vet, so it would be best to consult your own vet to find out what's going on and what is the best way to proceed for your pet.

Best wishes for your dog's recovery. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

our chiuahua is turning yellow...all body, eyes mouth...in a human it means liver, should i get to a vet i can`t possibly afford, or should it pass? Thank you

-- Contributed by: ron

Hi Terry,

I'm sorry to hear how sick your puppy is. Is he still drinking water? This is very important so he doesn't become dehydrated. Right now, you could try giving him a litttle chicken broth and see how he keeps that down. Give him about 1/4 cup to see if he holds it. If he does, try offering another 1/4 cup an hour after the first, and so on. This should get you through until you can take your puppy to the vet tomorrow. I truly hope it helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a 6 month old male mutt and just since yesterday he will not eat or drink. i was told to not feed him for at least 12 hours because he continues to vomit up bile. i would rather have him getting sick with food in his belly so its not so hard on him. he would normally be running around but lately it seems like he just doesnt have the energy to do anything. do you have any advice on what i should do about this. our vet will not be in the office until tomorrow so im not sure what to do if his symptoms get worse and theres no where i can take him.

-- Contributed by: Terri

Hi Cindi, and welcome to the site.

I'm really sorry to hear your puppy has parvo. Did your vet make the diagnosis? Right now it's important to provide as much support for your pet as you can while his immune system tries to fight off the virus. It will be important to keep him comfortable and hydrated. This will be difficult with the vomiting and diarrhea, so you may need your vet to provide subcuetaneous saline injects. The vet may even be willing to teach you how to do them yourself. It will also be very important to clean up after your pup immediately because the virus is shed in his emissions and he can become reinfected just as he is trying to recover.

I won't kid you, this is going to be a difficult situation, and there is a danger that your pup won't make it through. We have an article on site that I think you may find helpful. Check out Treatments for Parvo. It mentions a product called Parvaid that some pet owners have found helpful. I've never used it myself, but it may be worth a try if you can get it in time.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope you puppy recovers. Please let us know what happens, and I'll keep him in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We rescued a puppy 3 months ago We found out today he has parvo I am a waitress with two children. I love scruffy just like my kids. Help please tell me what to do

-- Contributed by: Cindi Atkins

Hi Karen,

You might want to take your dog's temperature to see if it is above normal. Dogs normally run between 100-101 degrees F. Anything above this would be considered a fever.

How much has your dog been drinking? Is he taking in as much as he normally does, or is he drinking less? Dehydration can also cause panting.

Overall, trust your instincts because you know your pet better than anyone. If his condition seems abnormal, it would probably be best to let your vet examine your dog and listen to his chest. Panting while resting can also be a sign that the heart is not pumping enough oxygen to the lungs, so it's definitely worth letting your vet take a listen.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog will be alright. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dogs nose has been warm for days now and is panting alot

-- Contributed by: Karen Houseknecht

Hi Shayla,

I'm so sorry to heat about Cujo II's passing. It must be very difficult for your family. I wish I could tell you what happened to your pet, but I would only be guessing. Try to take heart in the fact that you and your sisters tried to give him love when he was feeling ill. I'm sure he appreciated it.

Best wishes for your family.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My lil sister's dog, Cujo(II), has recently died. My lil sis is only 11, and Cujo's her 2nd dog since 2007, 2 yrs since Cujo (I) her 1st dog died. I was worried when Cujo (II) wouldn't eat. We already experienced this, but this time was different. I went to check on him with my other sis, Vivian. Cujo only stood looking around with his head down, staring at the ground when his food is in front of him, and he had a far-a-way look in his eyes. My lil sis was with us. I told her to stand close to Cujo (II) and pet him, thinking he'd eat if my lil sis is there. Cujo (II) looked up at her for a few seconds, then looked down at the ground again. Me, Vivian, and our lil sis, petted him just to make him feel better, it didn't. We left him alone for a few minutes when our dad came outside to check on Cujo (II), he asked for the flashlight (it was dark out). He put Cujo's food in front of his doghouse (Cujo II went in). Then we left. Hours later, around 2am, my parents were worried when Cujo II moaned. My dad went out to check on him (I was in the basement with 3 of my other sibs). He went to check on him. The first time went out, Cujo was sort of okay. Then the second he went out and came back in, all my dad said was, "He's no more". Their was silence in the living room for 6 mins. I'm wondering if you know what could've caused Cujo (II)'s death. Or was it just a 'natural' death???

-- Contributed by: Shayla

Hi LB,

This is always a difficult question, and ultimately one that every dog lover must answer for themself. However, I've been in a similar situation before, so I'll share my thoughts on the subject.

I've always used my dog's quality of life as the main indicator of when it's time to let go. If there were no medical treatments that would improve the quality of my dog's life, and her condition was only going to grow worse from that point, I'd begin to consider euthanasia. It's a tough decision, and I always had to put my personal feelings aside and think about my pet's condition first. That way I've always made a decision I could live with.

Just keep in mind that you don't have to make that decision in a single day. Take a little time to really observe your dog and think about what's really best for her. It may help to consult your vet about the entire situation to get a professional medical opinion.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes no matter what you decide.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our Rott mix is 10 yrs old, arthritic hips, vomits after eating or drinking, loosing weight, and had a large tumor on her chest. She is also getting senile and mean. Should we put her to sleep?

-- Contributed by: LB

Hi LP,

This sounds like one of several things. It could be sign of a respiratory infection, an eye infection or perhaps your dog is developing eye ulcers. Try using a warm wet washcloth to gently wipe the matter away from your pet's eyes. If the lens of the eyes look somewhat cloudy, ulcers could be starting. The very best thing you can do is take you dog to your vet for an exam. Your dog may require medicated eye drops and perhaps an antibiotic to help him get well.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has swollen goopy VERY red eyes for the past 2 days. He acts normal otherwise. he seems to be feeling a little bad off and on but mostly normal. What might this be?

-- Contributed by: LP

Hi Arnun, and welcome to the site.

Refusing to eat and feeling lethargic are symptoms of a variety of dog illnesses. If your dog isn't back to normal within 24 hours, the best thing you can do is take him in for a vet exam. This is the best way to get an accurate diagnosis of the problem and figure out the most effective way to treat it.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

our dog is sick he did not want to eat!! then he just sleep all day!! whats the solution!!||

-- Contributed by: arnun

Hi Cramer,

What you're describing sounds kind of like bile, but your vet could confirm that if you could gather a sample in a zip lock bag and take it in for analysis.

In my experience, a lot of toy breed dogs occasionally throw up bile, about once a week on average. I'm not sure what causes this, but it doesn't seem to be a real problem. However, throwing up bile on a daily or nearly daily basis could be an indication of a liver problem, and if this is what's happening, I recommend calling your vet for an appointment to discuss what you've observed. The vet may decide some blood tests are in order to assess liver function, and could reveal a lot about what's going on.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this information is useful to you. Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Yorkie is vomiting up a yellowish liquid, sometimes with a small amount of food included. Do you have any idea about this problem? Thanks, Cramer

-- Contributed by: Cramer Kilpatrick

Hi Vince,

I'm not sure that eating a stale bagel would cause diarrhea unless it was also moldy. If there was mold involved, I'd call your vet right away to see if your dog needs to be seen. Otherwise, you might want to try some children's Kaopectate. Your vet should be able to give you the correct dosage over the phone, and I recommend you follow that advice. If the vet can't provide that info, I know that some big dog owners dose their dogs according to the lable just like they would for their children.

I hope this information helps. Right now, don't feed your dog for 24 hours, but do keep fresh water available. If the diarrhea is very bad, call your vet anyway because dehydration is a definite danger in a situation like that.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY ROTT,WINSTON, HAS A VERY BAD CASE OF DIARRHEA. HE AT AN OLD ,STALE BAGEL. IT'S BEEN ALL DAY. WHAT CAN I GIVE HIM TO CURE IT, OR HELP SLOW IT DOWN?

-- Contributed by: VINCE HODOR

Hi Jesus, and welcome to the site.

I think the best thing you can do is take your dog to your vet for a checkup. The breathing problem and possible fever could indicate a respiratory infection, and Chihuahuas have very tiny lungs that are easily overcome. The skin condition and eye irritation may be a secondary problem. Your vet will be able to tell for sure and decide on a treatment that will help your dog recover quicker. I hope your little guy feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I just wanted to know what's wrong with my chuaua, he's having a hard time sleeping because I guess his eyes hurt because he keeps scratching them and he's breathing really hard and fast, he's also really hot I think he might have a fever, he grew little lumps on his head and has more extra skin on his thoart

-- Contributed by: Jesus

Hi Sandra,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's condition. It sounds as though your Jack Russell has a very serious infection. Please take him to the vet right away. If your usual vet doesn't have office hours, please go to the emergency vet.

Best wishes for your pet's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

he's been vomiting, and dark greenish discharge from the penis and he is a jack russel.

-- Contributed by: sandra carter

Hi Worried Me,

It sounds like the pain may actually located in the paw rather than the leg itself. Ther could be something between the pads or maybe even a cracked nail. If your dog won't allow you to take a look, you may need your vet's help to figure out what's wrong and what kind of treatment, if any, is needed for healing.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

There is something wrong with my dog's front left leg since last night. She walks while lifting that leg.When i touch her paw,she withdrawed. I cant find any injury on her leg. Please advise.

-- Contributed by: Worried me.

Hi Justin,

To some extent, it's normal for a ... to drop weight while nursing puppies. I've also noticed that my own ...es look a bit hollowed out those first few weeks after delivery, and this is because the pups took up so much room. Eventually things move back into place, and mom begins regaining weight once the puppies begin weaning. For now, continue to feed your dog well, and let her eat as much as she wants. Don't worry that you're overfeeding because both she and the pups need the nutrition.

As for the pink lip, I'm not sure what's going on with that. Does it look like an irritation, or a loss of pigment? My advice is to have your vet look at it if it seems like a significant change from the way the lip looked before. You can never be too careful.

Thanks for your questions, and best wishes that mom and litter both thrive. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a female dog that just had puppies about 2 weeks ago. Ive noticed her upper lip is pink on the outside of her mouth. Its been like this for about a month or so. Ive also noticed that she seems like she is underweight now too. I'm not sure if these are just symptoms from giving birth though as this is the first time I have breed a dog. I was just wondering if this is something I should worry about or if its just normal with dogs after they have given birth.

-- Contributed by: Justin

Hi Brenda,

It could be due to the bone. Perhaps it was to much to devour all at once. If your dog isn't back to normal in a day or two, go ahead and give your vet a call just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Tanya is a wonderful house dog. She's a 3 yr old chocolate lab that we've had since February. We're foster parents to her and we're hoping she's pregnant now for about a week. Yesterday I did give her a large bone to chew on, which she loved and nearly devoured. Last night she was uncomfortable and vomited in the night. The vomit was mostly clear with some white (assuming was bone) and lawn grass. A few hours later she pooped and peed in our bathroom. The poop was very gray in color. Is this the result of eating the bone?

-- Contributed by: Brenda

Hi Riley,

The best advice I can offer you is to take Buddy to the vet right away. It sounds like he has developed some sort of illness, and it may grow worse unless he is properly diagnosed and treated. Please make an appointment right away.

Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Well I've looked around a bti and I can't seem to find why my dog is acting the way he is. Buddy is just not doing much of anything, he seems to eb tired and just wants to sleep all the time now, he won't play or even run and this started two or three days ago..I'm hoping someone can help. He won't even go after toys, even hsi favourites, he isn't eating and won't even have treats...Someone help please.

-- Contributed by: Riley

Hi Jan,

I'm sorry to hear Midgkin is in so much distress. I think it's very important that you take her to your vet right away. Is it possible she could have eaten something out of the trash can or perhaps was fed some rich, fatty table scraps. Sometimes the pancreas goes into overdrive on fatty foods and it produces too much of the digestive juices. This can also cause bloating and gas, as well as a lot of discomfort. I really can't be sure of what caused your dog's current illness, but gas can be extremely painful. Please have her examined right away.

Best wishes for Midgkin's full and speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our little dog Midgkin is not well, she has very bad gas, as in VERY smelly. She is just lying very still, hardly moving. Her eyes are bright and her nose cool, she is not panting. She has diarrhea but no vomiting. This started last evening. Can you give me some idea of what it might be?

-- Contributed by: Jan

Hi Jennifer,

I'm sorry to hear about your dog's illness. Chocolate is actually toxic to dogs, and some dogs are more sensitive to it than others. The chocolate affects the heart, so if your dog is acting lethargic, it would be best to call your vet, tell him/her about the chocolate and take your dog in right away. Better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully this will resolve once the chocolate is out of your dog's system, but you can't be too careful.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

our 1yr old chocolate lab vomited one time today & maybe ate "fake" easter grass and also chocolate candy without us knowing. we took him a walk and wasn't his normal hyper self!? he has been dinking water, we live in Tucson,AZ. Tried to give him pepto would only take 1 1/2 tabs. He is acting like a sick kid. he is not "panting", he is just NOT his normal self. could he possibly have parvo?

-- Contributed by: Jennifer

Hi Lola,

It sounds like your dog may have developed cataracts. This is a milky haze that forms over the corneas, and when the light hits it, it has a bluish cast to it. Now, I'm not quite sure which part of the eye is "puffy". If you're talking about the lids, it could be due to irritation. If you mean the eyeballs themselves look swollen, it might be due to a thyroid condition. All things considered, it would be a good idea to let your vet have a look at it. Sometimes medicated eye drops can help, but cataracts are often removed surgically to restore a dog's sight.

Thanks for your question, and I hope these suggestions are helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has blue puffy eyes could it be of old age

-- Contributed by: Lola

Hi Charley,

That's great advice. Thanks for visiting. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi there, just a quick tip. You can never learn enough about dogs. I have had dogs all my life and wouldn't be without. But nothing could prepare me for jake my one year old great dane x mastiff x boxer. He is the biggest softest but cheekiest thief i have ever met. Stealing everything from food to clothing. He even shredded the lining of my sofa then carefully pulled the cushion back over to cover it up. Having said this i do have to warn people. Please think like a parent keeping the home child safe. As blockages from swallowed forgien bodies are almost inevitable if your not careful.

-- Contributed by: Charley

Hi Bill, and welcome to the site.

The best advice I can give you is to take your puppy for a checkup. Sometimes a sudden personality change/drop in energy can be linked to a physical problem. Your dog may be coming down with an illness, and it's usually better to catch these things early.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your puppy will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Tate,

I think I can help. That's an ad you clicked on next to the LTK comment box, it's not an actual service from LTK. While we don't have a vet on staff, you can get free advice by visiting our Ask the Expert page link.

Hope this clears up the confusion. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, my puppy recently brought it from pound was very active and always barked as I left the room, now he just looks at me and doesnt care if i just leave him there. This is unusual for a puppy, especially when it was very active and did not want to left alone. Someone PLEASE let me know what could be the problem. any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated

-- Contributed by: Bill

Cannot believe you are asking to pay for online help. This needs to be said UP-FRONT before you go into a lenghtly explanation. I guess help of any kind isn't even free anymore. What a shame!

-- Contributed by: Ask a Vet Online

Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear about what you and your dog are going through. Honestly, the best thing you can do is take your dog to another vet and try to get a proper diagnosis. There is obviously something wrong here, and I don't think the first vet did a thorough job of testing your pet. Try to write down all of your dog's symptoms, what his diet is and anything else you can think of that might offer the vet clues. Hopefully your vet will be able to turn your dog's condition around.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I wish you the best of luck. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I adopted a bulldog a year ago from pet smart. a week after being home, he started to lose weight and seem weak in his rear. I took him to vet and they took x rays and said he was fine. He is two now and I can see this getting worse. He is stiff, skinny, and weak in his rear? I can not get him to gain weight? What do I do? He is big in his front because he uses his front legs so much i think.He looks really weird. Like two different dogs put together!

-- Contributed by: michelle

Hi BB,

I'm so sorry to hear about what's goind on. Your dog definitely needs to go to the vet. Could you possibly call on friends or family members to help you lift your dog into your car? Maybe a neighbor will help. Once you make it to the clinic, they can probably help you bring your dog inside. Most people are willing to help when there's an animal in need. As a last resort, your local humane society may be willing to send a volunteer over to help lift your dog. At least it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I hope these suggestions are helpful, and I hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My st bernard is acting weird, he will walk to me and just fall down. Looks like he has lost weight. He is very big and I cant pick him up and he will not get in the car, what should I do?

-- Contributed by: BB

Hi Laredo,

That does sound unusual, but I can't say for certain what's going on. The grass may cause him to throw up, so watch for that. For now, just continue to keep an eye on your dog to see if there is any change in his anxiety or if any new symptoms appear. This could be the onset of a medical problem, but other than the whining, there's not much to go on. Hopefully this is one of those situations that resolve themselves, but if the whining continues for more than 48 hours, do give your vet a call.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dobermann is acting weird today like he's afraid of something and he's been whining nonstop... we took him outside because he usually has to poo when he's whiney and he just started chowing down on grass like crazy!!! What is all this about???

-- Contributed by: Laredo

Hi Marina,

I can't be sure of what's going on, but it sounds like your dog needs immediate veterinary attention. It sounds like you keep him outside and the weather where you are is warm. If this is the case, your dog may be suffering from heat exhaustion, he may have eaten a poisonous plant in your yard or may even have been stung by a bee. There are just so many possibilities, so please take him to your vet as soon as possible.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know when you find out what's wrong. Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, my dog is a small black mix. he is a mix of a pug and something else...not quite sure. but anyways he allllways wants lots of water. and today we put his water in a tin bowl..i think the water got hot but im not sure but later he started to not walk correctly, like stumbling. and he would not come out of his little hosue. my mother had to get him, bathe him, and wrap him i n a towel. he is usually a very hyper active dog, but now he is in a depressed-like state. as if sad. im not sure whats going on.. help?

-- Contributed by: Marina

Hi Laura,

Anything over 101 F is considered a fever in dogs, so this dog's temperature is cause for real concern. Coupled with the difficulty breathing, there's a good chance he has developed pneumonia. If at all possible, you should call the owner and let him/her know this dog needs emergency veterinary care. You can place a second call to the owner from the clinic so he or she can give their credit card number for payment. The situation sounds serious, so please call the owner righ away.

Best wishes that all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a boston terrier puppy 16 weeks and has a temperature of 105.5. He's having hard time breathing but has chronic upper respiratory infections and is scheduled for surgery in 2wk by his owner. I'm watching him until Monday. He's not interested in the other dogs today, drinks out a a syringe but eats a little out of my hands. I'm more concerned of the temperature. Is this an okay temperature?

-- Contributed by: laura

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the tip. Hopefully any vets that still prescribe the product are aware of possible side effects.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Please make sure to look into the dangers of Proin 50 Mike. There is no time stamp on these entries so I'm not certain how old this is. Kelly failed to mention that it is a dangerous medication that has caused death in many pets even though it was presribed by vets. It is related to Dexatrim a drug that contained phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which causes strokes and is now banned.

-- Contributed by: Tom

Hi Mike,

There are several reasons why a female might wet herself while sleeping. Some causes include urinary tract infections and weakness of the sphincter muscle due to either advanced age or spaying. You'll need your vet to help you figure out the cause, but putting your dog on Proin 50 may help eliminate the problem.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is wetting her self when she sleeps. what can i do for her.

-- Contributed by: mike

Hi Cosmo,

I sorry to hear about the trouble your pet is having. For today, try to give your Beagle a comfortable place to lay. If you don't have a bed for him, try folding a comfortor on the ground away from drafts, or let him have one of the couch cushions. Make sure he's warm, and try to get him to keep drinking water. It might also be helpful to buy a tube of Nutrical at Petco and squirt some in your dog's mouth. This provides calories and may help raise your dog's blood sugar if it's low. All of these measures may help stabilize your dog until you can go to the vet tomorrow. However, it may become necessary to take your dog to the emergency vet if his symptoms get any worse.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's full recovery. Please keep us posted.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Casey, and welcome.

It certainly sounds like your dog is displaying symptoms of anxiety and trying to tell you something, although I can't be sure of what that might be. First, try to get her to drink some fresh water and eat something. This may help calm her down. Also, take a look at her tongue and gums. Are they still a healthy pink, or do they look pale? If they are pale, her behavior might be related to her physical condition.

A sudden personality change like this is often related to illness or discomfort, but not always. Still, you should take your dog's anxiety seriously and continue to keep a close eye on her. If she's not back to her normal self by tomorrow morning or if her symptoms grow worse today, you may want to take her to the emergency vet. I don't think you need to to do that just yet, but do keep watch. It may also be helpful to take a look inside and outside of your home to look for anything unusual that might have caused the upset.

That's all I can think of for now, but thank you for sharing your situation and let us know if you figure out what's going on. Best wishes that everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 12 year old beagle is acting lethargic and is also having trouble laying down comfortably. He keeps getting up and then laying back down. When he does lay down, he seems to be shaking a little. Any suggestions that may comfort him until I can get to the vet tomorrow?

-- Contributed by: cosmo

My 7 1/2 year old Akita is usually very laid back- she doesn't climb on our furniture or act clingy. she is usually a very independent dog... I woke up this morning with her climbing onto my bed. She is following me around the house, panting in quick, shallow breaths (her tongue is curling a bit at the end, but this is probably normal) and whenever I sit down she will place her paw on my lap or try to climb on me. Considering she is 80 lbs., this isn't easy for her to do (I'm a petite young lady). she is obviously trying to tell me something- is this an emergency?

-- Contributed by: Casey

Hi Ann,

When you say distended, do you mean it seems bloated? Sometimes a dog with worms will look pot-bellied. If you haven't had a fecal exam done in the last six months, it might be a good idea to have one done now.

If this is actually just a case of being overweight, you might find our article on Canine Obesity helpful.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope this info helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

OOPS our mixed terrier is about a foot tall and weighs 43 pounds. Excuse the errors.

-- Contributed by: Ann

I posted a question earlier today but never saw an answer and can't even find the question now. My question concerned our 3 yr old mixed terrier... about 12' in height, weight 143 pounds. His stomach appears distended but there are no other signs to indicate illness or distress. Could this just be overweight or should he see a Vet? Presently we are cutting down his food portions.

-- Contributed by: Ann

Hi Kris,

It definitely sounds like something's up, but it's difficult to say what that might be. Your dog may be sensing something going on around the house, but the stretching makes me wonder if this is something physical.

Try to keep your dog close to you tonight so you'll be able to notice if any new symptoms are added to the mix. If your dog is still acting this way in the morning or if she seems to get worse, give your vet a call and ask for an appointment.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My yellow lab won't lay down. She keeps walking around and stretching and wimpering and pacing. Was perfectly fine just a couple of hours ago.

-- Contributed by: Kris McCabe

Hi Cgrrl,

If your dog has been having greenish diarrhea, that is probably what stained the fur. It may not see like it's the same shade because the green would look lighter on the white fur. It sounds like your dog may have eaten something you weren't aware of. If her stool is normal now and there are no other signs of digestive disturbance or illness, there's probably nothing else you need to do. The green will eventually shed out or fade out, but you could try a whitening shampoo to lighten it a bit.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

p.s. to be clear, the white butt hair looks as if it has been dyed green - it will not wash off!

-- Contributed by: cgrrl

Hi, I was wondering...what might make a dog's butt hair turn green? It's been that way for about a week. Yes, she did swim in water, but it's at a river's end that mixes with sea water, not totally stagnant pool as fluctuates with tide. We're in hawaii - did not see algae blooms. She has been fine despite the strangely colored tush, but yesterday and today (again, a week later) she hasn't wanted to eat much except her fun foods like a few licks of yogurt and non-nitrate turkey slice. She's also slept more. She also pooed normal 1st and then went green more runny version (though, not the green that dyed her butt it seems). yelp!

-- Contributed by: cgrrl

Hi Mary,

We never charge our visitors for comments at LoveToKnow. I think you must have clicked on the advertisement next to the comments box. We're happy to try to answer any question or provide any help we can for free at our LTK Ask the Expert page.

If you need help with anything, feel free to post again in the comments box on this page. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Do not want to pay for comments, so please cancel my question. taking dog to vet instead. Did not see earlier that there is a charge for this. Please disregard earlier comment.

-- Contributed by: Enter your name here

Hi Paul,

I'm so sorry to hear how sick your pet is. It's difficult to speculate what might be wrong because those symptoms are common to many types of illnesses. The very best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet right away. The weakness is actually the symptom that concerns me the most because it could be a sign of dehydration. The weaker your dog becomes, the less chance he will have of getting well again. Senior pets are far more susceptible to viruses, but this could be a health crisis of an entirely different nature, and the coughing could be a sign that the heart is involved. Please have your dog checked as soon as possible.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our 13 year old golden retriever has been ill for the last few days. Starting about 4 days ago, he threw up in the morning and for hours was shaking, breathing heavily, drooling, and seemed to almost be on the border of his normal state of mind. He wouldn't eat, though it is difficult often to get him to eat, but he wouldn't even eat his beloved treats. After a few hours he got a little better, but still wasn't doing too good. The next couple days were more to the normal but he was still showing signs as he was the first day, and not eating. We have tried mixing in rice with his food but he will barely eat any of that. Then today he is doing worse again, dry heaving, shaking, coughing, sneezing, drooling, not eating treats even. He seems really weak. One thing he always does and has for a while is lick the carpet. I do not know why, but I am worried that he might be backed up from a hairball? He is constantly licking the carpet and we can't get him to stop. Or do you think he has a flu, or something else? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

-- Contributed by: Paul

Hi Amy,

I'm sorry to hear your dog is having such difficulty. I think the best thing you can do is give your vet a call. It's possible your dog has a kidney stone blocking the urinary tract at some point, and this can cause painful, and possibly fatal, enlargement of the bladder, not to mention blood toxicity. If you've noticed your pet strain to urinate with no results, there's a strong chance that this is the problem. Please make that call right away, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog hasn't urinated in 24 hours. What do i do?

-- Contributed by: Amy

Hi Rjenkins,

This is actually a common problem people encounter with their dogs. It's surprising (and a little disturbing) to learn that there is still some nutritional content left in the stool. Dogs can detect this with their keen sense of smell, and some will eat the stool because of this.

That doesn't mean that it's good for the dog to eat the stool because it's still filled with bacteria, so it's definitely something you want to discourage. Doctors Foster and Smith sell a product on their website that you can sprinkle on your dog's food. It's supposed to discourge stool eating. I've also heard you can sprinkle a little meat tenderizer on the food and get the same result, but I haven't tried it on my own dogs so I can't say if it really works.

You can actually train your dog to leave the stools alone. Observe her closely in the yard, and have a treat ready at hand. When your dog approaches a pile of stool and shows signs of interest, give her a firm command to "leave it". The moment she turns her attention away from the stool, give her the small treat and tell her she's a good girl. Repeat this training frequently so she associates leaving the stool alone with getting a treat and praise.

You'll also want to scoop those stools each time your dog goes in the yard so there is less temptation.

Thanks for your question, and I hope one of these suggestions works for you. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

caught our dog eating its own feces when we take her out, she has plunty of food. she used to be locked up in a cage. her and another dog. i was wondering if she is just cleaning up after herself or she has mentail issues from being in the cage. we only put her in the cage when we leave the house.

-- Contributed by: dog eats its own crap

Hi Serena,

I'm so sorry to hear about what you and your dog are going through. I think the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet and let him/her examine her. The vet is the most qualified person to help you decide whether euthanasia is the best option. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is about 10 Yrs old. She suddenly became really sick.Her symptoms are as follows;she wont eat, she vomits all the time and its bile (even water),she is twittchig everywhere,almost like spasms,i can feel them penetrating her through her her head,she is coherant and alert but has no energy and doesn't want to move or even walk, but when she is forced to move it is very slow movements.Can someone please give me an oppinion other than have her put down....thanx

-- Contributed by: Serena

Hi Connie,

Congratulations on your new companion. For the time being, I wouldn't worry too much if your puppy is a little more sedate than most. There's no way to know for sure what he went through before he arrived at the shelter. My advice is to give him time to settle in to your home and daily routine. It may take some time before he feels secure. In the meantime, try to set a regular schedule and basic household rules he can learn and depend on. Providing definite structure will help him feel secure quicker. Also give him lots of love, and I'm sure that once he has learned your're trustworthy, he'll be able to relax and act more like a carefree pup.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I wish you both a long and happy relationship.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I just adopted my 6 mo lab at our local pet shelter. He just got fixed on Monday (neutered), and was able to bring him home that day. I took him to the vet to get checked out, at that time he had a bit of a runny nose, dripped a bit. The vet said that he was ok. His nose seems runny yet the outside of his nose is warm and dry.

Also he don't play as much as a normal 6 month puppy should (I dont think)He seems real shy.

-- Contributed by: Connie

Hi Loca,

I'm sorry to hear your dog is so ill. If this has been going on for more than 24 hours, it would be best to take your dog to the vet right away. There's a chance of dehydration, and that can quickly turn deadly if your dog isn't able to retain fluids.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog recovers quickly. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

dog is vomitting with no appatite

-- Contributed by: Enter your name here

Hi Joy,

There's a possibility your dog has some sort of infection, either directly in her gums, or possibly coming from her sinuses or lungs. The very best thing you can do is take her to the vet right away because it sounds like she may need an antibiotic. The situation sounds serious, so please don't delay.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My sharpei has no appetite and fluid just runs out of her mouth. yesterday it was green and today it is yellow. she refuses to eat anything. any ideas would be appreciated.

-- Contributed by: joy

Hi Nancy,

Yes, this truly sounds serious so the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet right away. Between the vomitting and the concentrated urine, it's very likely your dog is dehydrating in addition to whatever illness is causing the problem. Dehydration can lead to death if it isn't treated, so please don't delay.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 15yr old bichon has been vomitting nothing but water for two days constantly. Last night I noticed she was kind of shaking in her sleep. Also immediately after she drinks water she pees dark orange (and she rarely ever pees in the house). Is there anything I can giver her or should I bring her to the vet? This has been going on for about two days now. Thank you.

-- Contributed by: Nancy

Hi Katie,

This could be due to many things, but what immediately comes to mind is that your dog might have some mild separation anxiety if he's sleeping alone overnight. Another thought is that it might be beneficial to offer your dog a small amount of food just before bedtime so he has something in his stomach.

All of that said, repeatedly vomiting yellow bile can be a sign of a liver problem. If your dog's nocturnal vomiting continues or worsens, you'll want to try to see a vet anyway. Some vets will allow a client to make payments on a bill.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Daniel, and welcome to the site.

Check out our article on Dog Heat Symptoms to see if your pet is showing any other signs of coming into heat. If you don't notice any of them, it might be a good idea to check in with your vet because stomach discomfort could be a sign of an undiagnosed illness.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

If anybody has any answers...im gettting desperate. I have a lab sheltie mix, hes about 3 and a half months old. Hes fine during the day, eats his food just fine, poops and pees a normal amount, but every single night, in the middle of the night, he pukes up either white foamy liquid, or a yellow liquid. Im just wondering if anybody possibly knows what this would be. I can't afford to take him to the vet right now, and hes seems very happy and healthy during the day. I feel bad for the little guy. Please help :) Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Katie

my dog is in heat i beleive or about to start, when i pet her on her stomach she kind of groans as if it were uncomfortable. Is that a sympton of heat or something else?

-- Contributed by: daniel

Hi Bryan,

I can't be sure of your dog's condition, but if he hasn't been eating for two weeks, the very best thing you can do is take him to the vet right away for a thorough examination. Otherwise, he will continue to grow weaker. The situation sounds serious, so please make the call right away.

Best wishes for your pet's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Pep Pep,

Im sorry to hear how sick your pet is. Unfortunately, you need a diagnosis on your dog's condition in order to know how to treat it. A vet would likely want to smell that breath to try to determine exactly what is making it smell so bad. Sometimes kidney disease causes the breath to take on a distinctive odor when the blood stream isn't being filtered efficiently, but it would be rare to find this condition in a puppy. Puppies are also usually full of energy, so if yours is very weak, this must be a serious illness. I urge you to call your vet anyway and ask if you could make payments on any bill you might incur. Some vets are willing to make arrangements like this.

Thanks for your question, and you have my best wishes for your puppy's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is very weak, has not been eating for the last two weeks, and seems to fall down sort of like fainting when it smells the food I serve him. Does anyone know what symptom this might be?

-- Contributed by: Bryan

My puppy is very weak and has rancid smelling breath. I cant afford to take her to the vet due to their very costly office visits plus medicine plus tests so on. Is there anything I can do at home?

-- Contributed by: Pep pep

Hi Bailey,

If this is just related to eating that bone, the best thing you can do is withhold food for 24 hours to give her system time to settle. Do allow her to have fresh water. A simple digestive problem shouldn't last longer than this. If the problem continues beyond 24 hours, it may be necessary to call your vet for a consultation.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

fed my dog healty bone made from whey, last night she vomited alot and pooed / peed in the basement today? what can I give her to help?

-- Contributed by: baileyyellowlab

Hi Jim,

The discharge could be normal if it was just a one time occurrence, or it might be a sign of a urinary tract infection in the beginning stages if the discharge keeps recurring. I wouldn't hurt to let your vet check it out because it's easier to treat a UTI sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Pam,

You'll need your vet's help to get a proper diagnosis, but I do think the infected tooth could be causing your dog additional stress. It could account for why she's eating less because it may hurt her to chew. A toothache makes it difficult to relax, and your dog might be releasing some of that stress with the hyperactive behavior you've witnessed.

Excessive panting might also be related to heart function. Panting is sometimes the body's way of increasing oxygen flow in the blood stream when the heart isn't functioning properly. Bacteria from the infected tooth may also flow through the blood stream and congregate in the heart muscle, so all the more reason to have that tooth removed as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that I'm not a vet myself, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, and give your own vet a call.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 1 year old pit bull/ boxer mix. It is very happy and evnergetic. It has been fixed and my roommate noticed a little vaginal discharge and told me that this is a sign of an infection. I figured it was a normal thing. There isn't much of a discharge just a little whitish yellow.

-- Contributed by: jim

13 yr old female poodle/terrier mix. Symptoms in the past few weeks that have worsened: panting excessively, shaking uncontrollably, hyper, jumping gates, tearing up things. All of these are not the norm for her. She has also been drinking a lot more lately and eating less. She has a heart murmur and an infected tooth. We live in Illinois. She loves the cold, snowy weather.

-- Contributed by: pam

Hi Dori,

I'm not a vet, but this does sound like it might be a case of kennel cough. Check out the following articles for a list of symptoms. A couple of the articles have a video of a dog with kennel cough so you can compare the sound. There are also tips on how to make your dog more comfortable until the virus passes.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps. Be sure to call your vet back if your dog's symptoms worsen. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a one year old rat terrier. She is coughing and spewing only white foam. It worsens when she goes outside to potty and then comes in out of the cold. We live in Indiana where the temps get very low. As she coughs her stomach seems to spasm. I am thinking maybe asthma but I am not sure. I want to know if there is anything I can do here at home to try before going to the vet as he is booked and living in a small town we don't have the choices of vets as a big city. Thanks

-- Contributed by: Dori

Hi Nicol, I'm so sorry to hear your dog isn't feeling well.

Unfortunately, there's no way to be sure what's going on without having a veterinary check up. At 12, your dog is in his senior years, and the system begins to slow down. There's a possibility his heart is weakening, and that could cause the panting and general weakness you've observed. Bad breath might be an indication of a gum infection, and it's possible that the bacteria from this have reached the heart and are weakening it. Joint problems are not uncommon in seniors, and this could also relate to your dog's difficulty with the stairs these days.

As for feeling hot, most dogs run around 100-101 degrees F, so they naturally feel warmer to the human hand. A rectal temperature of 102 F or above would indicate a fever.

If you can't take your dog to the vet, the best thing you can do is try to make him as comfortable as possible. Try to help him with traveling the stairs so there is less stress on his joints, and make sure he has a supportive bed to lie on to also ease joint pain. Do your best to make sure your pet continues to drink fresh water and stay hydrated. You can't force him to eat, but you may be able to tempt him with some boiled chicken and rice.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your pet's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My pit bull who is 12 years old has a loss of appetite, feels hotw, pants and breaths heavy very early in the morning when he has to go to the washroom. He is weaker and has trobel going up and down the stairs. I am very worried and cannot take him to the vet right now. Does anyone know what his symtons could suggest? I am thinking it could be some sort of infection. He does not have any lumps or buave bad bumps but does have bad breathe.

-- Contributed by: Nicol

Hi Della,

It's possible that this could be an abscess or a fluid filled cyst. The best thing to do is let your vet examine it and drain it if necessary.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY POMPERIAN HAS A LUMP ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GUM BALL ON HER BACK RIGHT LEG. IT APPEARS TO BE FULL OF FLUID, I BELIEVE IT IS BLOOD, IT IS DARK PURPLE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HURT HER WHEN I CHECK IT. IN LAST COUPLE OF DAYS SHE IS NOT EATING. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS COULD BE?

-- Contributed by: DELLA

Hi Jean,

If you share a yard with your neighbor and your dog has the same symptoms, I'd say the chances that your dog has the same type of infection are higher than average. Be sure to mention what your neighbor's dog's diagnosis was. It might provide a useful short cut for your vet.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know what you find out. I'd be interested to hear the diagnosis. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Taking my lab to the vet tonight. Last few days he seems constipated, not eating, laying around. My neighbor had her ...er spaniel to the vet over the summer with the same thing. The diagnosis was some kind of infection caused by eating grass. Could this be the same thing since we share a yard? I'm really really concerned about him.

-- Contributed by: Jean

Hi Dan,

It certainly does sound like this dog has health issues. The best thing you can do is take him to the vet for a health evaluation. Honestly, I'm surprised the shelther didn't attend to this before releasing the dog for adoption. Thank goodness you found him. Hopefully the vet will be able to provide reasonable treatment to improve your dog's condition. Best wishes for a happy turnout to the situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Picked up an old yellow lab from the shelter-has a blue tongue, rapid breathing, shivering, panting....great disposition, but think I picked up a hospice case with a bad heart?

-- Contributed by: DanC

Hi Patricia,

Since there hasn't been any improvement in your dog's symptoms for two days, you should go ahead and give your vet a call. It's good that your dog is still drinking water, but he may still become dehydrated if he continues to vomit. Your vet can help stop this cycle with some medication, as well as try to determine the cause behind it.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog Champ has lost his appetite and has been hiding out on the side of the house (where he seldom goes)he has also been vomiting but is drinking water...how long before I take him to vet> has been 48 hrs.

-- Contributed by: Patricia

Hi Donna,

I'm sorry to hear your dog is feeling sick. It would be wise to call your vet first. That way your vet can recommend exactly what to give your dog and the proper dosage for his weight. Some human medications can cause stomach problems, so best to check first.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dogs ears and nose are warm, i think he has a bad cold. is it safe to give him any fever relief medicine

-- Contributed by: donna

Hi Ivan,

It pays to be so observant. It sounds as though your dog is coming down with an illness. It could be a virus, or perhaps your pet ate something that didn't agree with it. For now, keep a close eye on your dog to see if any more symptoms appear. If they do, or if you dog seems to get weaker or refuses to drink water, call your vet right away. It's always better to seek veterinary care early in an illness before it drains your dog's energy and immune system.

Thanks for your question, and I truly hope this won't turn out to be anything serious. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

yesterday my dog was so active .But today onward my dog start to become look tired and no energy.normally , my dog will running here and there and barking but today suddenly it so quiet. i dont think my dog is tired. Any comments about it ?

-- Contributed by: Ivan

Hi Blake,

I'm sorry to hear how sick your dog is. Blood in the vomit is very serious because it indicates some sort of internal bleeding. I don't want to guess at the cause and alarm you unecessarily, but it is very important that you take your dog to the vet right away. You have my best wishes for your pet's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog will not eat and will not get up she hasa been vomiting and some of the vomit has blood. What do I do?

-- Contributed by: Blake

Hi William,

I'm sorry to hear your dog sounds so very ill. The best thing you can do is call your vet right away for an exam and proper diagnosis. Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog has diarea does not wan't to walk on his back lages

-- Contributed by: Enter your nawilliam0069me here

Hi Mary,

I think the best thing you can do is call your vet and tell him/her about the changes your dog has gone through since the worming. This could be a reaction to the medication, but whatever it is, it's important to get it under control as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY 4 YEAR OLD MINITURE BEAGLE WAS WORMED A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO. SHE STILL ISN'T EATING, BUT JUST A FEW BITES A DAY.HER BREATHING HAD CHANGED AND IT'S DEEPER THAN USUAL. SHE IS STILL DRINKING WATER LIKE ALWAYS AND PEEING TOO. BUT SHE'S NOT USING THE BATHROOM. SHE WANTS TO MOSTLY BY HERSELF AND SELDOM WAGS HER TAIL. PLEASE HELP.

-- Contributed by: MARY

Hi Ana,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's distress. I think the very best thing you can do is take her to your vet right away. Dogs can get food poisoning from eating spoiled foods, and this is probably part of her distress. However, it's possible she ate something from the trash that is lodging in her system and causing the pain that made her yelp. It's very important to find out what's going on as soon as you can because some obstructions need to be surgically removed.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and I hope the vet is able to remedy the situation and help your dog recover soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is three years old and the other day,she happen to wonder to the neighbors house with their dog that visits me everyday,she is fixed and so is the other dog but they for fun got into a rubbish can that was outside of the neighbors house with old or rotten food,this happenned the day before yesterday and I woke up the next morning to find vomit in three different areas ,I also have two other dogs that do not go visiting the neighbor...today the sick dog seems to be breathing kind of fast,and even looked like she was trembling a little bit but when she walked thru the bushes,I heard her yell out a sqweel like something was hurting her..I've been watching her and I'm keeping her warm and she seems o.k. for now,but she was also earlier when we both came in from uor walk ,she went and hid behind my chair which for her is unusual,I tried to call her but she wouldn't come out.I removed her from the back of my chair and checked her body but I couldn't see anything wrong..she's now laying on the floor trying to sleep,I know that she doesn't feel good because she always wags her tail,when you talk to her but she isn't wagging her tail.I covered her up to keep her warm and she's laying there very qwietly,can you help me?

-- Contributed by: Ana Dominguez

Hi Lab Lover,

In all those tests, did your vet ever check for pancreatitis? I'm not qualified to diagnose your dog, but some of the symptoms match. Additionally, drinking huge amounts of water can indicate diabetes or a kidney problem. Try to find out if your vet has considered any of these issues, and don't be afraid to consult another vet if you're not happy with the work being done by your current clinic.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet is able to get to the heart of the problem.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Mary Jane,

I'm so glad to hear your found your dog. I realize the incident is probably over by now, and I hope your dog is going to be alright. In a situation like that, it's usually alright to offer the dog a bowl of water unless you suspect that he might have internal injuries. This gives him a chance to rehydrate a little and calm down. If the dogs seems confused or fearful, it's better to talk to him in a calm voice for a while rather than try to touch him. Dogs that have been injured or very frightened may bite even their loved ones when in pain and/or confused. If the dog begins to show signs of recognition and cooperation, it's probably alright to touch him, but you should always use caution because accidently touching an injury could provoke the dog to snap without thinking. It's a natural instinct in that sort of situation.

All of that said, I do hope your dog is doing well now. Best wishes for his health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

5 year old lab has lost at least twenty pounds maybe more. Was at 95 pounds. At first wasn't eating, now is eating. Drinking incessently. He eats only one kind of food since puppy food he throws up anything that isn't his own kind of food. Now that he is back to eating he occasionally throws up. Anytime we mention anything like this to vet(s) we have had two, the do hundreds of dollars of blood work only to give him medication that always includes steroids that make him sicker. He seems to feel fine. He is just drinking water by the gallon and is vommitting at least once a day. The vommitting doesn't coincide with drinking.

-- Contributed by: lab lover

Hi. My dog recently went missing for a night and my dad couldn't find him at around twelve at night. It rained that night and i found my dog this after noon. Alive. Thank god. But i don't know what to do while i'm waiting for the vet to come. I'm leaving this message from my phone since my dog won't move from my neighbours yard due to a foot injury. Hes an old dog and has bone problems. Can you please give any advice on what to do? I'm serious worried that he might be in huge trouble.

-- Contributed by: Mary Jane

Hi Katie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's problem. Given her advanced age and health problems, it would be a good idea to check directly with your vet before giving your dog any over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication. Your vet will want to track down the cause of the diarrhea in order to determine which treatment will be most effective.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have a 15 year old doxie with diarrhea. We already know she has an enlarged liver and heart but she is still eating but she only wants to eat turkey burger. Is there anything that can help the diarrhea?

-- Contributed by: Katie Moseanko

Hi Jarrod,

This problem sounds extremely serious. You need to take your dog to the vet immediately. It could be life threatening. Please go right away.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi,

My poodle has a very sore chest and i cannot touch it. He has also lost his appetite and refuses to drink. What should i do?

-- Contributed by: Jarrod

Hi Roxsan,

That greenish lip sounds troubling. Coupled with the fact that he's discharging, I think you should really take your dog back for a re-examination by your vet. The vet will likely want to change his medication since the Cephalexin hasn't been able to knock out the staff.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet is able to help your dog a little more.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,

My English Bulldog has a greenish lip and discharge coming from his nose. He has been sick with a staph infection that he has been on Cephalexin since 9/8/08. Still not 100%. What could be wrong? Does he need a stronger antibiotic?

-- Contributed by: Roxsan

Hi Elias,

I'm sorry to hear about how sick your dog is. A combination of vomiting and diarrhea often indicates a virus. While there is no medication to fight a virus, vet usually provide supportive measure to help the animal survive while its immune system combats the virus. This usually includes putting the dog on an IV to prevent dehydration if the symptoms are severe enough.

All things considered, I think the best thing you can do is give your vet a call and describe the frequency of the symptoms. Based on that, your vet will decide whether or not you should bring your dog to the clinic.

Thank you for your question, and I truly hope your dog gets well very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog has Diarrhea and is Vomiting what iswrong with him please help

-- Contributed by: elias

Hi Jackie,

The best thing you can do is head straight back to the vet. After two days without drinking, your dog is in danger of becoming dehydrated and this can be a very dangerous situation. At the very least, your vet may want to give your dog a subcutaneous injection of saline to help rehydrate her, but stronger measures may be needed.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and you have my best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, my dog has been sick for over a week now. Ten days ago my three year old lab-mix dog started vomiting. I took her to the local animal ER and she was diagnosed with a pancreatic infection and medication was provided and a new diet mandated. Three days went by without incident. Then the vomiting started again. The blood work came back normal and nothing showed on the X-ray. She has not vomited now for 48 hours, but she is not eating or drinking. How long can she go on like this and what would/should my next steps be? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Jackie

Hi Nikki,

I hear you about the cost of health care for our dogs. However, having your vet analyze a stool sample would reveal whether or not your dog actually has worms, as well as which specific type of worms might be involved. This is very important because worming medications are designed to be affective for a specific type of worms. Additionally, these medications can make your dog temporarily uncomfortable, so you wouldn't want to put him through the process unless you were sure he has worms.

Our article on Symptoms of Dog Worms offers more info on this topic. I hope you find it helpful.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 12 year old Dachshund that in the last month has gotten what looks like a pot belly appearance. He has not had worms since he was a puppy. His diet has not changed but it's possible that when he goes out during the day he is finding something else to eat besides the Bil_jac that we feed him. He also acts as though he is starving all the time. Do I need to take him to the vet or just get a wormer? I am not working right now and don't have extra money to take him in but will if it is necessary.

-- Contributed by: Nikki

Hi Bob,

It certainly sounds like your dog is having a reaction to something, but it's difficult to say what that might be. I think your best option is to give you vet a call and let him/her know what's going on. The vet will most likely want to examine your dog. Drooling is often a sign of nausea, but your dog has eaten and drank since the onset of the symptoms, so it's best to let your vet make the diagnosis and determine what kind of treatment might be necessary.

Thank you for your question, and I do hope the vet can help your dog feel better quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our doog went out side and must have ate something on the ground. She got sick and we let her out. She ate a lot of Grass, but only vomited a little she keeps swallowing and even licks the carpet. She is also drooling, but she ate her food and is drinking a lot of water. what do you think is wrong?

-- Contributed by: Bob

Hi Jonathan,

I'm sorry to hear about your dog's situation. Veterinary care can be costly, and sometimes people just can't afford an office visit. Perhaps if your parents called your vet and described what's going on, the vet might be able to recommend an over-the-counter product to help the skin heal.

If that approach isn't successful, sometimes aloe vera is very soothing to skin irritations. This might bring your dog a little relief, but please understand it won't be a complete cure. It's usually necessary to get a diagnosis before you can determine the most effective treatment.

Thank you for your question, and I truly hope your parents find a way to help your dog. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Ok, so my dog has a pretty bad skin infection. But my parents won't take him to the vet because "we don't have the money" so what should I do? I feel so sorry for my dog which has to suffer every day for about the past month. Help please

-- Contributed by: Jonathan Stoops

Hi Tori,

It's difficult to say what might be going on, but if he was fine when you left for work and lethargic by the time you came home, there could be a chance he ate something that is causing a toxic reaction. I think the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet right away. Be sure to let the vet know how quickly these symptoms came on and don't forget to mention the puddle you found.

Thank you for your question, and I hope the vet is able to quickly make your dog feel better. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a six month old yellow lab. Today when I came home from work and let him in from outside he is very lethargic. Won't get up, wag his tail, or eat. We even offered him some cooked beef roast for dinner and he just spat it on the floor. This is totally unlike him. In my daughter's room I found some fluid on the floor, clear with no odor; I'm not sure which end it came from. Any ideas? My husband said he was playing this morning....

-- Contributed by: Tori

Hi Chris,

It will take a vet to diagnose your dog properly and administer the correct treatment. Since this has been going on for four days, it is likely a very serious issue. Your dog could have an intestinal blockage, and this is dangerous. Please call your vet right away.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Marisa,

I'm so sorry to hear how sick Spot is. I wish I had a way to help you, but I am not a vet. It is possible that your dog has worms since you've seen evidence of them in the stools. However, it sounds like the worms are coincidental to a virus.

If your dog isn't able to keep any liquid down, there is a strong chance he's on his way to dehydration. The best advice I can give you is to call your vet anyway. He/She may be willing to let you make payments on any bill you incur. The vet may also be able to offer advice on what you can do for your dog at home. It's certainly worth a try, so please make that call.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I'll keep your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

ok its 240 in the morning and I am up with Spot, he was asleep with me and decided to get up, he went to his dish and drank alot of water, and right after doing this he went and used the number 2 very loose, just shot out and looks really bloody, but doesn't really smell,I noticed something in there that looks like little worms. After doing this he started to throw up again, and then drank more water, right now he is asleep again

-- Contributed by: Marisa

Sorry about Spot yesterday which was Monday he had hard or regular stools all day, but today he hasn't gone at all. He is still drinking, but very little. i actually force fed him chicken broth n water through a syringe today, with hopes of him keeping it down. which he did for a few hours and then he lost it, I tried again with the chicken broth n water a few hours ago and so far so good. Plz help me out I am so worried about him.

-- Contributed by: marisa

My dog spot is almost a year old terrier mix, he started warly Sunday morning with diarreha, then yesterday he was warm, shaking, n vomitting. He will not eat anything for the past two days, or actually he tried Monday morning n ended up throwing it back up. If he drinks water he throws up,he is also just laying around n won't really get up at all. What could be going on with him, we are very worried, but do not have the funds to take him to the vet right now. Plz help this is my baby!!

-- Contributed by: Marisa

My dog is 2 1/2 years old, she is Pitbull terrier. Over the course of the past three months, her paws are raw and bleeding. She eats very little and does not go to the bathroom for days on end. Prior to this, she was a happy golucky, loving and affectionate and playful dog. Now, her spirit is truly affected by this. She doesnt play, all she does is sit around the house and mope. Am giving her treatment of benadine to reduce the risk of infection, but the wounds have not healed and I am worried because my vet doesnt seem to have any answers. Please, any help at all will be greatly appreciated..she is a valued member of our family and I cannot go another 3 months seeing her suffer and in such distress like this.

-- Contributed by: Tara

my dog has been sick for about 4 days now shes panting when ever she stands up or moves she hasnt poop in about 4 days now and shes eating very lil and when she trys to get up she struggles and then when she finally gets up her back legs shake like crazy whats wrong here ?

-- Contributed by: chris

Hi Heather,

An ear infection can affect a dog's equalibrium. It would be wise to let your vet examine your dog's ears. The vet can flush out any debris and administer an antibiotic to knock out the infection.

If your dog's condition doesn't have anything to do with his ears, the vet can rule that out and try figure out what's really going on.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you dog is back in full health very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog Cruzer is acting strange.. he is walking as if his equillibrium is messed up or something. I have no idea what it is.

-- Contributed by: Heather

Hi Lola,

Is it possible your dog has fleas? If so, scratching and chewing can cause even more damage to the delicate skin. This often leads to hair loss and inflammation. It would be a good idea to let your vet take a look. The vet can give your dog a flea treatment, and may prescribe medication to get your dog through the worst of the itching while the skin heals.

Even if this isn't an insect problem, at least the vet will take a look and hopefully diagnose the real problem so your dog can begin to heal.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is back to normal soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

scratching & biting hair off back leges

-- Contributed by: lola

Hi Chaarlo,

I think this is definitely worth a vet visit. I doubt that the mucous in your dogs eyes would have prevented your pet from eating and drinking because dogs rely on their senses of smell and sound far more than their eyesight. However, such a change in condition might be related to another physical ailment, so it's worth investigating.

Thank you for your question, and I hope your vet is able to get to the source of the problem. Please keep us posted.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I left my Shih Tzu with an elderly relative for 4 days. The relative doesn't see to well and let the dogs eyes get covered in goo. The dog is 14 and this is a content issue, but that is not the question. I believe the dog did not drink or eat for at least 3 of those days, because it couldn't see. When I got home. I cleaned up his eyes but he seems super lethargic and dehydrated. When prosented with food and water he didn't seem interested (immediately alarming) so I went and bought some pedialite. I started with two plastic syringes full, orally every 15 min for an hour and then every 1/2 after. His appetite has come back a little but I'm still worried. I just woke up to give him some more and this time I also shot in a small glass of water as well. If i contonue with pedialite in the am and he doesn't come back to his old self by noon tomorrow should we go to the vet? Or should I wait till the evening. He's 14yo and 9.5lbs. Sleeps alot.

-- Contributed by: Quick shih tzu question

Hi Mike,

It's likely that your puppy is having a reaction to the vaccinations. It would be a good idea to call your vet and alert him/her about the situation. Whether or not your puppy needs to be examined depends on just how much vomiting and diarrhea he has. Most dogs get over the reaction withing 24-48 hours, but it would still be prudent to give your vet a call.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your puppy is feeling better very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog had shots yesterday he is 9 months .today he is not eating or drinking.he threw up and he has diarrhea. shuold i see my vet.

-- Contributed by: mike

Hi Jamie,

It really may be a good idea to consult your vet. From your description I gather that:

Nothing is now going in
Your dog has run out of stool
You're hearing significant noises from his tummy

It's not certain, but this could be a case of torsion, aka bloat, in the making. Torsion is very serious because the stomach virtually twists itself closed and nothing can get in or out. It will take a vet to diagnose whether your dog actually has torsion, but your dog still sounds quite ill, so it would be best to have him examined by a professional.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope this doesn't turn out to be anything serious. Keep us posted.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is about to be 7 months old. He is very energetic and playful. This morning he was completely calm and low key. He is house trained and he had pooped twice in the house this morning the second runny. Then he went twice outside as well. The final time was complete liquid and white. His stomach has been gurgling as well. He has not ate his breakfast or drank any water Should I take him into the vet?

-- Contributed by: Jamie

Hi Melinda,

It's possible there was something toxic in the paint chips. I really think you should let your vet examine your puppy. The vet can draw some blood to check for toxins, and then advise you on the next step based on the results. Puppies are far more delicate than mature dogs, so I think it's definitely worth the trip.

Best wishes that it will all be okay. Let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I recently got a puppy that is 4 mos old. A couple of days ago he got into some paint that was chipping from the wall and ate it. Yesterday I could tell he wasn't feeling well and he still isn't. He threw up alot last night and some of it was a yellow color and he didn't eat his dog food that I put out yesterday morning. He had a little bit of a runny stool alittle bit ago. He is still not eating but is drinking alittle bit of water. He seems to not have much energy. What should I do?

-- Contributed by: Melinda

Hi Kristen,

This sounds like a drastic change from the dog you knew, and changes of this nature typically have an underlying medical cause. Go ahead and call your vet again. If you don't get a repsonse, take your dog to another vet. Since your pet is displaying some aggression toward your daughter, the situation is urgent.

Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have an 8 year old mixed breed (lab/sheppard/pitbull mix) that has recently been showing some symptoms that I can't seem to find on line. He has glassy eyes, when I bring him outside for his morning walk he does go to the bathroom but then comes inside and has been going all over the floor, he no longer listens to commands as well as he use to and is acting agressive to my teenage daughter that raised him. I called my vet and haven't yet had a call back and I'm starting to get increasingly worried about his health. Does anyone have ANY idea what might be causing these symptoms?

-- Contributed by: Kristen

Hi Rob, it's possible that the grass was previously treated with chemicals, and this could be what's making your dog sick. The symptoms might also be due to a reaction to that first vaccination. If the vomiting and diarrhea are profuse, you should seek veterinary help right away. Chihuahua pups are quite fragile and succomb to illness easier than many breeds, so it's best to use extra caution.

Best wishes for your puppy's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Brenda,

If this isn't an infected wound, it could be some sort of growth. I recommend you have your vet examine it to determine if it needs any treatment.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

we have a 2 mon.old chahuaha he has had vomiting and diareah today we also seen him eat grass,should we be concerned?he has had his shots for worms and is not swelled in the belly

-- Contributed by: rob

i have a 3 year old dog that has a knot on 1 of her nipples that has a blister and it is black and it has recently looked like it has been bleeding

-- Contributed by: brenda

Hi Linda,

Please keep in mind that I'm not a vet, but the coughing spells and panting could be an indication of a heart problem. Unless a dog has exercised or is feeling too warm, panting can be a sign that the heart isn't receiving enough oxygen.

My advice is to take your dog to the vet for an exam. If nothing else, it's a good way to get a baseline measurement of your senior dog's health for future reference.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this advice helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a german shepard/lab mix that is 14 yrs. old. She is very restless and pants at times, sleep alot, has a very hardy appeitte but is slender built, she has periods of cough that is new. She had a episode of Canine Vestibular Syndrome in January and seems very hard of hearing since. Is she just an old lady now or should I be concerned?

-- Contributed by: Linda

Hi Trevor,

I can't be sure of what's going on, but your dog does sound like he's in distress. Please ask you mom to take him to the vet right away.

Best wishes that your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi i have a year old rottweiler and a day ago he stopped eating and drinking and i dont think he has slept since it started. He drools all over and throws up whenever he drinks anything. The last time he threw up it was dark and not like saliva anymore. Im not that old and my mom doesnt know whats wrong. Does anyone know?

the help would be greatly appreciated. (he likes to chew on wood and logs if that makes a difference) (probably taking him to the vet tomorrow though)

-- Contributed by: trever

Hi Autumn,

I'm not a vet, so I can only guess, but this could be an injury of some sort to the spine. It might even be a pinched nerve. However, whatever is going on does sound serious and it's worth having your look at as soon as possible since the symptoms seem to be growing worse.

Please let us know what you find out. I'll keep your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Have a 6month old pure bread boxer puppie....just in the past 2 days he has stopped eating, playing and is now not wanting to move his back legs...im sure he was not hit by anything, he just acts really sore...what do u think that it could be?

-- Contributed by: autumn

Hi Matt,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's illness. I understand your worry over the expense, but I really think you need to either revisit your current vet or get a second opinion from another vet. I'm not a vet myself, but the appearance of these lumps in other areas coupled with the fact that your dog is growing weaker and losing weight leads me to think this could be cancer. I truly hope it's not, but you need to find out exactly what's going on before it's too late to save your dog. Perhaps you can ask the vet clinic if they are willing to take payments to cover any treatment.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to get your dog the help he needs. Best wishes in this difficult situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have a 7 or 8 year old Springer Spaniel. He was in good health until about 2 months ago when a lump grew on his back. This was followed by a second, larger lump about the cir...ference of a gold ball. We took him to the vet who did some hideously expensive tests and said they were nothing to worry about an would go away on their own. They did, but were replaced by further lumps- the latest in on his front leg. He has gone off his food and is very lethargic. He has also lost a LOT of weight no doubt due to his eating only about 30% of his previous diet. He is also smelling very badly. He does drink, but again less, and he passes water apparently freely. He "poo" is usually very soft and an unpleasant orange shade- though with no sign of blood. We can't afford vets bills- it was Â£200 for the tests on the previous lumps. Any advice/diagnosis?

-- Contributed by: Matt, Wakefield

Hi David,

This sounds like it could be a case of Kennel Cough. Sometimes this illness isn't too serious, but it does have a potential to lead to secondary respiratory infections. Since it's a virus, antibiotics won't touch it, but they could be useful for a secondary infection. For now, keep fresh water available for your dog, and keep an eye on him. If the symptoms grow worse and his breathing becomes labored, you'll want to have your vet examine him.

You might find our article on Home Treatment for Kennel Cough helpful.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 4yr old Shih-Poo started to cough yesterday but never coughed anything up. Today I woke up to him coughing. So I let him outside. He didn't do anything and came back in. He hasn't pooped in awhile. Then he started coughing and wouldn't go up the stairs. This time when he coughed a white foam with a yellow center was coughed up. He is not vomiting. He has been very lethargic lately. But when he heard a noise outside he ran to the door and barked then coughed up more foam and yellow stuff. Should I be concerned or just let him go. Thanks for the help. David

-- Contributed by: David

Hi Nicole,

You should really call your vet and let him know your dog threw up the antibiotic. The vet may tell you to give another dose, but let's let the real expert make that call.

Also ask your vet if it's necessary for your dog to take food with the medication. I ask this because it's usually better to withhold food when a dog has an upset stomach. Do keep fresh water available though to avoid dehydration.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello. My dog has been sick and was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine. After giving his antibiotics he threw up, Im scared the medication came back up, what should I do? Should I give him more? He is still feeling warm, vomitting every time he eats anything and isn't active. He is only 10 months and I'm extremely worried that the vet didn't do enough. Please help. Thank you

-- Contributed by: Nicole

Hi Valerie,

I'm not a vet, so keep that in mind. Hoever, I don't think it would hurt to use a product like Bag Balm or Pulvex veterinary oinment on your dog's nose. These salves are made for use on animals to help heal sores. I happen to have a tin of Pulvex myself, and it says it can be used on dry cracked skin and paws. A dog can certainly lick its paws, so it should be safe to use on the outside of the nose as well.

I recommend you gently clean away the crust and blood, and then apply a thin layer of the oinment. You'll probably need to repeat applications several times a day, but hopefully you'll see improvement within a couple of days. You can probably find either of these product at your local feed store or farm supply, as well as many pharmacies.

Good luck, and please let me know if either of the products prove helpful. We do get questions about this condition from time to time, and it would be nice to know if the balm works.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog for the last six or so months has had a problem with sneezing and his nose crusting over. The vet put him on two courses of strong antibiotics- which did not help, checked for Lupus- which turned out to be negative, and I have even attempted putting him on an antihistimine. None of these seemed to improve his condition. For three months now he has stopped sneezing, but his nose is still crusted over. My vet says that there is not a safe topical cream to place on his nose because he would ingest it. However, I feel there must be something I could do for him! It is hard to see his nose look so bad and even bleed at times. I just don't like to see him so uncomfortable. Is there anything you can recommend please? Thank you, Valerie

-- Contributed by: Valerie

Hi Barry,

The list in the article above offers a variety of symptoms to watch for. That said, you know your dog better than anyone. If you feel something is just not right, don't hesitate to give your vet a call.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

what are the symptoms of a dog being under the weather.

-- Contributed by: barry

Hello,

The Leptospirosis vaccine has been known to produce reactions. My advice is to call your vet right away to let him/her know what's going on. At the very least, the reaction should be noted in your dog's medical records. Some owners opt to pass on vaccinating their dogs for lepto. This is something else you might want to discuss with your vet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be okay very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My puppy is not feeling well had a needle on july 1 for leptospirosis. she is vomiting water and will not eat. Diarrhea just started/ her stool was okay yesterday. could she have a bug

-- Contributed by: help

Hi Matt,

Your dog certainly sounds sick. First, don't offer him anything to eat until perhaps later this evening, but be sure to keep fresh water available for him. If he continues to heave the water too, he runs the risk of dehydration. If this happens, you'll want to call the vet right away. Since this is a holiday weekend, you may find it necessary to call the emergency vet.

Hopefully giving your dog's tummy a chance to empty out and rest will help him get over whatever's bothing him at the moment, but don't hesitate to go straight to the vet if he takes a turn for the worse.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Muevete,

Have you fed your dog anything different in the last day or so? Sometimes a switch in kibble brands or feeding table scraps can upset the digestive system. For the moment, you should avoid feeding your dog for 24 hours, but keep a little fresh water available so he doesn't dehydrate. If your dog doesn't improve in another day, it will be time to call the vet for an appointment.

Best wishes the situation resolves quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our dog has been vomiting all morning, once he finished with throwing up food ect. it became a white froth...

-- Contributed by: matt

my 9 month schnauzer has all his shots and just had fecial exam which came back fine. he has the runs and sleeps most of the day. just started this morning. please help

-- Contributed by: muevete

Hi Bunny,

The best idea would be to ask your vet to examine the burst cyst just to be on the safe side. In the meantime, you can fill the opening with Panalog ointment if you are able to obtain it. It should help ward off an infection and promote healing.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our dog gus had a cyst under his chin in the neck area, it had grown quite large and just today burst, so it's seems to be ammending itself. Nonetheless, I am worried about infection and also he seems a little panicked...I'm sure that will taper off, but in the meantime, what can I do to make sure it doesn't get infected and perhaps give him to relax him while it's in healing mode....benadryl? An anti inflamatory? Thanks Bunny

-- Contributed by: Bunny

Hi Joseph,

This sounds like a possible case of Kennel Cough. Check out the following articles and decide if your dog might need veterinary attention.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I Have a japanese spitz hes about 14 or 15 and hes been coffing and throwing up a white bile any suggestions???

-- Contributed by: Joseph

Hi Courtney,

The eye discharge might be sign of a nasal/respiratory infection. He might even be experiencing some spring allergies. If he doesn't return to normal in the next few days, or his symptoms worsen, don't hesitate to take him to your vet for an exam.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Rottweiler (who is 9 years old and male) has been restless for several days, has not been eating well, and has a whitish-clear discharge in one eye. Any ideas? Any help is appreciated.

-- Contributed by: Courtney C.

Hi Angela,

I'm not a vet, but this collection of symptoms sounds serious. The weight loss and the bad smell are the most telling. Please don't delay in making an appointment with your vet. The vet will run blood tests and conduct a physical exam to determine exactly what is happening to your dog.

I truly hope your dog's condition is treatable. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Good question Desiree,

In a nutshell, stroke symptoms include:

Confusion
Stumbling
Tilting head
Apparent blindness
Lethargy
Sudden personality change
Uncontrolled urination and/or defecation
Some degree of paralysis

Don't be afraid to contact your vet immediately if you suspect your dog may have had a stroke. Speedy action can make all the difference to the recovery.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY 3 YEAR OLD COLLIE HAS SUDDENLY LOST WEIGHT, WON'T EAT MUCH, ACTS LIKE STOMACH HURTS WHEN I RUB IT.HE HAS A ROTTEN SMELL ALSO.HE COUGHS UP A CLEAR SUBSTANCE.

-- Contributed by: ANGELA D.

what are the symptoms of a dog having a stroke. She has seizers could they cause strokes.

-- Contributed by: Desiree

Hi Ramona,

There's a possibility that your dog's diarrhea is related to the worming medication. My recommendation is to pick up a phone book for your new city and look up the numbers for nearby veterinary clinics. Hopefully you can find one that is convenient to your new location. Bloody diarrhea can also be a sign of a more serious problem, so be sure to make an appointment right away. Also make sure to tell the vet the exact worming product you used. The vet should be able to tell you if the diarrhea is a side effect.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

7 wk Beagle male puppy. Was wormed 7 days ago. He eats, drinks and plays just fine. He has developed diarraha with traces of bllod in it. What is wrong? I just moved to a new state and do not know where a vet is as of yet.

-- Contributed by: Ramona

Hi Jessica,

It's time to tak your puppy to the vet. This sounds like it could be a bowel infection due to the blood and mucous in the stool. Your vet will likely prescribe an antibiotic to clear the infectiona and help your dog feel better.

Best wishes for your dog's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We just got a boston terrier that's about 8-12 months old. He's not eating very much, and his tummy started making really loud grumbly noises. They sounded like he was hungry or like he was going to get diaherra. When he went it was watery with blood and a mucus like substance in it. The next day it was more solid but it still had blood, it's the third day and it's still happening. What should I do?

-- Contributed by: Jessica

Hi Joslyn,

It's difficult to speculate on what made your dog sick, but with such serious symptoms I'm glad you have a vet appointment for tomorrow. Although you washed the buffalo sauce off the chicken, it could have penetrated the skin to the flesh beneath and caused a digestive disturbance. There's also an even stronger chance that your dog's illness was caused by a virus, so along with the possibility of dehydration, it's all the more important to have your vet examine her.

Thanks for your question, and try to coax your dog to drink more fresh water until the vet can see her. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Gina,

Typically I'd suggest there might be a kidney problem or diabetes involved, but you state your vet has already done lab work. For now, continue with the antibiotic and see if it helps. If not, ask your vet to check your dog's kidneys again.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi James,

If the mucus returned after being cleaned off the first time, this is likely more than a bit of sleep in your dog's eye. Your dog might have a slight allergy or the beginning of a respiratory infection. She might even have accidently scratched her eye, but the green color of the pus does indicate an infection of some sort. If the problem is still present tomorrow, it would be a good idea to let your vet take a look at your dog's eye.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly! I have a Jack Russell/Havernashan terrier mix girl who is about a year old. She stopped eating three days ago, diarreah, vomiting( a little since nothing to throw up) I ran out of dog food thursday night, gave her chix from dinner. had buffalo sauce on it but i washed it off really good. she goes outside in back yard so no tellin what else she ingested. she wont drink water. today is Sunday, im really concerned...forced 2tble spoons of chix soup broth in her mouth.. will take her to vet tomorrow. oh yeah, she dug her nose in the dirt, why?

-- Contributed by: JOSLYN

I have a 12 yr old toy Pomeranian. Over the last few weeks she has had frequent urination. She not only voids on her puppy pads multiple times a day, but is let outside constantly as well. The voids on her puppy pads seem to be a large quantity...not dribbles. Her lab work looks great, but we are treating her with antibiotics anyway. We remove her water in the evening in hopes she wont keep us up all night, but it isn't working. My husband wants to put her down because we are so sleep deprived. Any ideas on what could be wrong??? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Gina

I noticed yesterday that our yellow lab has some green pusslike stuff near her eyes...after wiping it off yesterday, noticed there is more today. I would like to know what it is? Is she sick? Any help would be appreciated.

-- Contributed by: James

Hi Don,

I'm not a vet, so it would be better to ask your vet directly why your dog's mouth is still sensitive. I'd ask specifically if there is any chance the gum is infected, and if the vet is sure that all infected teeth were removed. There could be a chance that a pocket of infection still remains and is causing further irritation. It's worth looking into.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog heals completely very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Gracie a 12year lab cross had three teeth removed plus a lump from her side its now 18 days since the op which was very tra, matic for her, the stiches have been removed . Scratching with hind feet is getting better but now keeps pawing or at times scratching her jaw. With this number of teeth removed should she still be doing this ??Been to the Vet twice since then who suggested wiping her gums with an iodine solution. medication clavulox injection,rimadyl injection, temgesic injection, riexine tabs x 8

-- Contributed by: don burville

Hi Brooke,

At ten years old, it's possible that this is a case of arthritis. I think it would be worth the vet's effort to explore this issue and see if there is anything more that can be done to help manage your pet's pain.

In the meantime, you might also want to invest in an orthopedic dog bed to make your pet more comfortable. The high density foam protects the joints from stress and may make it easier for your dog to rest.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet is willing to dig in and find out what's going on.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi. I have a 10 year old female ...er spaniel. Lately she has been whimpering. She has been sort of limping when she walks and doesnt want to climb stairs. She also doesnt want to lay down for periods longer than 10 minutes. She will just stand around most of the time with her head down. I have to carry her up and down the apartment stairs just to take her outside. She has been going to the bathroom fine, but I have to encourage her to eat and drink by putting her water and food right in front of her, otherwise she wont eat or drink. She has had this problem a few times before but the vet said it was just back pain and to give her some bufferin. It usually went away a little while after giving her the medicine, but now the bufferin isnt helping her. I hate seeing her so miserable. Please let me know if this sounds like something else, or if there is something more I can do. Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Brooke

Hi Lynn,

The situation depends a lot on the frequency of the vomiting and how long it continues. Some dogs feel better within 24 hours, but if your dog is vomiting every few hours and begins to display other symptoms of illness, you'll want to call the vet right away. For the moment, you should remove the food bowl and keep fresh water available for 24 hours from the onset of the vomiting. If your dog begins to refuse water, this is even more reason to call the vet because dehydration can set in quickly from that point.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Stacy,

If you truly believe there is cause for concern, go ahead and contact your local humane society. They will investigate the situation, and they are not supposed to tell who filed the complaint. If nothing is deemed wrong, the dog's owner won't suffer any consequences. However, if the owner isn't properly caring for the animal, the humane society will intervene as needed.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i know someone who recently got a pitbull from a pound, i just found the dog is not eating the past two days and has red bumps all over his belly, there was also a concern for a limp leg too. i do not belive this person is properly taking care of the dog, this dog is a good boy and very frindly and lovable. what do you think i should do, im very concerned

-- Contributed by: stacy

I have an 18 month old ridge back mix. She stopped eating today, and she is now vometing. When should I start to worry? Thanks, Lynn

-- Contributed by: Lynn

Hi Maryjo,

Did this change come on suddenly? If it did, it's worth letting your vet take a look at it, even if your dog currently isn't showing any other symptoms. Hopefully nothing serious is going on, but if there is, you'll want to catch it as early as possible.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We just noticed that our 9 year old doxie has a puffiness under his neck; when I touch the area, it doesn't seem to hurt him; I thought it was old age "jowels"? otherwise he's acting/eating fine.....?

-- Contributed by: maryjo

Hi Lucy,

It's possible that this dog has developed an allergy. The best thing your roommate can do is take her to the vet right away for a checkup. The vet will likely prescribe soothing drops for the eyes, and perhaps a general medication to address the allergy itself.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this dog is feeling better very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My roommates dog has recently developed red eyes and squints a lot. She doesn't open her eyes all the way and when she looks up all I can see is the red. I mean her brown eyes are still there but the redness always catches my attention. Is that normal? She never had that before.

-- Contributed by: Lucy

Hi Justin,

I think this is worth letting your vet take a look at. It could be an allergic reaction to something in her diet or environment, or it could be some type of skin infection. Best to let your do a little testing to see if the situation can be remedied.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet can bring your dog some relief from the irritation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5 yr old AmStaff has just recently developed what seems to be small blisters around her snout (a bit on lower jaw, and on both sides of her mouth), and seems to be drooling quite a bit ( which os abnormal for her). her diet is the same except for some homeopathic drops for her skin that are drops in the water bowl (for about a month now). and picked up some milk bones. She doesnt appear to be in pain and acts completely normal but it worries me that this came all of a sudden. I dont know if its an allergic reaction to something (something inthe water?)or an infestation of some kind (nothing found looking her over). possibly unrealted, she always tries to chew her nails and licks herself alot (mostly arms). any help wouild be appreciated

-- Contributed by: Justin

Hi Amanda,

It would be best to give the vet a call today to see how early you can get in. Your dog's lethargy is actually the most troubling symptom at this point. Better to find out what's going on as soon as you can to prevent the illness from becoming worse.

Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi! I have a pug that is usually active and playful. She has had runny diarrea for a day. No blood in her stools I checked. She also vomited a little, which was yellowish and almost clear. She ate some grass when I took her outside so I figured this would help her but that also came up. since then she has not vomited or had diarrea but she has drank very little and she will not eat. She also is very tired. Should I take her to the vet or see how she is tomorrow? Please help I am very worried.

-- Contributed by: Amanda

Hi Melissa,

With so many symptoms, this sounds like a serious illness. I think it would be best to call your vet right away and schedule an appointment. best wishes that your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a six year old chocolate lab who is vomiting yellow slim/foam, and she is constipated and she keeps urinating on the floor in the house. She is house broke and has been for years. I have two other labs who seem fine. I have been giving her medicine for the constapation since last night and it hasn't worke yet. Any sugestions.

-- Contributed by: Melissa

Hi Susan,

Here are my thoughts. First, I would not allow the dogs to run the neighborhood freely, even if some of the neighbors are doing it. It's just too easy for them to become injured or pick up various viruses, worms, etc. Additionally, eating grass usually does provoke many dogs to throw up, so this might have something to do with the intermittent vomiting you've observed. As for those mealtime handouts from the dinner table, some of the foods we eat are too rich for our dogs, and this can also be another reason for the vomiting. I think if you take my thoughts to heart, you'll likely see your dog's tummies settle down considerably.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have two dogs. One is a five year old Shih Tzu and the other is a 12 week old Parsons Russell. The Pup has not long got over Parvo. (almost lost her). She is back to her rambunctious self except that she and the older Shih Tzu take turns vomiting every other day after meals. They sometimes run a little fever in the morning, but usually by evening they are fine and very active except for the vomiting. They are free runners of the neighborhood as is every one elses animals. They eat grass a lot during the day. They have been treated for worms. They both like to be hand fed at supper so a few tidbits are sent their way as we eat. What can I give them to help settle their bellies, and is this behavior often seen in dogs? If they were staying sick with fever and lethargy or not drinking, I would take them to the Vet but they seem fine other than the once a day vomitting occasionally.

-- Contributed by: Susan

help please!!my long waited for mastiff is very ill and my vet seems to b at a loss.her lymoids in her neck are very very large.and there are numerous ones all over her body.my vet has pretty well ruled out blastomycimacy.any ways i am out of money.mable also has like little pimples under her skin and if i touch them they bleed,please help us

-- Contributed by: glenna

Hi Angie,

I have used Pedialyte with dogs that had diarrhea or were vomiting. It helps replace electrolytes, and it can stave off dehydration if your dog is able to keep it down. I don't have any experience using Gatorade for dogs, but I like the fact that the doesn't contain so much dye.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog feels better soon. Don't hesitate to take your pet to the vet if you feel he needs to go.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

can you supplement a sick dog with pedialyte or gatorade?

-- Contributed by: angie

Hi Chris,

First, let me commend you for saving this dog. All too many people would have kept on going. I'm sure there is good karma in store for you. :)

It's possible that this poor animal might have a skin infection that could be cleared up with a trip to the vet. There's also a possibility that the smell is coming from the dog's anal glands. He wasn't fed well, and that is key to good gland health. The vet might choose to express the glands and check for an infection. This could also be cleared up with an antibiotic if it turns out to be the case.

With a little veterinary care and a lot of TLC, I think this dog will mend and make a loving companion. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

To Whom: I Come Across a dog that was thrown from a moving vehicle, picked him up brought him home he looks to have been beat and starved, I put him in the bathroom with a blanket, water dish, and semi soft food and waited 24 hours to give him a bath. he smelled so bad before, and then he dried and still smelled very bad.I give him a bath every other day but he still stinks,and it kooled like he has mange but its not spreading and he isnt scratching.I am out of ideas, what could ya suggest

-- Contributed by: chris nelson

Hi Claudia,

It's a good sign that the vomiting has stopped, and that your dog is able to eat and drink. My advice is to keep a close eye on him in case he takes another down turn. If the high water consumption continues, this will be something you want to discuss with your vet. Otherwise, it's probably just a passing digestive upset. Don't hesitate to call your vet if you're still worried.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5month M pitbull vomited twice yesterday, today he hasn't been his usual self. He has been eating, but not as much; he has been drinking lots of water. Is there something that I need to worry about?

-- Contributed by: Claudia

Hello Jose,

Actually, this sounds very much like your dog had some seizures. These can be caused by a condition known as Canine Epilepsy, but environmental causes can also produce seizures. Antibiotics do nothing for this condition, but phenobarbital is sometimes used to control further seizuring. If your vet isn't experienced in treating dog seizures, I recommend you call around and find another vet who is.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I have a mix dog about 5 years old, these female never had poppies, it was the type of dog very happy or playfully, about a moth ago the dog collapsed in compulsion for few seconds then it looks like she was ok but it got a second compulsion, after this last one she looked like she was out of the planet or gone, she was calm (not aggressive) and she stood in one place like looking around, not responding to our calls, waking in cycles (long circles), leaking saliva, eating little. The vet. Injected it some antibiotics and it look a little better. My worry is that a puppy about 5 to 8 months had the same symptoms. Do someone knows or had similar experience?

-- Contributed by: jose Ochoa

Hi Chris,

Did your vet take any x-rays or a sonogram before prescribing pain medication? It would be unusual to treat pain without diagnosing the cause and whether something needed to be repaired. Your dog could also be having a reaction to the pain pills that needs to be addressed. My suggestion is to call your vet to let him/her know your dog is getting worse, and ask the vet to go over your dog more thoroughly. Don't be afraid to go to another vet for a second opinion.

I truly hope your dog recovers soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Jean,

I'm sorry to hear about the down turn in your dog's condition. I'm not a vet, but it is possible that the head jerking is caused by small seizures. The condition might also be related to a deep inner ear infections, and this could have caused the nausea. It does sound as though she needs to see the vet, so perhaps your vet would allow you to make payments on the bill if you're an established client. It's worth asking.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to work the situation out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Nena,

First, let's try to establish where the wet spots are coming from, whether that turns out to be from your dog's nose, mouth or rear quarter. Once you can establish that, it will be easier to get an idea of what's going on and just how serious the problem might be. Please understand that your dog may indeed need to see a vet, but that doesn't mean you can't call around to find a vet with a more reasonable office call fee. You might just find a vet you can better afford.

Thanks for your question, and let me know what you find out. I'll try help as best I can.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi!Our GSD got into a v nasty fight with a big Rottweiler last night.It was an ugly fight lasting @ 2 mins.After our dog showed strange signs. Lack of confidence,shock,disorientated,needing us a lot,lethargy,blood in stool,really crazy about his tail (we darent touch his tail).we are worried about him,he yelps when he tries to sit down.Whats wrong?What can we do to help him?Would really appreciate your speedy help,he's on pain-killers from the Vet.Chris

-- Contributed by: Chris

My dog is part minuture collie and something. She is about 17 yrs old. She was in good health till a week ago.She started by waling with he head to the right side and jerking a little. I thought that she might have gotting hit. But now she has lost appittie andis vomitting up at first yellow now with. Like you would if you had nothing on your stomche.She is running a little fever and still jerks her head a little. Please help me I cannot afford a Vet and she is family.

-- Contributed by: jean

my chichuaua is 9 months and is acting normal and eating normal. yesterday i noticed when i was holding her for awhile while watching tv. i had alot of small wet spots. some were like shiny so i assumed it was doggy snots. we also noticed rather large wet spots from where she is laying down. im assuming its drool. its a good big size but its not like shes walking and it coming out..she has never done this. the vet said bring her in but at 74. dollars i dont have. any sugguestions of what it might be..she has had all her shots and rabies shot to.. thanks for your help

-- Contributed by: nena hernandez

Hi Terri,

I wish I had more advice to offer you, but it would take a vet to give you a proper diagnosis. Perhaps if you call your vet in advance, he/she would be willing to work out a payment plan for your bill. In the meantime, try coaxing your dog to eat by offering her some low sodium chicken soup. Also, try to get to drink more water. It's very important that she doesn't become dehydrated.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find a way to work things out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Valerie,

I believe the "snorting spells" you're witnessing are similar to the ones I've witnessed in many Toy dogs, including my own Shih Tzus. It seems that they are trying to clear mucous, and it can seem very traumatic, but as you said, the dog's themselves don't seem too concerned about what's going on.

To end the snorting, it's sometimes very helpful to cover your dog's nostrils until he begins licking his lips. This is a sign he's swallowing, and it usually clears the mucous. We used to do this with dogs that were snorting in the show ring, and it worked rather well.

If at anytime your dog actually begins coughing and spitting up mucous, be sure to take him to the vet. Otherwise, I don't think you need to worry too much about the current situation. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a one year old chow mix that is lethargic,not eating and sad i'm @ wits end i love my hairy daughter like my two teens but i'm on a fixed income and a student what can i do to help her feel better,all her preventive health is up to date but i'm stretched to the max now

signed sad and feelin bad in houston

-- Contributed by: terri

My Maltese is about a year old and occasionally has problems catching his breath it seems. He makes snorting noises and sounds like he has phlegm in the back of his throat, but does not cough. About a week ago he had an incident that lasted several minutes, but was walking around wagging his tail and following me at the same time like normal. It has happened several times in the last couple days and only lasts for about 30 seconds. He however does not seem as energetic as he was even 2 months ago (maybe a bit bored or getting older). He has normal weight gain and no other symptoms. Could he have kennel cough or something more serious or is it normal for small dogs like him to do that? I also do not have a lot of money for a big vet bill right now and any advice would be appreciated.

-- Contributed by: Valerie

Hi Link,

I fully agree with you, it's time to call the vet. After two days, it doesn't seem that this illnesses is going to clear up on its own. Your dog might even have a blockage due to eating the cushion foam, so it would be best to see your vet as soon as possible.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Raven,

The safest thing you can do is call your vet right away for an appointment. Illnesses are usually easiest to treat when you catch them in the beginning before they wear your dog down too much.

Thanks for your quesiton, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi.i have a dog that is not eating,sluggish,throwing up and seems to have trouble pooping.its 2 days now acting tired and sluggish.im worried.had distemper shots and has been wormed.she eats couch cussion foam sometimes.i gave her a few bites of beef. it was about a spoon full.if she has no change tomarrow i need to do something . she is 2 months old

-- Contributed by: link

Something is terribly wrong with my puppy. He is now just about 4 months old. He was very healthy until now when i noticed that he is having watery bile movements and vomiting every once in a while, however he is still very active and happy. What should i do?

-- Contributed by: Raven Jones

Hi Kristi,

You know your dog better than anyone, so don't be afraid to trust your instincts. It really does sound as though your dog is coming down with an illness. Right now, I'd keep a close eye on him and watch for more symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. Also monitor his food and water intake so you'll know the moment he stops drinking. It's important to keep your dog hydrated or it could complicate his condition.

If your dog isn't back to normal in a day or so, or if he suddenly becomes sicker, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your vet. Hopefully this is something simple that will pass quickly, but you don't want to let it go on too long before you seek your vet's help.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog, a 10 year old Golden/Lab mix was sluggish last night and just wasn't his happy, excited self. I could see in his eyes he wasn't feeling good. He didn't jump up to greet me this morning when my alarm went off and didn't race downstairs to eat. In fact, he drank almost the whole bowl of water and refused his food. He did eat it about 2 hours later. During his morning walk he walked slower than normal and didn't sniff, mark and pull like he normally does. Should I be concerned? Thanks, Kristi

-- Contributed by: Kristi Alexander

Hi Lyn,

It really sounds as though there is something internal going on in your dog's system. Unfortunately, there's no way to figure out what that is unless you allow your vet to examine him. I recommend you make an appointment right away before the condition is too advanced for treatment.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is half of what he use to be... eat's half a meal playfulness half... he also looks sad. Trembles. whats wrong with him?

-- Contributed by: Lyn

Hi Elissa,

These could be signs of an intestinal blockage. I would definitely call your vet and ask if the appointment should be moved up. Hopefully everything will turn out alright.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Donald,

This is actually a very good question. Dogs can actually sniff out undigested proteins and other nutrients in feces, and the theory is that they eat the stool to finish the job. Some vets even feel that dogs that do this aren't getting enough nutrition from their food. The habit is certainly repugnent to most of us, but fortunately there are few products you can sprinkle on a dogs for to discourge poop eating. I believe Doctors Foster and Smith carry some on their website.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Cheryle,

I'm sorry to hear about your predicament. Since your dog is only taking a small amount of water, she has probably begun to dehydrate, and this is most likely why her nose is dry and she feels extra warm to your touch. This, along with the fact that she's not eating, makes it very important to have a vet examine her. Otherwise she may continue to go down hill. Sometimes vets will work out a payment plan for established clients, so this is an option you want to explore.

In the meantime, you could try giving your dog some chicken broth to get some liquid and nutrition into her. Hopefully this will encourage her to eat a little as well.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and I hope you find a way to get your dog the help she needs.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is about 3.5 months old and has been exceptionally healthy until this morning. When I wake up, he usually is full of energy and pawing at the door to go out, but this morning he didn't want to get out of his bed. Once we got him outside, he tried pooping several times but seems to be constipated, and he started vomiting a foamy bile/saliva substance. He wouldn't eat or drink either, which is odd for him in the morning too. He was acting very mellow and usually he is a healthy energetic pup. He has a scheduled vet check-up this Saturday. Should I take him in earlier or just monitor him until then?

-- Contributed by: Elissa

why would a dog eat it own poop

-- Contributed by: donaldmmatney

Hello all. All of a sudden my dog has stopped eating/She is sheperd cross.She is 10 years old and was fine up to 5 days ago.She will drink a wee bit. I AM WONDERING IF SHE HAS A FEVER , BECAUSE HER NOSE IS VERY DRY. I ALSO CAN NOT AFFORD A VET.DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY ANSWERS WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG

-- Contributed by: Cheryle

Hi Hannah,

I'm sorry to hear your dog isn't doing so well. Without letting the vet examine her, it will be very difficult to tell what's going on. Try to keep her hydrated with water and low sodium broth. You might try boiling some ground beef and rice to tempt her to eat. Perhaps if you can spark her appetite she'll begin to feel a little better.

Thanks for your question, and give your dog a snuggle from me.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi. My dog has not been eating lately and she also sleeps alot. She no longer enjoys going outside or playing with my other dog. She has also been moving very slowly. My dog is 11 years old so I'm thinking possibly it may just be old age and her time is due unfortunately. I don't really have the money to visit the vet right now. Any advice would be appreciated.

-- Contributed by: Hannah

Hi Sarah,

It's true that some dogs are quite sensitive to storms on the horizon, but your dog's symptoms sound like there's more going on. If you can't distract your dog from his mood and get his ears and tail to perk up, it's probably worth calling your vet about this sudden change. There may be a physical malady behind these symptoms.

Thanks for your question, and I hope Charlie will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Rigo,

We have a Toy Poodle and she's very delicate. My guess would be that someone may have accidentally stepped on a paw. If the limping doesn't go away within the next 24 hours or so, you might want to ask your vet to check her out. Do call your vet if her pain seems to increase or you notice any additional signs that something is wrong.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 2 year old papillon, Charlie, is normally very excited and active and happy, but he's been acting rather strange yesterday and today. He moves slowly, with his tail still and his head and ears drooping. We're supposed to have really bad thunderstorms soon, and I know dogs are supposed to be able to sense bad storms. I wonder if he's nervous about that, or if it's something more serious that I should see the vet about.

-- Contributed by: Sarah

I have a small white poodle and it's really playful. I woke up today and when i went to pet it, it was really slow and its tail was tucked between its hind legs. Then when i tried to carry it, it cried. When she walks, she's gently limping, it took a lot of staring at her to see her start to limp. I've tried gently touching her legs to see if i feel a bump or a scratch, but i didnt find anything. she doesnt hurt until someone tries to carry her from the front legs and the chest. What can this be?

-- Contributed by: Rigo

Hi Daniel,

If the drooling isn't related to a dental condition, it's possible your dog may have had a mild stroke that left him with a slight paralysis on that side of his face. Whatever the cause might be, I think it's worth asking your vet to take a look at it.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our 5 yr old border collie mix just started drooling out of one side. No other symptoms. There has been no change in diet or other day-to-day activity. He is current on: all vaccines, heart worm and flea prevention. Inspecting his mouth shows no other leads as to what may be causing this. He appears not to be in any discomfort. What else should be checked/determined?

-- Contributed by: Daniel

Hi Marilyn,

I'm sorry to hear your dogs are feeling under the weather. Black tarry stools indicate the presence of blood. I'm not sure that a urinary tract infection would account for blood in the stool. I would take both dogs to the vet and ask your vet again about the stools. Be sure to bring in a sample for him to examine.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet is able to get to the bottom of the situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Angela,

Although this bears further discussion with your vet, the behavior you describe could have been a set of psychomotor seizures. This type of seizure usually exhibits as an unusual behavior, rather than the typical body movements you'd associate with a seizure.

I'd like you to read our article on Canine Seizures. It provides more info on this topic, and may help you determine if a return to the vet is in order.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Christhian,

I'm sorry to hear your dog isn't feeling well. Your dog's symptoms aren't specific enough for me to suggest that a particular problem might be going on, but certainly something is bothering your dog to produce such a change. If you are able, it would be best to make an appointment for your vet to examine him. It's usually easier to treat an illness or injury in the beginning before the situation has a chance to progress.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is back to normal soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I forgot, the little American Eskimo is also shaking and wont jump up on moms lap like she usually does.

-- Contributed by: Marilyn

My Moms Pappilion mix has been refusing food and had black tarry stools, we took him to vet and his test results said he had an urine infections and he is now on Baytril pills and was given a shot of it at the office. He is somewhat better, but now Moms little American Eskimo is refusing food and throwing up! I think I will take them both into the vet in the morn.

-- Contributed by: Marilyn

I have a chiwawa she is about 7 yrs old about a month ago shekept sticking out her tongue and opening her mouth wide over and over again I took her to the vets they said it migh be her joints I am doubtful of this. She does not eat and has no energy her ears do not even...up when you call her name. Can you give me any advice thankyou.

-- Contributed by: Angela

Hello, I have a 2 year old Maltese. Tonight he started whimpering and shaking a lot, specially when i would pick him up. I took him out to the bathroom, but he didnt do anything, and he is having trouble sleeping. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I dont know if i should take him to the vet or if its something that will just go away on its own. Thank you in advance, Cristhian

-- Contributed by: Cristhian Perez

Hi Colin,

This could actually be a problem with your dog's kidneys. My advice is to bring this possibility up with your vet and have some bloodwork done. If this is kidney disease, the sooner your dog is on medication, the more effective it will be.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My king charles spaniel has a problem with his back legs. One would think he was scratching, but he is not as his paws do not touch his body, The vet put him on a course of tablets to cure scratching. They worked but the wee lad was leaving puddles all over the place

-- Contributed by: colin webb

Hi Terence,

I honestly think it's important to figure out what caused your dog's nose to swell before you can decide which medicine to give him. Is it possible he was stung by something, perhaps a bee or a fire ant? I think it would be best to ask your vet to take a look at your dog to figure out exactly what is going on. In the meantime, it's probably alright to apply a cold pack to your dog's nose to see if it relieves some of the swelling.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is back to normal soon. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Michele,

It does sound as though your dog might be nauseated, but it's difficult to venture what might have caused the problem. It's possible he ate something he shouldn't have. My advice is to call your vet first thing in the morning, and try to keep your dog calm and comfortable tonight. By all means, go to the emergency vet if your dog's symptoms become more severe.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this doesn't turn out to be too serious.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Cassie,

Since these symptoms are so pronounced and came on so suddenly, the very best way you can help your dog is to schedule an appointment with your vet right away. The fact that she has quit drinking water is especially troublesome because she'll become dehydrated very quickly. The situation seems serious, so please don't delay.

Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My chow/golden retriever mix and we had him for 11yrs. His nose is swollen and what can I give him?

-- Contributed by: Terence

Hi, My 3 year old Wheaten Terrier has been acting funny for about 4 hours. He is walking around with his tail tucked in and panting and swallowing alot. He acts like he is about to vomit but isn't. He is staying very close to me and is acting nervous. Because it is the weekend our only Vet option is the emergency vet which is very expensive. Can you help? Michele

-- Contributed by: Michele

I have a 10 month old black Labrador Retriever. She was fine yesterday now today she just sits around panting. She has some foam discharge, acts as if her hind quarters are sore, doesn't eat or drink anything. Her eyes are bloodshot. What can I do to help her?

-- Contributed by: Cassie

Hi Nikka,

You know your puppy best, so listen to your intuition when it tells you something is up. My advice is to observe your puppy closely for the next day or two to see if any other symptoms crop up. If he progresses to full blown diarrhea, don't hesitate to call your vet. Puppies in the middle of the first sets of vaccinations can develop a small case of something they're being vaccinated against as the immune system learns to develop a response. Allow your dog to limit himself to one meal for the time being, as this will help keep diarrhea to a minimum, but do make sure he's still drinking fresh water.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this only turns out to be a minor problem.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Christine,

Let your dog have the water, and also try offering broth for a little nutrition. Take your dog back off solid food to help stop the vomiting, and definitely consult with your vet on Monday morning. It helps to write down everything you've observed this week so your vet gets a clear picture of what has been going on. Hopefully this is just a passing virus, but since it has been hanging on, your vet really should examine your dog.

Thanks for your question, and hope things get back to normal soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Ari,

Does your dog vomit every morning? If so, she may need a handful of food just before bedtime to help her through the night and eliminate the nausea brought on by an empty stomach. However, if the symptoms you're observing seem more serious than this, you should make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.

Thanks for your question and I hope your little Chi feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, i have a 10 week old pitbull who the past few days or so has had a large decrease in appetite, he used to jet for the bowl and chow down all his meals, now he eats one meal a day, and i noticed today he had some diarrhea..cant really find any other symptoms, he still wants to play and be himself, he just isnt eating much at all and this worries me alot!!

thanks

-- Contributed by: Nikka

Our dog was vomiting for a day earlier in the week. We gave him plenty of liquids, but only fed him rice for a few days. He seemed fine, had energy, etc..., and we slowly mixed his regular dog food back in until it was just completely dog food, which he had this morning. However, he began vomiting again, and is very thirsty. It's after hours on the weekend; any ideas or recommendations? I don't think it's the food as we have a 2nd dog, and she is fine.

-- Contributed by: Christine

Hi I have a chihuahua 2 years old, she has been vomiting during the morning, but I never seen this before is like foam an mucus, She is a little bit shaking, what should I do???

-- Contributed by: Ari

Hi Dana,

I'm not a vet, so I won't be able to diagnose the exact cause of your dog's condition. However, it sounds serious enough to be worth contacting your vet about, especially since your puppy has also stopped eating. He must feel miserable at this point, so please make an appointment right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

An eye is swollen, along with the snout, and he has not been eating. He is 7 months old.

-- Contributed by: dana

i have a 2 year old male maltese. For the past 3 days has been vommiting has tail down all the time. Bumping into things not ateady on feet. Rubs himself on chair an couch all the time, Walks aroind in circles. Has lost weight....I called my vet just waiting for him to call back...

Hi Kim,

Due to the vomiting, I suspect your dog has dehydration, and this could account for why he's so unsteady. If your vet doesn't call back today, just take your dog in on an emergency. Dehydration can be life threatening.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be alright. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

-- Contributed by: kim

Hello, I adopted a little yorkie last night. Her breath is very bad ( almost BM smell ) She sneezes at times and when she sleeps she snores and coughs some. Her nose is warm and dry. Her belly is alittle firm ( not sure if she ate to much, which she does eat hefty,or maybe she has worms. The previous family fed her table scrapes and she was out in with the Boxer and Great Dane.I didn't get any info. on her from the family. Shes about 4 yrs. old. Her coat looks good and healthy.Shes very sweet and follows comands well. Even alittle playful.She feels right at home here and slept with me last night. my Yorkie-Poo male is jealous ( hes been with me for 4 1/2 yrs, since 6 wks old, so i know this will take alittle time. I wanted a companion for him. Can you help? Thanks, Sincerely, Terry

Hi Terry,

The first thing I would do is schedule a check up with your veterinarian. Your new companion could probably use a booster, and this would give your vet an opportunity to look at her overall health and condition. You should also bring a stool sample with you so your vet can check for worms.

I suspect this dog's teeth will need a good cleaning at the very least. A diet of scraps can lead to tartar build up and gum disease if the teeth aren't brushed on a regular basis. Your vet will also recommend a properly balanced diet to help bring her weight back to where it should be.

I think this initial investment will pay off in a healthier dog whose company you'll enjoy for many years to come. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Terry caldwell

My 13 year old chow mix has a very bad odor. I doesn't seem to be from the ears or mouth. The smell is like rotten meat. She is an indoor dog and never is outside for long minutes at most. What could it be?

Hi Julie,

It's difficult to say what might be causing the odor, but it could possibly be coming from your dog's anal glands. Sometimes the glands don't express properly when your dog poops. This allows excess fluid to build up in the glands, and it eventually starts leaking out in small amounts. This typically leads to a very unpleasant odor.

My advice would be to have your vet examine the glands and express them if necessary. If the extra bad smell is being caused by an infection, you vet can take care of it with a round of antibiotics.

You'll find more info about this topic in our article on Canine Anal Glands.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: julie

My minpin is fine except for wheezing, runny nose, and sneezing that hasn't gotten worse but has persisted/stayed the same for the last 3 days. Help! I dont want to lose my baby, I think I should take her to the vet? Advice?

Hi Nicole,

It sounds as though your dog might have a simple respiratory virus. If this is the case, the virus just has to run its course. from what I gather, your dog's symptoms don't seem to be too bad, correct. If so, you can probably wait on calling your vet. If, however, the symptoms increase, or your dog begins producing phlegm, it would be safer to take her in to see your vet. Sometime a secondary bacterial infection will take hold while the immune system is busy fighting off the virus. This is typically when owners notice a lot of phlegm being coughed up, and their dog seems very tired and run down.

I think you'll find the following articles helpful.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Nicole

I have a 2 year old dog. He was eating as usual but suddenly he stopped eating .It has been 2 days. He does not want to eat his usual meal but he drinks water and just takes a small bite of meat.Please advise as i have tried feeding him milk but its unsuccessful.

Hi Sonita,

This situation could turn out to be quite serious. My best advice is to take your dog to the vet for an examination. Your vet will check for things like an enflammed throat, intestinal blockages and the like to help determine why your dog won't eat. I would make the appointment right away before your dog begins to loose strength.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog feels better very soon.

-- Contributed by: sonita

We have a chiuahauwa and he doesnt seem himself. He threw up this morning and mostly slept all day. Tryed giving him water. Need immediate advise on what to do?

Hello Waylon and Anissa,

Chihuahuas are very delicate little dogs, and when they become sick, they can go downhill very fast. If your dog is refusing to drink any water, my best advice is to check in with your vet right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your little guy is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: waylon & anissa

My dog has no energy for the last couple of days. He eats, drinks and does his business regularly. He is usually very active, but he just mopes around. Usually he is right on our laps, but he keeps going off and sleeping elsewhere. Will not run around, just walks real slow and shakes sometimes

Hi Lisa,

It sounds as though there is definitely something going on here. When dogs display a sudden change in personality, it can be a sign of a an undiagnosed medical problem. I think it would be best to schedule an appointment with your vet so you can discusss what you've observed and have your vet give your dog a thorough examination. It's usually easier to treat an illness or other health problem when it's in the earliest stages, so I'd make the appointment right away. Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be something serious and your dog is soon feeling better.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: lisa

Hi, My 8 year old Jack Russell (who has always been a bit neurotic) has suddenly become afraid of his food bowl and cannot seem to chew his food. He will only eat moistened food when I leave him alone in the room. He also has become much less active and refuses to sit on the sofa with me- he hides in the other room. I live in Guayaquil, Ecuador (I moved here 7 months ago with my 2 dogs from the US) and was wondering if there is some odd tropical disease that he could have picked up here. The Jack Russell has been seen killing scorpions and he also chases frogs and small lizards. The Catahoula (9 months old) is fine.

Hi Mikie,

I would suggest having your vet perform a thorough examination of your dog's teeth and gums to make sure he doesn't have an injury or gum disease that could be causing pain when he trys to eat.

As for your dog's fear of his food bowl, perhaps replacing it with a new one and moving the location slightly will address the issue and give your dog a fresh start.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find these suggestions helpful.

-- Contributed by: Mikie

I have a mutt. He is 12 years old his weight has dropped from 40lbsto 20 lbs. He was recently at the vet on an IV for 4 days. She was treating him for kidney faliure. We think he drank some antifreeze. He was improving. Now he is sickly again. His gums are pale, breath/mouth is a very bad odor. Very latargic with no energy. iS HE JUST DYING OF OLD AGE. i CANT AFFORD MORE iv TREATMENTS

Hi Rachelle

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's difficulties. Although I can't determine the actual cause for this current bout of illness, pale gums are often a sign that the body is suffering from some level of shock. As for that smell coming from your dog's mouth, it is possible that the malfunctioning kidneys have led to a condition called ketoacidosis. Considering all the symptoms, I do think you should ask your vet to examine your dog again. If the kidneys really are shutting down, it may be kinder in the long run to consider euthanasia. You'll have a better idea whether this is necessary after you speak with your vet.

Thank you for your question, and I truly hope your dog is able to recover.

-- Contributed by: Rachelle

Hey. I have a 1 year old Shih Tzu (her name's Fippa) and my dad accidentally fed her chicken bones. i'm worried that she might die of intestinal blockage and that the bone might puncture her stomach. Can you give me something that could probably help? i'd really appreciate it.

Hi Denise,

I'm sorry to hear about your predicament. Were the chicken bones raw or cooked? Raw bones are easier for your dog to chew, and have a better chance of being digested without a problem. Cooked chicken bones have the most potential to cause problems because they tend to splinter when chewed.

It seems your dog has made it past the first hurdle because it doesn't sound like a bone became stuck in the esophagus. Hopefully the pieces were small enough for the stomach acid to sufficiently disolve before passing through the rest of the digestive tract.

It may not be necessary to consult your vet right away, but don't hesitate to do so if you feel your dog needs to be seen. Watch out for signs of lethargy, abdominal pain and blood in the stools. If you don't see anything like this, there's a very good chance your dog won't have a problem. Just try to avoid chicken bones in the future.

Thanks for your question, and I hope all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Denise

Hi my dog first started Vomiting on the first day and today is the second day she has had Vomiting and Diarrhea and we can't take her to the vet right now. she also has trouble going to the bathroom what can i do???PLEASE HELP ME and my little baby girl!!

Hi Tracy,

Sometimes it helps to take a dog off food for 24 hours when it's having vomiting and diarrhea. This gives the system time to settle down. When food is reintroduced, only give small amounts spaced throughout the day to make sure the food doesn't trigger another round of illness. It's also very important to encourage your dog to drink fluids to avoid dehydrating. Pedialyte is actually better in this situation because it helps keep your dog's electrolytes in balance. The goal is to stave off dehydration to keep things from getting worse.

As for having trouble going to the bathroom, if you're talking about stools, this may be connected to the diarrhea. Your dog may still be having bowel spasms that make it look like she still has to go, even though she may have already cleaned out. If your dog is trying to urinate, this could be a sign of a urinary tract problem, such as a kidney stone blocking the urethra. If your dog is unable to urinate, she really will need to see a vet right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog recovers very soon.

-- Contributed by: Tracy

My 4 yr old mini pin started rasping and wheezing today. He is eating/drinking and going to bathroom fine. Seems tired, lazy and having rasping sounds from his throat.

Hi Judy,

It's possible that this is a case of kennel cough in the early stages. Continue to keep an eye on your dog in case he gets sicker. Kennel cough by itself sounds much worse than it is, and it usually clears up on it's own in a couple of weeks. The problem comes in if a secondary respiratory infection takes hold. This increases the amount of mucous produced and can quickly become serious. I'd like you to read our article on Home Treatment for Kennel Cough. It has more helpful info, but don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet if you think he needs to be seen.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: judy

My pit bull puppy wont eat or drink! He has been this way for about 12 hours! He deficated in his kennel over night and has a tempature of 103.6. I know that he ate some old corn dogs and possibly some old ranch dressing! He had a shred up plastic bag in his kennel. I am really worried but do not have the money to take him to the vet! Could you please give me some advice?

Hi Kristina,

The fact that your dog won't take any water and is running a fever is worrisome. Dehydration is a very serious condition, so I want you to try to get your puppy to drink. If he won't take water, try him with some chicken broth. This may tempt him

I hear you about the cost of the vet trip, but it may be necessary to take your dog in if he becomes any sicker. Watch for vomiting and/or diarrhea. These are signs that the situation is becoming more serious.

Thank you for your question, and I'll keep you and your puppy in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Kristina

my dog is having what appears to be kussmal breathing. what do i do?

Hi Josh,

It's very important that you take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. I'm not a vet, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Kussmal breathing, very rapid and shallow, can be a sign of diabetic ketoacidossis. If this is the case, the problem could be quite severe. Some dogs go into Kussmal breathing as the body prepares for death.

I truly hope your dog's situation isn't this serious, but it would be best if you saw your vet immediately, just in case.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: josh

Hi Manan,

I'm sorry, I accidently hit the delete button your original question. Since your dog is six weeks old and hasn't received its first vaccination, I think your vet should test it for parvo. Vomiting, bloody diarrhea and lethargy are classic signs, and young unvaccinated puppies are highly susceptible to it. Your vet may actually need to keep your puppy at the clinic in order to bring it through this.

I also think you should call the breeder and let him or her know about the situation. The incubation period for Parvo is about two weeks, so the pup was likely infected before you bought it. This means that the littermates and other dogs at the establishment could also have been exposed.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the puppy makes it.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I am writing from a relatively small city in India. I had a Boxer puppy, female, who had to be put to sleep last Saturday.

She developed cough. Then she started producing mucous along with saliva when she coughed. She arched her little body as if she is going to vomit. Her vet treated her first for pneuomonia, didn't help her. We sought a second opinion- this vet first said, it is Canine Distemper, then, Kennel Cough.

She had high fever. Then the mucous she was producing turned yellow. It was very thick indeed- wouldn't drop on the floor from her mouth, and had a pungent smell. She started passing small amount of blood in her stools and urine.

I am at loss what killed her. She had received her vaccines,perhaps these had turned bad? I'll be grateful if you could please help.

Hi Sam,

I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your dog. I'm not a vet, but this does sound as though it could have been a bad case of pneumonia. Kennel cough is caused by a virus that has to run it's course, but while the immune system is busy fighting the virus, bacterial infections like pneumonia are often able to establish themselves in the respiratory tract. This leads to the kind of thick mucous secretions you witnessed. The secretions become thicker as dehydration sets in. All things considered, I think both vets were on the right track with the diagnosis, but the pneumonia took hold to quickly to save your dog.

Thank you for your question, and please accept my condolences.

-- Contributed by: Samuel Lawrence

I have an almost 2 year old Parti Pom (Scarlette)the love of my whole familys life. She started acting weird today. First she held up her left leg and could barely walk, then it changed to her right leg same thing. It only lasted maybe ten minutes. I was scared. She is also putting off this fishy smell from her private parts and I have no idea what that is. Any ideas? She weighs like 13 pounds, eats good and drinking fine. Just alittle worried I guess. First pet we've ever had so it's kind of like having a new baby. Thanks for any help.

Hi Jimmie,

My best advice is to ask your vet to examine Scarlette to figure out what's causing the limping. Is it her front legs or her back legs she's limping on?

I think the unpleasant odor may be a separate issue, but your vet can say for sure. If your bitch hasn't been spayed, the smell might be a sign she is coming into season. It could also be related to a urinary tract problem of some sort, so it's still a good idea to follow through with the vet check up.

Thanks for your question, and I hope there's nothing too serious going on.

-- Contributed by: Jimmie

I have a 10 year old terrier poodle, and lately she's been having these seizures that last only about 30 seconds. We think we know the cause, because one day about 3-3.5 years ago a light fell from the roof and hit her on the head, and she had an instant seizure. She came away from that acting perfectly normal so we weren't afraid of any brain injuries. Now she has a seizure about once every two weeks, starting a month ago when our other dog was hit by a car. When she has a seizure, her knees come up next to her head and she stops all movement, and she shivers, but I found that by my rubbing her nose she stops shivering. I haven't brought her to a vet because I know what her problem is, I'm just wondering if you had any ideas on how to help her when she does go in to this state.

Hi Kristah,

I think you'll find our article on Canine Seizures helpful. There is medication that can help prevent the seizures, and it may be useful for your dog's condition.

Best wishes. :)

-- Contributed by: Kristah

Im in utter shock, my female Dashound Molly is 11 years old and is also overweight. She is acting as if it's about her time, there was foaming at her mouth. She has a bloody-like substance comming from both her nose and mouth. We had quite a fright when she drawed up as if she was dying. She actually quit breathing to make matters worse. 15 minutes later she started breathing again. Now her face has an expressionless look, she's nonresponsive to us, and her breathing has become very shallow.

Hi Jessica,

It would be a good idea to take your dog to the vet if you haven't already done so. There may yet be a way to save her.

That said, it does sound as though she is passing, and this can take some time. I would like to refer you to an article I wrote for our Cat channel. It takes you through the stages of dying, and is just as true for dogs as it is for cats. I hope you'll find the info useful.

Symptoms of Dying

Thanks for your question, and please accept my best wishes for you and your pet.

-- Contributed by: Jessica

Hi there our 8 month old staffie puppy is vomiting and has diahorea.He has eaten one of his toys and has been pooping it out for a bout 2 days but he is quite sick. Do you think we should just wait it out as he is normally a very happy lively puppy but this has knocked him for six. he has no other symptoms other than the sickness and the runs I don't think there is a blockage as he is defacating but its pretty runny with bits of rubber in .Vets or wait it out ???

Hi Dave,

I honestly think this is cause for a vet visit. I'm glad the toy appears to be making it's way out of your dog's system, but the vomiting and diarrhea make this more serious. I'm wondering if your dog is also having a toxic reaction to something in that toy.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: dave

I have a 10 year old female pit bull who has been lethargic lately, sleeping excessively, with increasing drool and labored breathing. Also, she has some patchy hair loss and much more body odor than normal. A visit to the vet is scheduled but I wanted some general feedback. Appetite and stool appear to be normal but she is drinking more water than normal. Thank you

Hi John,

It's a good thing you have a vet appointment already scheduled. This many symptoms tends to make me think the problem is serious. As for the hair loss and odor, be sure to ask you vet to test for sebaceous adenitis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes some of the symptoms you see.

Best wishes that you dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: john heron

My male Walker hound/mutt is 10 months old. About 3 months ago we noticed he chased his tale. It gradually got worse and he also started biting his flank/hip area and his tale. He cries as he is biting. His bloodwork came back normal, coat is nice, he isn't dehydrated and appetite is excellent. We have tried the Allergy food too but no change. He is now on Clomipramine 104 mg/ml Suspension. We started out for two weeks on 0.5 ml twice a day with no change. He is now taking 0.75 ml twice a day for 10 days with no change. My vet wants to up it to 1.0 ml after this two week period. When he spins it is almost impossible to stop him. He won't even look at me he is so zoned out. We are having a hard time keeping weight on him. I hear his stomach gurgling a lot. My vet thinks its a mental issue. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi Charlene,

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It appears that your vet is treating your dog for an obsessive/compulsive disorder. It's difficult to say why these behaviors begin, but they are typically related to anxiety. I found some good information about Clomipramine at MedTV and I think you'll find it useful. The site isn't actually geared for dogs, but many vets use anxiety meds as off label treatments for dogs. It does sound as though your vet is being cautious with this medication, and raising the dose in small increments until he finds the lowest, yet still effective dose. I would stick with your vet's plan and allow him to increase the dosage. Be sure to report any adverse affects you see immediately.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet finds the right dosage to alleviate the problem as soon as possible. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Charlene

I have an almost 13 year old havanese and over the last several months he has sporadically vomited and had diarrhea. He's been checked by two different vets, and both have said that there's nothing wrong with him, but his symptoms continue. He does not seem to loose his appetite, but does seem a bit lethargic. I give him cubes of chicken broth and rice until the symptoms pass. He also seems to suffer from gas frequently. I'm going to take him to the vet again, but other than that, I'm not sure what to do or what could be wrong with him.

Hi Matt,

I'm sorry to hear your dog is having problems. Many senior dogs develop some digestive problems. The broth and rice is a good way to help your dog through the rough patches.

Here's what I recommend. We need to see if there's a common factor that triggers the vomit/diarrhea episodes. For the next month, I'd like you to keep a daily diary for your dog. Include info such as exactly what foods/treats he ate, where he's been (walks through the neighborhood, the dog park, etc.), when he was groomed and which products were used. It may become apparent that something in particular sparks off the episodes and give you an idea of what should be eliminated from your dog's diet or routine. This information will really help your vet get a picture of your dog's environment, and may lead to a quicker diagnosis.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Matt

I just took my dogs tempature and it is 103 should i take him to a vet now or can I give him baby aspirin to see if it will decrease.

Hi Mary,

Although a baby aspirin might bring down the fever a bit, aspirin also makes some dogs throw up because even low doses can irritate the stomach lining.

I always believe it is best to find out what's causing the symptoms rather than home medicating. At 103 F, this is a significant fever. I think you should contact your vet at the first opportunity.

Until then, try to get more liquid in your dog to prevent dehydration. Fresh water is best, but you can also try to tempt him with low sodium broth.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better very soon.

-- Contributed by: mary

My four year old yellow lab is drooling puddles of saliva. Is this a symptom of a serious condition?

Hi Jayne,

I'd tend to take this a bit seriously. Drooling of this nature can indicate nausea and perhaps ingestion of something toxic. To be on the safe side, I would consult your vet as soon as possible about what you're seeing.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Jayne

hi my dog has been throwing up all day and cant seem to keep anything down. she appears to be shaking a little as she is sleeping, this is her normal time to sleep but she is really not herself, when should i take her to the vet?

Hi Sean,

Since she's vomiting repeatedy, she's probably not keeping water down, and this could quickly lead to dehydration. I recommend you call your vet asap and try to get an appoinment as soon as you can. Dehydration tends to complicate any illness.

Try to encourage her to drink some water or broth, but without food for 24 hours because it will likely stimulate more vomiting. Also try to make sure your dog is warm and comfortable.

Thanks for your question, and I truly hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: sean

Hi I have a five year old lab rot mix. Latly he's been eating, and then later on vomiting half digessted food up. we've cut back on the amount of food he is aloud at one time, but still once every few days it happens agian. should I be conserned.

Hi Kristian,

Rotties are predisposed for a condition called megaesophagus. The organ becomes less efficient at moving food down to the stomach. As the esophagus looses tone, wider pockets develop and the food sits in them until it is thrown back up. This is why it still resembles kibble, because it never made it to the stomach to be digested.

It's important to take your dog to the vet for an examination, and find out if the condition is still in a treatable stage. Your vet will also offer feeding tips that might make it easier for the food to reach the stomach.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope that things turn out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kristian

My mother's 10 year old dog who has had heart problems for a year just started drinking and urinating much more than usual. Also, almost total appetite loss and within 2 weeks went from 13 to 10 pounds. Does experience unusual shaking at times. Her vet said he suspected a back injury and didn't want to give any new medication because of the heart condition. I couldn't just let the dog continue like this and took him to a highly recommended vet for a second oppinion. He looked at all of the test results (i.e. x-rays, EKG, blood and urinalysis) and also determined all except the EKG and high chol were normal. I requested a repeat urinalysis with culture and he is also repeating blood work. To me this would seem like a kidney or bladder problem since all the symptoms started at the same time unless back injuries cause increase in urination and drinking of water. What do you think?

Hi Brenda,

Make sure the vet is checking for kidney disease and diabetes. The back problem and instability might also be related to diabetic neorpathy. This is quite possible if the dog was diabetic for some time without being diagnosed.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet is able to determine exactly what is going on.

-- Contributed by: Brenda

Hi my dog Grady is 3 years old and he has been not eating,popping liquidy and he gets cold very quickly. Can you please tell me what 2 do and if he is going to die soon ordoes he have any illnesses

Hi Ashlie,

It does sound as though your dog is sick, although I don't necessarily believe he's going to die. However, it's very important that you take him to the vet right away so the he can get well and stop suffering.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Ashlie

My dog has gone down hill also. She is 13 years old. a few days ago she threw up bile for about 2 days. She has lossed her appitite and has not pooped either. She cramps up and occasionally her body shakes although she is conscoius during this and her eyes do not roll back. Just an hour or so ago her breathing has gained speed and only through the nose. please hlp if you can!

Hi Heather,

I'm so sorry to hear about what your dog is going through. Lack of stools and cramping might mean she has a blockage. The rapid breathing may indicate her body isn't getting enough oxygen. All things considered, this sounds like a very sick dog. Please call your vet right away.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Heather

My 8 yr old ...zu has such a dry nose, it looks like it is peeling, and is not the usual black color. She lets me touch it, and still chewing rawhide, and usual activity. What causes this? Do I need to do anything?

Hi Vicky,

I think you should let your vet take a look at your dog's nose. Peeling is highly unusual, and could indicate an allergic reaction that is causing your dog to rub his nose against the furniture, ground, etc.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet can give you some solid answers.

-- Contributed by: Vicky

For the last 2 months our dog has gone downhill and we dont have a reason. She was a healthy happy playful 10 year old Lab who caught frisbees etc. One night she started to sit up with non-stop panting. We took her to the pet hospital who thought it may be back paid and put her on some pain meds. At first it helped but a few days later - again with the panting - took her back to the vet and they were unsure - did an untra-sound and said she had a mass on her spleen which needed to be removed. DId the surgery, they checked for cancer - nothing. She came home and promptly peed in her bed for the first time in years. Then continued to be incontent around the house and then started with the panting again. Took her back where they did a urine test and found a Urinary Tract Infection - put her on antibiotics. However, the panting continued. We switched antibiotics when they said the ones that we had her on were not effective and they put her on doxycylene which they said it was vulnerable to. Meanwhile the vet suggested that the panting which included tremmering could be epleptic ane put her on phenobarbatal. After a few days she got worse - she could not even hold herself up to deficate and we decided that the phenobarbital was making her worse and that she did not appear to be having epileptic seizures as her attacks were lasting hours not minutes - took her to another pet hospital and they agreed and took her off the phenobarbital and continued with the antibiotics. She was then tested with regard to chest exrays, heart tests etc etc even a neurological exam - they could find nothing. they then thought it may be thrombosus but the tests were inconclusive - put her on asprin therapy. However although at first we thought it helped - she even jogged with me a little and tug of war with the frisbee - she then went back to the heavy panting and trembling - the asprin did not help and further blood/urine work did not support thrombosis. They said the only test they did not do was an MRI but that her symptoms were not typical of a brain tumor. Meanwhile we finished the antibiotics and had her tested for the urinary tract again and they found it was still there. Now they say the only antibiotics that the bacteria was vulnerable to is one which must be injected (must remain in hospital with IV for a week) and one that has severe motor-physical side effects. They said they will continue testing for possible other antibiotics. Meanwhile they gave her zanex to see if it was anxiety related. However she does not seem to be getting any better she just seems to get worse - now she can barely walk or getting up as she has trouble lifting her hind legs and it appears trouble deficating as she cannot bend down properly.

We are at a loss as to what to do - they do not even know whats wrong with her and say she has them stumped. The only thing we know for sure is this urinary tract infection - we were wondering if such could cause all these symptoms and thus if we could fight that with say the week course of injectible antibiotics that may resolve everything but we dont know. We dont want her to keep suffering - either cure her or put her to sleep not to mention we have spent 8K already with nothing to show for it except a uriniary tract infection diagnosis. We have already decided that we would not do a brain operation on her even if the MRI showed something as we think it would be putting her through too much.

My question is - is it possiblle that all this is was just from a bad urinary tract infection which could possibly mean if we treat it she goes back to normal as if the answer is yes we do not wish to put her to sleep.

Thanks for your help/advice in advance.

Stu

Hi Stuart,

I'm not a vet, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. That said, I don't believe the urinary tract infection would be the cause behind all of your dog's symptoms. I really was thinking the panting was due to a cardiopulmonary problem, but apparently your vet has ruled this out. I think an MRI would be very useful, as the problem might be neurological. However, I do understand your reluctance to put your dog through anymore procedures.

In the end, you're going to have to weigh your dog's quality of life against her medical issues in order to make a decision on how to proceed. I would let the vet keep your dog this week to see if the final antibiotic treatment yields any results. Perhaps then you'll be able to discern what will be best for your pet.

I will keep you in my thoughts, and please let me know what you find out. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: stuart

My 2 year old dachshund, who weighs about 12 lbs. has suddenly started tensing up like she may be seizing, looks scared and after the tensing went away she urinated all over the floor. Then she threw up some, mostly bile and grass. She wanted outside and tried to throw up more there and fell over. It is Friday night and I want to know if she needs to go to emergency care or can I take her in the morning? She is resting comfortably right now.

Hi Terri,

I'm sorry to say that it does sound as though your dog had a seizure. I'd like you to read our article on Canine Epilepsy because it explains how to care for your dog after a seizure. Your dog doesn't necessarily have epilepsy, but I think you'll find the info helpful anyway.

If your dog hasn't had a repeat seizure, it's probably alright to wait until Monday to call your vet and discuss what happened. If your dog does go into repeat seizures, don't hesitate to take her to the emergency vet. Severe seizures can lead to neurological damage.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Terri

I have two 9 week old GSDs. I have noticed Ilya breathes rapidly while sleeping (up to 130 breaths per minute), and Kierran normally (around 30 breaths per minute). Both of their heart rates are within normal range.

They both have their first set of shots, and have been dewormed.

I have taken Ilya to the vet because of his rapid breathing; I was not given any indication that he has an illness. I am concerned that Ilya may have something inherited or congenital.

Ilya's rate of respiration is very high, and I am extremely concerned about his short/longterm health.

Please advise.

PS - Ilya's rapid breathing is not accompanied by coughing, sneezing, and he cannot be heard panting. Aside from seeming sluggish and disinterested, he plays rough and fast, learns well, eats well, has good stools, and seems normal.

I am gravely concerned about Ilya's rapid breathing. Please help.

Hi Alek,

Normal respiration rate for most dogs is around 20 breathes per minute. At 30 breathes per minute Kierran is slightly high, but not alarmingly so. However, Ilya's way above the norm, as you've already observed.

I'm wondering just how thorough an exam your vet carried out. Did he do any blood work? Did he order a chest X-ray to look at the heart or perform any other heart function tests? Rapid breathing is typically a sign that a dog isn't getting enough oxygen, and could be a sign of a congenital heart defect.

If your vet wasn't thorough, I recommend you see a different vet, and ask for a thorough examination of your dog's cardio-pulmonary symptom.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope the situation isn't serious.

-- Contributed by: Alek Dowhan

We have a 1yr ol rotty/pitt mix. She is losing weight and has tremors(like). also she lays around alot. Im trying to get her to a vet now...

Hi Walter,

I'm sorry to hear about what's happening to your dog. She sounds young to be having such problems.

You're right to take her to the vet as soon as possible. Weight loss, tremors and lethargy indicate something serious is going on, although I can't venture to guess what it might be.

Until the vet can see her, try to encourage her to take more water. It's very important that she doesn't become dehydrated or her condition may worsen.

Best wishes, and I'll keep your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: lwalter

My 6 yr old beagel is panting and shaking. He does not want his food or treats, but likes to lick on ice cubes. What could be ailing him?

Hi Danielle and Art,

These symptoms are too vague for me to make a guess at what's ailing your dog, but you can be sure that he is sick. My best advice is to give your vet a call right away.

I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Danielle & Art Romeo

My dog Zakk, a 4 year old, 120 pound male sheperd has been drooling thick, clear, drool and has been hacking, coughing & threw up once. this has event has taken place on 2/2/08 since we got home @ about 12:45 pm. What should I do because I'm am VERY concernd. GOD BLESS, Romeo <><

Hi Romeo,

Although the symptoms are certainly alarming, there are many things that could cause them. I have seen dogs with a bad case of heartworm present with these symptoms. There's also a chance it's just a case of motion sickness. As you can see, the best hting to do is call your vet today if your dog is still acting ill. If it does turn out to be something serious, every minute counts.

Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Romeo

Hi, my dog has been under the weather for a few weeks now, she has a reduced appetite, is very lethargic and generally not herself. we took her to the vets and her lymph noads were raised, the blood tests came back showing signs of a strong infection, as did the biopsy of the lymph noads. However the vet is stumped as to what is wrong with her, I just wonderd if you knew of anything it could be.

Hi Tom,

A non-specific infection would cause the lymph nodes to swell as the immune system combats the foreign intruder. While I can't guess at the cause, I have seen this type of condition come on and then later resolve on its own. Did your vet prescribe a wide spectrum antibiotic? This might be benefical.

In the meantime, what you need to do at home is focus on providing support to your dog while her immune system does battle. Try offering her tempting foods like boiled chicken or ground beef with brown rice. Leave some of the broth in the bowl so she will be tempted to take in more liquid. Also make sure she is warm and comfortable, and try to keep the stress level in the house at a minimum.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask that a second vet take a look at the case history and test results. Sometimes a fresh set of trained eyes can come up with a new diagnosis.

Best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Tom

my 7 month maltese is tremlbing like he is cold but he is not. He is playing around and tail is wagging but i since this shake isnt normal

Hi Melinda,

Could your dog possibly have a fever? that could account for the shivering. There's also a chance that something going on in the house today might be making him feel anxious. For now, I suggest wrapping him in a baby blanket or towel and just holding him for a while to see if the shivering goes away. He should be able to relax once he feels warm and secure. If this doesn't stop the shaking, I would recommend calling your vet and running the situation by him/her.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope nothing serious is going on.

-- Contributed by: melinda

For the past week or so my dog has been having spells similar to an asthma attack. This normally lasts for about 3 or 4 seconds and is sometimes followed by a clear to pinkish colored vomit (very little). What could this be? I have a vet appointment scheduled for Friday and I was wondering if I should move it up. Thanks for the help.

Hi Jeff, that pink tinge could be blood in your dog's sputum. The Friday appointment should be fine, but if you begin to notice bright red blood, take her to the vet right away.

Best wishes that all goes well.

-- Contributed by: Jeff

I woke up this morning to discover that my 2/1 year old shih tzu, Margie, had had diarrhea in the night. She is a paper-trained dog and had gone about 5-6 times, completely liquid. This morning she is listless but I have gotten her to eat some rice and I have been feeding her ice chips. Since it is Sunday, the cost of a vet visit is much higher so I'd like to avoid that if possible. Any suggestions? She only weighs 8 pounds so I'm very worried. She has had no more diarrhea episodes today and has urinated once. Other than just being lethargic, no other syptoms and doesn't seem to be feverish.

Hi Pam, sorry to hear your dog isn't feeling well. This could be a case of passing dog flu, but watch her carefully in case her condition worsens.

For today, I wouldn't offer any kibble, just stick to water to give her time to settle. More food today might trigger another round of diarrhea. Tonight, you might offer her some low sodium chicken broth. If that doesn't trigger more diarrhea, you can begin feeding her a small amount of dog food tomorrow morning. Introduce solids back into her diet slowly.

If at any point her symptoms begin to cause more concern, don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet. Best wishes that she's feeling like her old self very soon.

-- Contributed by: Pam

I have a puppy 4 1/2 months old, female golden retriever. For about 5 days she's been urinating with drops of blood, small drops. Then today she urinated bloody urination twice. I called the vet and he told me he will see her after a couple of days of me watching her. Is that normal? Is this the way their period is supposed to come?

Hi Nader,

This doesn't sound like the beginning of a heat cycle. Most bitches do not come into heat until they are six months old. It sounds a bit more like a urinary tract infection. Did the vet actually schedule an appointment? If not, go ahead and make one. I'm really not sure why he didn't want to go ahead and see her.

Best wishes that nothing serious is wrong.

-- Contributed by: Nader

My Gold. Ret. has been vomiting all day. Can't even keep water down. At about 7:00 pm I gave him a dose of Pepto and he has kept that down. Now though I notice that his nose is hot and runny. He has had very little water and is panting. He pretty much is just laying around and just doesn't look like he feels well. Any thoughts?

Hi Debbie, any time a dog can't keep water down it can lead to dehydration, which becomes a dangerous situation. I think it would be best to contact your vet as soon as possible. The more dehydrated a dog becomes, the more difficult the situation is to treat.

Best wishes for your dog's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Debbie

My female pug has changed in personality started drinking a lot of water, she has a discarge from her vulva, and diareha. Her interest in food is gone. I am waiting for an appointment with the vet and have limited funds. Any thoughts

Hi, I'm glad you have an appointment with your vet because the symptoms are indicative of more than one illness. It will take a true expert to decide if they all fit into one diagnosis.

Excessive thirst usually indicates diabetes or a kidney problem.
Discharge from the vulva might be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
Diarrhea is caused by a number of illnesses, but your dog's stool may also be loose due to the amount of water she's drinking.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog recovers very quickly.

-- Contributed by: kc

My vet RX praz+pyrant+feba 68mg for our dogs hookworms. We gave her the 2 pills yesterday as RX by the vet. today, she feels feverish to the touch with loss of appetite and mild diarrhea. Are these normal side effects of this medication?

Hi Julie, I'm not a vet, so this question would best be directed to your own vet. That said, the symptoms are probably related to the medication. I would go ahead and give your vet a call, just to be on the safe side. :)

-- Contributed by: Julie

My dog is suddenly displaying behavior that would indicate that she cannot see. Her eyes are not cloudy. They are very-very wide open, almost buldging, as if she is trying to hold them more open in an attempt to see. Her sense of balance is off. Her sense of smell is off. She is acting scared, and jittery. A bit nervous/anxious. All this has came to pass in about 3 days, and became far worse today. What could be causing this? Our vet is closed until Monday, I am awaiting a phone call from the on call vet, which I know will not have a diagnosis over the phone, and will say bring her in on Monday. She is a miniature American Eskimo, age 6 1/2 yrs.

Hi Mindy,

I am not a vet, but I do wonder if this problem could be related to a tumor. I don't want to speculate any more than that. I believe your on call vet will consider this an emegency sitation and want to see the dog. If you haven't heard back yet, call again. You might also want to check if there is an actual emergency vet clinic in your area.

Please let me know what happens. I'll keep you and your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Mindy

Help my Australian Shepard came in the house last night and was having a hard time keeping her eyes open and seem lethargic? She is the same this morning. she was fine and running around in the afternoon. We checked the back yard and didn't see anything that she could have gotten into.

Hi Becky, the only true I can provide in this situation is to urge you to take your dog to the vet right away. It's entirely possible that she ate something poisonous or rubbed her head in something that got into her eyes. The lethargy makes me think this is something she ate. Please don't delay.

-- Contributed by: Becky

My elderly dog (about 17-18 yrs old) has been panting a lot recently - seems like all the time. She also seems to require twice as much water as she used to. Her hips bother her and we give her glucosamine for that. Sometimes aspirin. She's still eating regularly and goes outside to do her business. Since the yard is fenced, I haven't been monitoring that closely. She has the size and temperament of a lab - very sweet and even - so she's not much of a complainer. She seems fine but I'm worried that something else might be wrong. Should I be concerned?

Hi Kari,

Her advanced age and the fact that her water consumption has double are good reasons to have her checked for diabetes. While you're at the vet's, let them know about the constant panting. I don't want to alram you, but this could be sign of a heart problem.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things turn out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kari

My Molly, part lab/retreiver, will not eat. She collapsed 2 days ago. We rushed her to vet. Vet did parvo test and it was negative. Vet wanted to keep Molly over night, to watch her. We brought her home to see if we could get her to eat. Vet said if she didn't eat to bring her back in morning for blood work. She did't eat any and we took her for her blood-work. Everything vet did came back good. Vet has no clue and Molly want still will not eat. Please help me. I don't know what to do

Hi Leigh,

Is it possible that she collapsed because she hadn't been eating? Sometimes when dog don't eat for long periods they actually become kind of anorexic, and it's difficult to get them to eat because they no longer feel hungry.

I honestly think the best thing would have been to let the vet keep your dog overnight to see if keeping her on IV fluids would have perked her up more. Since she's home, I suggest you begin offering her human foods to see if you can spark her appetite. I recommend boiling some beef and brown rice. Let it cool down and offer it to her with some of the broth. Perhaps this will entice her to eat. If she doesn't begin eating again, you will have to go back to the vet for further testing. They can at least do an ultrasound to check her bowel system for abnormalities.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog begins feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Leigh

my dog used to be perky and loving. now he jus sits in his kennel and lays there or sleep. is he sick? nothing change in the love and attention we give him, he just seems to be acting differently.

Hi Kristine,

A significant change in a dog's personality and activity level usually signals a health problem. The best you can do is make an appointment with your vet right away.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kristine

Hello. I have a 6 month old Beagle-...zu pup. She has hardly touched her food the past 3 days, but still drinking a lot of water. Her level of energy seems about the same. I'm concerned about this sudden change in her diet. She's also teething at the moment, could this be related. I'm not sure whether or not to take her to the vet. Please advise.

Hi Jackie,

Yes, sore gums could be the reason why your puppy isn't eating as well. I recommend that you either soak her food or feed her canned food for a few days. She may do better on softer food for the time being. I wouldn't take her to the vet just yet, but don't hesitate to make an appointment if she continues to refuse to eat or if you notice any other signs of illness.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your pup is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Jackie

Hi my Dachsaund the last 2 days has been really whinny, Her bowl movments are fine and shes eating fine too. I am not sure what could be bothering her she is 9 months old could it be teething problems? If only dogs could talk! Thank You! Kaylee

Hi Kaylee,

At nine months old, your dog is probably past the teething stage. If she has been excessively whiney, it could be a sign that she feels like something is wrong. I recommend that you give your vet a call and schedule an appointment for an exam. You may be able to rule out a physical problem, and then explore the possibility of an anxiety problem.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kaylee

My West Highland Terrier is 6 years old. He vomited yesterday - once that I know of indoors which is very unusual. He has a high temperature and off his food today. He is panting constantly. Advise please ? Thanks Rick UK time now 18:40hrs Monday 7th Jan

Hi Rick,

If your dog's temperature is above 101 degrees F, he has fever. Is he still drinking water for you? This is very important to stave off dehydration. It won't hurt him to go a day or two without eating, but fluids are a must. If his symptoms grow any worse, you'll need to pay a visit to your vet. If his temperature is beyond 102, call the vet now.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Rick

all of a sudden my dog started getting diarrhea and pooped all over the house, my question is... what do i do and should i be worried. We are thinking it might be from alot of table scraps hes been sneaking...

Hi Christine,

Sudden changes in diet and richer foods can lead to a sudden case of diarrhea. Take him off all food for 24 hours to give his system time to settle. Then start him out on a small anount of dry kibble. Hopefully this will put things to rights, but if it doesn't and your dog seems to be getting sicker, don't hesitate to call your vet.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: christine

My Schnauzer often feels as though he has a fever. What would cause this. There really are no other symptoms.

Hi Frank,

Fevers are a sign that the immune system is fighting an intruder, or at least something it perceives as an intruder. Since there are no other symptoms, it's impossible for me to guess at a cause. What I do recommend that you do is call your vet and explain what you've been observing, and ask to bring your pet in for testing the next time one of these fevers take hold. This will help your vet determine if it's just a normal immune reaction, or if there is another issue in play.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Frank

My 10 3/4 year old boxer started drooling excessivly this evening. He does not appear to be in any pain, and he really is not acting any different? Any ideas what it may be?

Hi Denice,

Only your vet can diagnose the cause of the drooling, but a sudden bout can be brought on by nausea and/or ingestion of a toxic substance. Try feeding your dog to see if the drooling stops. If it doesn't, call your vet and take your dog in.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: denice

My dog is sick and its holiday i can't contact our vet. She's vomiting with blood and vowel has blood also. I really don't know what to do. Is she suffering from amoeba?? please help

Hi Matet, I can't tell you if she has an amoeba, but blood in the vomit usually indicates a tear somewhere. The fact that your dog is passing blood in her bowels makes the situation even more serious. I recommend that you take your dog straight to your emergency veterinary clinic if you have one, and keep trying to reach your regular vet.

I truly hope the situation turns out alright. Please let me know what happens, because I'll be worried about your dog.

-- Contributed by: MATET

My dog is panting a lot and is lethargic. She may be drinking more water also. Here behavior is erratic. she is going in places in the house she typically is not allowed and she makes sure we see her. she is is an 8 year old Shi Tzu mix. Not sure what do to do.

Hi Nina,

The sum of all these symptoms indicate a trip to the vet is in order. Excessive thirst can be an indication of diabetes. Your dog may be making sure you see her have the accidents as a way to let you know she doesn't feel well. The lethargy mya also be related to diabetes, so please have her checked out as quickly as possible. It is possible to manage this disease, if she does indeed have it.

Best wishes for your dog's recovery.

-- Contributed by: nina

Hi. Our 8-year old Queensland heeler refused her dinner last night. She usually runs when she hears me open the bag of lamb and rice dry dog food. This morning she refused her morning Milk bone. Yesterday she was sneezing a lot. Today, there's no sneezing. She just seems tired. We did introduce a new dog to the family about 10 days ago. A 1-year old pup from the local shelter. Although or dog is vaccinated, and we got the new one vaccinated, too, we were told to watch for signs of Kennel Cough. But neither dog shows signs of Kennel Cough. I wonder if The Q Heeler is showing signs of jealousy (not eating--she only ate part of her dinner 5 days ago--NOT normal!) or if she's really ill (because of the sneezing)? Thanks for your help. Peggy

Hi Peggy,

Your dog really could have kennel cough. Sneezing is one of the many symptoms.

I suggest you read the following article. They contain a lot of good info on the subject, and will help you help your dog. It is possible for vaccinated dogs to pick up Kennel Cough even if thay have received the specific vaccine for it.

Check out:

I hope these article help you decide whether your dog needs to be seen by your vet. Best of luck.

-- Contributed by: Peggy

My miniature dachshund (one year old) recently became very "moody". She normally is a playful pup, but now she has just been sitting in her cage being very protective of a ball she received for Christmas. This has been going on for a day. She isn't spayed, but her heat isn't due till March. Her eating/drinking habits haven't changed. And she has been having normal urine/bowel movements for the last day was well. Any info would help greatly, as we are very worried.

Hi Prue,

It sounds as though your dog is being overly protective of her new toy. There are a couple of different things you can do to address the behavior.

You can put the ball away and take your dog out for a walk. This should help her regain a little perspective. You can bring the ball back out for specific play periods.
You might also choose to give her a couple more toys. This should diffuse her obsession with her ball.

I hope one of these suggestions works for you. Best of luck.

-- Contributed by: prue007

my dig got sick a few times today its more of a liquid yellow colour and I dont know what to do, I took her for a short walk tonight and she was fine she ate some grass on the way home and got sick again wjat could this be?

Thanks

Hi Natalie,

Dogs seem to eat grass when their tummy bothers them. The grass usually helps them throw up whatever is irritating them. I wouldn't be too worried unless your dog is showing other signs of illness such as lethargy, fever or diarrhea. It might be a good idea to withhold food for 24 hours to give your dog's tummy time to settle down, but do keep fresh water available. If the vomiting continues for another day, You'd be wise to schedule an appointment with your vet.

Best wishes that your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: natalie

Hi. I have a one year old, female, bull mastiff mix. This morning she came in with her left side of her face hugely swollen. At first I thought something stung or bit her. But later in the morning I went outside and my one year old male blue heeler has the same swelling. I am hoping that they both were stung or bitten by the same thing, but that sounds too coincidental. Is there some contagious disease with this symptom?

Thanks~~ Destiny

Hi Destiny,

It's possible that your dog could have uncovered a fire ant nest, or something similar, but your vet is the most qualified person to diagnose the cause of this unusual swelling in both your dog's faces. Please make an appointment for them, and if you find out what it is, please let us know.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Destiny

Hi my son has a 3mth old boy pit bull that has all shot up to date and he's been not doing good. My son lives in NJ and I live in VA they both are here in VA for the holidays. Banks the pit has been vomiting & diarrhea since sat but he is still eating and drinking water. He's been making a mess all over the house it's really bad please help.

Hi Dawn,

The illness could be caused by several different factors, including but not limited to a change in diet, water or viral exposure. Even a dog that has been vaccinated can still contract a case of parvo or corona, although it should be a milder case than an unvaccinated dog would experience.

All things considered, your son should really take his dog to your local vet to figure out what's going on, and hopefully get some medication that would stop the vomiting and diarrhea. It is a good sign that the dog is still eating and drinking, but you should withhold food for 24 hours to give his system time to settle down. Keep plenty of fresh water available to keep him from becoming dehydrated.

Best wishes for a quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi! My dog's nose is dry and they say that if the nose of your dog is dry it means that it is sick.

My dog is always making poop. We don't know why, maybe she ate too much because of the Christmas season. I am really scared. Your help will really be appreciated.

Thank You.

Hi Stacey,

A dry nose by itself is not an indication of illness. That is basically an old wive's tale. However, if your dog is dehydrated, the nose can become warm and dry to the touch.

When you say your dog is pooping excessively, are her stools firm, mushy or liquid?

Liquid stools are diarrhea, and they can lead to dehydration if not addressed.
Mushy stools can be asign of inadequate fiber in the diet, but they can also indicate a lack of digestible nutrition in a poor brand of dog food.
Lots of firm stools might indicate your dog is being overfed. You would begin to notice obesity if this were the case.

Use this information as a guideline about whether you should call your vet. If you suspect it's just a fiber deficiency, add a couple spoonfuls of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's dinner each night.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this information useful.

-- Contributed by: Stacey

Hi. My dog is in heat and is very sluggish. All she has been doing is sleeping and won't eat anything. I took her to the vet and she has a yeast infection in her ear and she has a slight fever. He gave me drops and antibiotics but I noticed her belly is slightly bloated. Does that have anything to do with her being in heat? And no we are not breeding her. Please help, I'm very worried.

Hi Jayme,

The ear infection would definitely make your dog feel miserable, and I don't believe her heat cycle would make her uncomfortable enough to become sluggish.

Did you notice your dog was bloated before or after she began receiving the antibiotics? Your vet should have scheduled your dog for a follow up appointment to recheck the ear, so I recommend you let him/her know about the tummy bloat and see if see if the appointment needs to be moved up a bit.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling well very soon.

-- Contributed by: Jayme

My German Shepard is just lying around today. Not eating or drinking. Except she ate some milkbones and pumpkin pie filling I gave her, but not self initiating eating her food.

Hi T,

One off day might just signal your dog is feeling a bit under the weather, but any more than this requires a trip to the vet. If your dog still isn't eating and drinking on her own, go ahead and take her to your vet for an exam.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's recovery.

-- Contributed by: T

hi i have a 7 week old chihuahua puppy that just resently started vomiting white clear liquids it started at first only when the puppy would get exsited then progressed into everyrime he would move about,i myself did worm the puppy but by directions on the package,the directions said 2 capsules for every five pounds so i gave 1 capsule with food he weighs about 1 and a half pounds,did i give the puppy to much,also he constantly shakes his head and clear stuff comes out his nose also....please help

Hi Sharon,

I think the best thing you can do is take your puppy to the vet to figure out what is truly going on. The dosage on the worming medication may have been incorrect. I'm also concerned that the fluid coming out of his nose may indicate fluid build up in his lungs. This is a serious issue that requires medication to clear up.

Thank you for your question, and I hope your new puppy pulls through this current illness. Chihuahuas are very delicate, so keep your pup warm and comfortable until you take him for his check up.

-- Contributed by: sharon

Can a dog wake up with a stiff neck just as you and I would?? And would it cause her to walk in circles?

Hi Janet,

While a dog can get a bit of a stiff neck, walking in circles usually indicates a problem with equalibrium. Your dog may actually have a fairly deep ear infection going on right now, so I think it would be a good idea to take her to your vet for an examination. If it's not an ear problem, your vet will examine her to find out what is causing the circling.

Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Janet

HI I woke up this morning and my dog has a swollen eye....My boyfriend and myself are both fighting off colds; i wonder if maybe she caught it...she doesn't show any signs of being sick, just a swollen eye lid; do you thnik I should rush her off to the vet??

Thanks, a worried mommy...

Hi Jessica,

You can try rinsing your dog's eye with warm saline solution just to make sure the swelling isn't caused by a foreign object. If she doesn't look better within a day, I think a trip to the vet would be beneficial.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the situation resolves itself very soon.

-- Contributed by: Jessica

my puppy is only 3 months old and he has been healthy and hyper all the time till yesterday and today. he seem to have trouble getting up and he's so weak and sleeps alot. he's not energetic anymore and he doesnt eat anymore. i've tried playing with him and he just doesnt want to move at all. he had a diarrhea this morning and i've found a couple of grass leaves in the feces. is this the reason why he's been acting strangely? if not, what is wrong with my dog? please help. thank you.

Hi Paul,

Dogs tend to eat grass when they aren't feeling well. The total of your puppy's symptoms suggest that he may be coming down with a serious illness. I highly recommend you let your vet take a look at him as soon as possible.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: paul

hi my dog he is normally in a junpy energetic mood but now since when i bath him in a tick medicated sampoo he started to just start to move more slow all of a sudden and now i am very concern. please give me some advice

Hi Shanice,

Some dogs do have a reaction to the pesticide used in medicated shampoos. I think you should bathe your dog thoroughly with regular shampoo to remove as much of the residual product as possible. If this doesn't seem to help, take your dog to the vet right away, and bring the medicated shampoo bottle with you.

Good Luck, and I hope everything turns out all right.

-- Contributed by: shanice

A dog I have never seen before followed me home from school and he has faom coming out of his mouth what is wrong with him if its bad could I be infected...He was really sweet though.

Hi Zoe,

I really can't say what was wrong with the dog, but it's always best to use caution with a dog you don't know.

Most people think of rabies when it comes to foaming at the mouth, but dehydration can also produce this effect. Rabies is a very dangerous disease, so please be careful.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Zoe

my dog is less than a year and has been very healthy until today it started drooling alot. In the last 12 hours he has gotten everything wet with his drool. what is going on and what can i do?

Hi Charlotte,

Sudden onset drooling could indicate that your dog ingested a toxic substance. I honestly believe you should take him to the vet right away.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: charlotte

My mom's great dane has over the past few months gained alot of weight. She doesn't want to go on her long walks anymore she's quite crabby, and very very stiff when she moves, like lays down or gets up. she's only maybe 4yrs old. They did recently find a tick on her neck but I think the weight gain thing started before that. She used to home make all there food except their dry!! She takes extremely awesome care of her dogs so just wondering if there could be some kind of explanation for all of these symptoms together. She seems to just walk around with her tail between her legs lik eshe just doesn't feel right. She looks bloated!! They are going to take her in to get some blood work done but just wondered what some other thought might be???? thanks

Hi Mattie,

Your mom's dog definitely sounds like she has a problem, so I'm very glad to hear she's going to see a vet. I can't really tell you what's wrong. This could be an undiscoverd tumor, or the dog might be moving less due to a degenerative joint problem and this could lead to the type of weight gain you're describing. There are simply too many scenarios, so the vet check is definitely the best way to handle the situation.

Best of luck.

-- Contributed by: Mattie

Hi - my 14 month black lab retriever seems to have a cold. He is lethargic/ has a runny nose and struggled ( like he was worn out )at the end of his normal walk. He was sneezing and seemed to have 'something up his nose' but calmed down once we got home. This is his first illness and he is fully vaccinated. Should I rest him? How long should i give it if he doesn't improve before i see a vet? His appetite and motions are normal.

Hi Sam,

Check out our articles on:

I think you'll find them both very helpful.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: sam

see i left my dog out last night and i want to know if he is sick

Expert Reply

Hi Eiddie,

Is your dog showing any symptoms? If you take his temperature it should be around 100-101 degrees F. If it's higher then he probably has a fever and is feeling a little under the weather. If you truly suspect your dog got sick from his night out, you should take him to you vet for a check up.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: eiddie

my dog is suspected of being pregnant is throwing up common in pregnant dogs

Expert Reply

Hi,

Yes, a certain amount of vomiting is fairly normal for dogs in the early stages of pregnancy. This usually subsides after the first three weeks of pregnancy. Then they usually begin eating more and gaining some weight. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: ms aqufina

Hi.. I have a 10 yr old shih tzu and is fairly healthy.. last night she started having the urge to deficate every 30 minutes but was constipated. She vomited once, and after trying to go the bathroom her body shakes for about 10 or so minutes. Now Blood just runs out of her behind when she tries to go to the bathroom... She won't eat any of her food and drank quite a bit of water this morning. I have looked up symptoms online but cant really find anything.. I have left a message for my vet but hasn't called me back yet.. Any suggestions. Thank you.

Expert Reply

Hi Dana,

The situation sounds serious, so don't hesitate to take your dog to the emergency vet. She might have a blockage in her bowl from something she ate, and she may not be able to pass it. The blood running from her behind indicates a tear or a puncture of some type. There's just no way to know what's going on until your vet has a chance to examine her.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know what your vet says. I'll keep your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Dana Pack

Hi my new dog is Shih Tzu, 5 yrs, female and her name is Babe. She wouldn't eat for a week and half but drank water. She shiveres. We can tell she had lost alot of weight by looking at her collar and felt the back bone when pet her. We took her to the emergency clinic two days ago, the vet x-rayed her and it showed normal. "Nothing is wrong with her", said the vet. Babe had her blood test, I am waiting for the results. This vet recommended me to take Babe to my reg vet which its booked till Monday (11-26-07). What can I feed her now till Monday? What shall I look for, pale gums or tongue? Keep her warm?

Expert Reply

Hi Helen,

It's important to keep your dog warm to reduce the amount of energy she's putting into keeping up her body heat. You also need to make sure she stays hydrated.

I recomend that you try to coax her to eat by offering her boiled chicken and rice. Be sure to leave some of the extra broth in the bowl to entice her to drink. Most dogs find this meal very hard to resist. If it works, keep feeding it to her to help her gain some weight and get her strength back.

As for your current vet, you should probably wait to see what the blood workup reveals, but there is obviously something wrong here. The fact that your emergency vet told you there wasn't doesn't fill me with confidence about his/her skills. Don't be afraid to take your dog to your regular vet at the very first opportunity you get.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this meal suggestion helpful.

-- Contributed by: Helen

My dog ate about 4 cups of used peanut oil. She is coughing, vomiting oil, lethargic, has had diareaha. Is this serious...do I need to take her to emergency? What can I give her to make her feel better?

Expert Reply

Hi Katie,

It would be a good idea to take your dog to the vet if you're able. Since this was used oil, there's also a chance it was rancid by the time she ate it. I think you should at least call your vet for professional advice on what, if anything, you can give her.

The fact that she is throwing the oil up is better than if she had kept it down and was digesting it. However, some of it must have gotten through her system if she now has diarrhea. If your dog is still vomiting today, definitely take her in before she becomes dehydrated.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Katie

My dogs back legs are shaking and he looks like hs is in pain when he walks. His mood is also much less playful, almost as if he is depressed. I believe he is drinking and eating normally but he had really bad doggy gas today that didn't smell normal.

Expert Reply

Hi Sig,

It sounds like your dog has something serious going on. The exceptionally bad smell of his gas may be due to the fact that he's moving less because he's in pain, but it could also signal that he has some sort of virus. All things considered, this is definitely the type of circumstance that calls for a trip to the vet to find out what's going wrong.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Sig

I got dis-connected in the middle of my last 'e'to you.It's abt'cha-cha',that she "chewed her tail"for approx.thelast 18mths.and 2 days ago started'shivering'CONSTANTLY,wears a 'sweater'at night,dog house OFF the ground etc.could 'it' be something in her spine(approx.8yrs. old-'rescued'off the highway in 1999,short haired,'hound'-mix,sweet dog,NEVER any 'trouble')help,please

Expert Reply

Hi Mary,

I'm sorry to hear your dog isn't feeling well. I think you should take her to the vet for an examination. It doesn't really sound like a spinal condition, and the tail chewing is probably a separate issue from the sudden trembling.

It would be a good idea to take her rectal temperature to determine if the shivering could be fever related. The normal temperature for a dog runs between 100 and 101 degrees F. Anything above this is generally considered a fever.

Thanks for your question, and hope your vet will be able to help your dog feel better soon.

-- Contributed by: mary bell

Nope, Changed nothing. Thanks for the advice we picked up some shampoo called Sulfodene and we are going to try that. I Think when we took him to the dog park he picked up something there from another dog.

Hi Tiffany, I hope the shampoo does the trick.

-- Contributed by: Tiffany

hey, Erm I am new here but we have had our dog for about 9-10 years now (since he was a puppy) all of a sudden there are bumps on his chest, he has been itching at himself like crazy leaving welts on his bottom and has a rusty red color along his skin when her rolls over like on his chest and down ward. He has flea meds and there are no sighs of fleas and he has had an increase in drinking his water. I am afraid he might really be sick but right now we can't take him to the vet because of money issues does anyone have a tip to ease itching just untill i can get him to the vet?

Expert Reply

Hi Tiffany,

Have you recently switched the brand of food your feeding your dog? This kind of sounds like a dog food allergy, but it could be an allergy to something else if you haven't found any parasites.

Think about other changes you might have made. Do you have new carpeting, have you switched floor cleaners or laundry soap? These are just examples of changes that might trigger an allergic reaction.

Since affording veterinary care is an issue at the moment, I would recommend putting your dog on Science Diet's hypo-allergenic formula. If there truly is a food allergy in play, it should subside after three to four weeks on the new diet.

I'd also recommend giving your dog oatmeal baths to relieve some of the itching. Just make sure you rinse your dog well afterward.

I think you will also find our new article How to Relieve Itching in Dogs helpful.

Thank you for your question, and I sincerely hope these suggestions are helpful.

-- Contributed by: Tiffany

My dogs stomach is making loud noises. She is not passing any gas. She doesn't seem to be in any pain at all and is still just as active as always. She is a german shepard/lab

Expert Reply

Hi Mike,

I don't want to alarm you unnecessarily, but German Shepherds are prone to Gastric Torsion. This condition causes the stomach to twist around, closing off the entrance and exits.

Loud rumbling is one of the first signs. The fact that your dog isn't passing any gas may also be another sign that the stomach has been closed off, although she may still be able to evacuate what is left in her bowels from that point down.

Since torsion is fatal if left untreated, I recommend that you let your vet examine your dog right away. She may not be showing signs of pain now, but if this truly is torsion, it will become very painful. I think it's worth the office call to find out.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Mike

My two year old female Chihuahua was chewing on a rib bone last evening, she seemed fine, this morning/evening she is struggling when she swallows. She is wheezing on and off. Her nose is warm. She is sleeping a lot.

Expert Reply

Hi Mary,

I honestly don't think your Chihuahua is having difficulty due to the rib bone itself. This type of bone is fairly hard, and she would grind it away rather than break it off in splinters. Still, you never know, and since her problem began after chewing on the bone, I think it would be wise to let your vet take a look. Better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks for your question. and I hope your dog will be alright.

-- Contributed by: mary

My Puppy goes to poo and instead she bleeds from her butt. I know they're blood clots, but what is causing them?

Expert Reply

Hi Brittany,

This sounds like something your vet should have a look at. How long has the problem been going on? Your puppy could be constipated or have a bowel obstruction that's causing a tear, or fissure, somewhere along her intestines.

This could be an emergency, so I wouldn't wait any longer to take her in.

Best wishes for your puppy's health.

-- Contributed by: Brittany

i have a three year old chauaua, he has started acting like he is in pain everywhere and is very yelpy if you even come near him. i don't no what to do for him. he seems like he is in so much pain, we did just moved. but nothing else has really changed latley. does anyone have any ideas?

Expert Reply

Hi Amber,

It's really difficult to say what's causing your dog's pain. He could have injured himself, or it could be the onset of a neurological condition. The only way to figure out what's wrong and how to take care of it is to take your dog to the vet.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's pain, and I truly hope he feels well again soon.

-- Contributed by: Amber S.

In the past three days our dog has stopped eating, drinking and wanting to go to the bathroom. He also can't seem to open his eyes all the way (he usually has big, brown, bug eyes), close his mouth, and he's begun to drool. Other symptoms include shallow breathing and he lost a pound in 24 hours (he was 32 pounds to start with). We've taken him to the vet and after a series of toxicology tests, x-rays, placing a scope down his throat, a steroid shot that did nothing and numerous other things, the vet came to the conclusion that it might be a nerve in his face acting up or TMJ, but I don't know if I buy that. Someone we had watching the dog tightened his collar recently, but the vet said that probably wasn't the cause of this. Also, when my husband picked him up from their house house today he noticed the dog nipping at a bag of Miracle Grow. Could he have been poisoned, although his tox screen was normal? I have no idea what's wrong and I'm becoming extremely worried.

Expert Reply

Hi Beth,

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I did have another visitor question about Canine Fifth Nerve Infection once before, and it has some of the symptoms you describe.

I am very concerned that your dog is no longer drinking water and going potty. Under the circumstances, I think you should take him back to your vet before his condition deteriorates any further. He may need IV support to prevent dehydration.

Thank you for your question, and I'll keep your dog in my prayers.

-- Contributed by: Beth

Hi Tony,

I'm not a vet, but it sounds like there could be something seriously wrong. Is your dog still able to drink water? If not, this isn't a very good sign.

I'd like you to listen to his stomach. Do you hear a lot of gurgling noises? If your dog can't take any water, and you hear a lot of stomach noise, your dog may be in the beginning stages of bloat. No one knows why dogs bloat, but German Shepherds and Rottweilers are both prone to it.

Bloat, or gastric torsion as it is also known, causes the stomach to twist. This closes off the entry and exit, and traps undigested food and gastric juices inside. From there, the food begins to ferment and the stomach bloats like a baloon. The condition is very painful, and an affected dog will die without treatment.

I can't be sure that this is what is happening to your dog, but I think you really should take him to your vet as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your question, and I truly hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5 mth old shepard/rott mix stoped eating 2 days ago and had loose bowells 2 days ago also. He yesterday would eat one piece of bread ( I thought it was better than nothing) but now he will not even eat that. Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: Tony

My baby is suddenly acting like he is sick. He doesn't want you to pet him but at the same time he does. If you go to be near him he growls, but once you start to pet him he almost whines he sounds so sad, I think he is getting the flu. Who knows what I can do?

Expert Reply

Hi Colleen,

Your dog could be coming down with a flu, but his behavior sounds like there might be something more serious going on. I really think it would be best if you took him to your vet for an examination. Your vet should be able to figure out whether your dog has the flu, or if there is an injury or chronic illness in play.

Thank you for your question, and you have my very best wishes for your dog's speedy return to health.

-- Contributed by: Colleen

I have a 3 mth old min pin. For several days she's not had an appetite, not active and wants to sleep. She was seen by a vet., who in turn put her on a vitamine and presciption diet food. I got her to eat that for a few days, today she's not wanted to eat anything at all, including the diet food.

Expert Reply

Hi Lisa,

Did your vet draw any blood or perform any other tests to figure out what's wrong with her? Many vets will first try a relatively easy route to help a dog feel better, but when this doesn't work, it's time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.

I recommend you let your vet know that the current treatment has not been effective, and ask him/her to begin pursuing another diagnosis. If your vet is unreceptive to this idea, go to another vet for a second opinion.

Thank you for your question, and I truly hope your vet is able to discover and treat the source of your dog's illness.

-- Contributed by: Lisa

My dog ate pork and now seems sick.

Expert Reply

Hi Delores,

Pork won't necessarily harm your dog unless it was under cooked. It's less common these days, but under cooked pork can contain trichinosis worms.

Symptoms of a trichinosis infections include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Fever and chilling
Abdominal pain
Coughing
Itchy skin
Swelling of one or both eyes

If your dog is displaying a combination of these symptoms, it would be a good idea to have your vet examine him. Trichinosis can be diagnosed through a muscle biopsy or blood test. Even if your dog doesn't have this infection, you vet will likely be able to determine what is making your dog sick.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Delores

Hi Nicole,

I'm so sorry to hear about the down turn in your dog's health. Being a JRT owner myself, I can sympathize with your alarm over the sudden change. Nothing gets these dogs down.

There's a strong chance that your dog may have suffered a seizure or a stroke. Either way, a trip to the vet is warranted. Your vet will examine your dog thoroughly and likely draw some blood for testing. Once the cause of your dog's condition is determined, your vet will be able to advise you on how to proceed.

Please accept my very best wishes for your JRT's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Jack Russell Terrier is now 15 years old. He's a very lovable dog and very energetic. That is until yesterday. Out of nowhere his face was making weird expressions and he was walking sideways instead of to the front. He usually has find of a happy face, but now looks sad and fearful. His neck is very stiff and can't even look up at me. He wont eat or drink...

-- Contributed by: Nicole

Hi Jennifer,

Unfortunately I'm not a vet so I can't really give you a diagnosis, however, I am very glad you decided to get a second opinion. I wish more owners were able to do this when their own vet is stumped.

Do you happen to know if either vet has considered whether your dog may have a severe rhinitis infection? This is quite similar to a sinusitis infection in humans. In severe cases, the symptoms include heavy nasal discharge with blood. Fever, lethargy and loss of appetite are also symptoms.

Rhinitis has several causes, but a culture of your dog's nasal fluid could provide a diagnosis. The infection can be treated with antibiotics and your vet may even prescribe a little Benedryl to relieve some of your dog's discomfort.

Anyway, it's only a suggestion. Please let us know what you find out from the vets, and I hope your puppy is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Kuvasz puppy started having a really runny nose with a little blood in it. Her health has become worse and now she is lethargic, her back legs aren't working as well, and her nose continues to have a lot of discharge. I have taken her to the vet, and they are confused as well. She was running a temp. but that has slowly gone down. However, she is still very lethargic, there is runny bloody discharge from her nose, and she is not herself. Help! I have taken her to another vet for a second opinion. They are contacting the ISU vet clinic, but I am really worried about her.

-- Contributed by: Jennifer

Hi Mechelle,

I'm sorry to hear about the change in your Poodle's health. At 13 years old, there's a good possibility that she may have suffered a mild stroke. Since this is such a drastic change in her usual condition, I think it would be best to take her to the vet for a complete examination.

I truly hope it's nothing too serious and that your dog is feeling better very soon. Thank you for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi DJ,

Is your dog still willing to drink water? If not, you should really take it to the vet. If his nose is actually hot to the touch, then he might already have a fever. A refusal to drink water could throw him into dehydration, a very dangerous situation.

If he is still drinking, you can probably give the situation another 24 hours to resolve itself, but don't hesitate to call your vet if you think your dog is becoming seriously ill.

Thank you for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My toy poodle is 13 years old and yesterday she was just fine she seemed healthy and spry - today however she just doesn't want to move and I have to carry her outside to go to the bathroom, she also doesn't seem interested in eatting. She is limping just very slightly but I just can't tell if she's uncomfortable or in pain. She doesn't wince at all when we rub her legs. Any thoughts?

-- Contributed by: Mechelle

My dog has a hot nose, will not eat, and has had a loss of interest in playing.

-- Contributed by: DJ

Hi Sami,

As long as the stools are just loose and not turning into full diarrhea, then I wouldn't think this is something serious. That said, keep an eye on your dog for other changes, such as listlessness and loss of appetitite.

In the meantime, what kind of food do you feed your dog? Some brands are less digestible and cause dogs to have large soft stools that are excessively smelly. Some table scraps are simply too rich for dogs and will also cause temporary loose stools.

Give your dog a few days to see if his stools return to normal. If they don't you should take a sample to your vet for examination.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things return to normal very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is a three yr shitzpoo and has had loose stool for three days eats normal and plays but will go on the floor or in his cage

-- Contributed by: sami

Hi Keely,

You're dog is in the best place possible right now. Pancreatitis is a very serious condition that requires veterinary support. With pancreatitis, the pancreas goes into overdrive, and the results can affect the rest of your dog's body.

Your vet will be carefully monitor her enzyme levels, as well as other organ functions. The IV fluids will keep her hydrated and nourished, and your vet may also administer antibiotics as needed.

Right now, this is the best thing for your dog in order to get the pancreatitis under control, so hang in there. There is virtually nothing you could do for her on your own at home, so rest assured that taking her to the vet was a very smart choice. Do check in with your vet to get an update, and let us know how she does.

I'll keep you and your dog in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Steve,

Actually, I think yo need to let your vet take a look at your dogs gum warts to determine weather they are simply abcesses or something far more serious.

I don't want to scare you unnecessarily, but those "warts" may actually be mouth tumors, and while they may be harmless, they could also be cancerous. Mouth Cancer in Dogs seems to be on the rise, and it takes a trained eye to discern whether the growths look malignant. If your vet has any doubts, he/she will take a biopsy of the tissue and send it to a lab for analysis.

Please don't delay in having your dog examined. Tumors can grow quite rapidly. You have my best wishes for a good diagnosis.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5 month Beagle has 3 ugly warts along her gums in her mouth. What do you do to treat them?

-- Contributed by: steve

hi my dog got very weak all of a sudden two days ago, she vomited up her food, and the lots of bile a few hours later.She is now staying with the vet overnight on a drip,as she has pancreatitis, and her enzymes in her kidneys are up to 24.Could you tell me any other way to make her better?I am very worried

-- Contributed by: keely

Hi Janet,

I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy. I'm not a vet, but I would have guessed it was a stroke if your puppy wasn't so young. There's also a chance he ate something poisonous. This could also cause paralysis that could in turn lead to labored breathing and drooling.

Your puppy needs to see a vet immediately if there's any chance of pulling him through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is 3 month old. Suddenly one day he couldn't move, his breathing was akward, and he started drooling alot. I don't know what's wrong with him. But my mom says he might die. Do you know what symptoms this is ? and could you reply back?

-- Contributed by: Janet Lee

Hi Tommy,

I've bred and owned Chihuahuas for a number of years, and shrieking of the nature you're describing is not normal for the breed. I truly think you need to take her to your vet for a physical examination. There is probably an underlying cause to her cries and her fear, and she may actually be in pain due to an unseen ailment.

My best wishes that your dog is feeling well and happy soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, My dog is a female Chihuahua long hair and ive been really worried because she always shrieks out, like in the morning i come to her dog house and she just hears me and she starts shrieking, and then whenever shes in the front and i open the door she shrieks even when i just walk over her to get by she thinks imma step on her or something she shrieks, the point is she is very sensitive and always shrieks when nothing even happens, and i am worried since this is just started recently and earlier today i was on the computer and she was in the front and she started whining and shrieking, but when i come out and play with her she seems normal but the only thing is she seems quite weak and doesnt have much energy do you have any suggestions or any idea what i should do or what is wrong with her, can you please sent me ur anwser to my email cuz i do not use the computer very much but i do check my email daily, i really appreciate your help, sorry for the long paragraph lol, thank you very much

-Tommy

-- Contributed by: Tommy

Hi Pat,

While the Cocker breeds are known to carry a certain musky odor, it sounds like your dog may have more odor than normal. She may actually have a fungal infection. I think it would be a good idea to have your vet take a skin scraping of the area for analysis. Once he/she finds out exactly what that moldy substance is, it will make it far easier to determine how to treat it.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my 3 year old cocker spaniel, has a smelly neck, which almost seems like mold, we wash under her neck to keep it clean. we have never seen anything like this,is this common in spaniels?

-- Contributed by: pat

Hi Chelsey,

This doesn't sound like the average case of a dog reverting on her training. There really might be a medical reason behind the sudden wetting. Although they can, most dogs don't urinate freely while walking. This could be symptomatic of a bladder/urinary tract infection. I think you should go ahead and call your vet to schedule an appointment.

My best wishes that your Boxer is better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 3yr old spayed boxer has just today started to have accidents in the house. She had just urinated in the yard so soon before, and she always tells us if she has to go outside. But tonight she just wet all over the floor while walking. It was more than I have ever seen come from her, and she didnt even try to tell us she had to go. Then 2 hours later she told me she had to go, after she went to bed(which is odd) and she urinated outside and I discovered that she had wet her bed before she came to wake me. Is this symptomatic of something?

-- Contributed by: Chelsey

Hi Betsy,

Yes, I'd recommend a call to your vet. This sounds like it could be a respiratory infection, and the coughing that happens when your dog gets excited may signal excess fluid in the lungs. Your vet will probably want to prescribe an antibiotic for him to help him get through it.

My best wishes for your Beagle's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a beagle that coughs when he's excited and has yellow discharge from his nose and eyes, is this something I should contact his vet about immediately?

-- Contributed by: Betsy

Hi Carol,

Right now it doesn't sound terribly serious so try not to worry too much, but do keep an eye on your dog. Shih Tzus do tend to get a little runny at times, especially during allergy season or when teething.

The lethargy concerns me a little more. Has she just been lethargic for one day, or more? Is she still eating, drinking and pottying as usual? If you notice an increase in her symptoms or any other major changes, take her in for a check up.

Best wishes for her speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi. My shih tsu is lethargic and has a runny nose x1day. Should I be concerned? I had a dog die a year ago, and don't want to go through this again. thanks

-- Contributed by: carol

Hi Christy,

This is something your vet should look at, but don't panic. It could be an anal gland problem, which can be remedied easily enough with proper expressing and perhaps a course of antibiotics. It could also be a dermatitis issues brought on by a flea bite. Both conditions are treatable.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My golden retriever has been scratching constantly at his anal region. When I look at it, it is black in color. I'm going to try to get him to the vet - but I can't easily get off work to take him and I don't want it to be anything serious. Any ideas?

-- Contributed by: Christy Russell

Hi Coretta,

The vet should have been very specific about how long your dog needed to remain on the antibiotics. Look at the label and you should find directions. It's extremely important to continue administering the medicine in a timely manner until it's all gone. If you discontinue before the last dose or skip doses the medication will lose its effectiness and you'll have to start all over with another antibiotic.

When the meds are gone, call your vet to find out when he/she wants to see your dog again.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i was just wondering , the vet said my dog might have a kidney infection...so how long do i need to give her antibotics till i see her doing better before i take her back to the vet to check for kidney failure?

-- Contributed by: coretta

A four and a half week old puppy should still be nursing and receiving care from it's own mother. In most cases, eight weeks is the minimum age for a pup to be fully weaned and ready to go to a new home. The shipping would have been extremely hard on such a young animal.

This puppy is already under a vet's care, so I believe you should follow up with him/her on the best course of action.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have recently got a 35 days old golden retriever pup. since the time i have got her, she has not been keeping well. she has come from another city and had flown from there. she is very lethargic and had loose motions till yesterday. the vet has prescribed lactic acid bacillus - NutralinB liv-52 surazolidone domperidone

She is not responding to any of these medicines. she is being fed liquid diet (milk / lactogen)

can you please suggest some medicine / cause of the distress.

-- Contributed by: ys

Hi Samantha,

Your dog is probably going to need an x-ray to see what's actually wrong. It could be a hairline fracture, or a soft tissue injury. Only your vet can say for sure.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my mom stepped on my dog by accident and now hes limping but can walk fine but when he tries to jump a long distance he cant anymore like he used to and he starts limping again what is wrong with him? if anybody knows please tell me

-- Contributed by: Samantha

I think you had better take him to your vet. It definitely doesn't sound normal.

The bloodshot eyes may be a sign of hypertension, and it could be causing some sight loss. This would probably make your dog want to be as close to you as possible for security. Please have him checked out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is shaking and won't be alone he's a beagle and this is very abnormal for him eyes look blood shot

-- Contributed by: michelle

Anna,

You'll find a reply to your question at Ask the Dog Expert.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelley,

I don't think it's a heart attack. Holding the head tilted is often the sign of a bad ear infection, but if her eyes are in constant motion, it could be a bigger problem. Take her to the vet right away.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my suddenly has her head tilt to one side and her eyes are constantly moving left to right vvisa versa.is it a heart attact

-- Contributed by: kelley

Chicken pox on Dogs? Is there such a thing? My dog has sores on her body that really look like chicken pox. They are scabbed over and her symptoms include loss of appetite. Thanks.

-- Contributed by: Anna

Hi Chris,

You'll find a reply to your question at Ask the Dog Expert.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 6 yo ESS, Louie has seemed 'depressed' the last 2 or 3 days. Also, he did not eat his dinner tonight. This is highly unusual behavior for him (aka 'gutter gut' because his only vice is his relentless and undiscriminating appetite). I have never seen him NOT be excited about food. I found an empty biscuit can on the floor and it looks like he ate the raw biscuit dough, however, in the past if he has ever stolen anything that may not have agreed with him(rare), he usually just vomits and starts over again. He has a pretty ironclad stomache. Once he even confiscated and ate an entire chocolate cake without untoward effects. I'm worried. What could the raw outdated biscuit dough do to him? This just happened today, but he has seemed 'depressed' for several days. I don't know what to make of his behavior, it is so unusual for him. What should I watch for and at what point should I be very concerned?

-- Contributed by: chris

My dog is a long haired chuahua he is about 6 1/2 to 7 months old he has vomitted a few times in the last few days and I havent worried too much over it until today when my cat puked also. They are both inside pets but they do go in the back yard alot. Since they are both vomitting it makes me wonder if it is something to be concerned about. Thank You Crystal

-- Contributed by: Crystal
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