My dog is bloated, slow, shaking, and can't jump. Is vet care urgent?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! How old is Max? If his belly seems distended and he is now acting ill, my concern would be that the swelling could be due to fluid in his abdomen (blood or free fluid), or a stomach torsion. This can be due to a splenic growth, liver disease, a toxin ingestion, or another underlying medical issue. If his gums are pale, not pink, I would have him evaluated immediately by a veterinarian, as it could be due to internal bleeding, or if he has non-productive retching (indicative of a stomach torsion). If his gums look pink and moist, I would still recommend he be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as you can to determine what the underlying swelling is, and what necessary treatment needs to be taken to resolve it. Good luck!

Max sounds like he is very ill and he likely has an internal illness or organ malfunction that is causing his overall lethargy, heavy breathing (can be a sign of pain, underlying lung disease, heart disease or infection) and unwillingness to move. This sounds serious and there isn't much you will be able to help him with at home, he needs to be seen by your vet. For an older dog I worry about things that may not be treatable and also major illness that can take its toll if not identified quickly and treated quickly. He likely needs bloodwork analysis and chest radiographs to start. Once his underlying illness has been properly identified then the vet can discuss treatment options with you, if available. I am so sorry that Max is so ill, but the next best thing is to take him in and make a decision concerning his quality of life and likelihood of having a positive outcome with treatment. I wish you all the best and hope that things do work out for your pet Max. Best wishes and take care.

Poor pup! From your description, it sounds like something is seriously wrong. Trouble walking could be caused by arthritis, a neurologic problem like a stroke or herniated disc in the spine, or generalized weakness due to a severe illness of some kind. A bloated abdomen can be caused by GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus, or "bloat"), which is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with air and twists on itself; other possible causes would include congestive heart failure, an abdominal tumor, liver failure, or internal bleeding. These signs are indicative of a severe, possibly life-threatening problem that needs immediate veterinary care, so I would recommend taking your dog to an emergency vet right away. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help her.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your concern about your dog! It sounds like he is sick or in pain, and given that he needs help getting on his bed, I am wondering if he's in pain. This would cause him to be more lethargic than usual and lose his appetite. Having him seen by a vet today is the best idea, and that's great you already have an appointment! The vet can diagnose what is causing these symptoms, and he can be treated for it. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Poor guy. I would be cautious here and take him in to your local vet right away if this has been going on for more than 30 mins-1 hr or if he is lethargic. A number of things could be going on here such as a toxin ingestion, severe stomach upset episodes or an underlying disease such as Addison's disease. Check his gum color immediately and if you notice pale gums then he should be seen right away as well. I do hope that this is just a stomach upset and that he starts to improve over the next hour. If he does seem to calm down, then you should definitely fast him for the next 12 hrs (water only), then you should feed him a bland diet of boiled plain chicken or lean ground turkey and white rice for the next few days to help settle his stomach. I hope that Finn's stomach calms down soon so that you don't have to get him seen. Best of luck moving forward. Take care! : )

I am so sorry to hear about Shiva. It sounds like she needs to get to the vet right away with tehse symptoms. In an unspayed dog who is acting ill like this we always worry about an infection of the uterus called a pyometra https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951481 . In any dog with a bloated belly and lethargy we also worry about things like a tumor that is bleeding, fluid in the belly due to heart or liver disease. All of these things require immediate veterinary care, so I would get Shiva to the vet today, the emergency vet if your vet is closed.

I am sorry to hear that Teddy isn't feeling well. The shaking has me concerned about pain, especially back pain, (they do not always cry when painful), fever, or extreme weakness. Since this has already gone on for more than 24 hours without any improvment, then I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. After a thorough examination they will likely have an idea as to what could be causing his symptoms and will have a recommendation for you. This may involve additional testing such as blood work or an x-ray. I worry that if he isn't seen today that he could become much worse overnight tonight. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.