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Why is my dog lethargic, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweet breath?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) | Male | neutered | 8 years and 8 months old | 9.5 lbs
My pup is much more lethargic. He eats little, he holds his head low and squints his eyes. He will get excited about things but then give up and lay down. Doctors only tested gor diabetes. He vommited bile several times last week and had diarrhea several days. His gas has smells strangely sweet like sweet grass even a little metallic as does his poop but only for awhile. Sometimes the sweet smell is on his breath. Our water smells of it also. And my skin. H2O test shows very high alkaline/PH
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on June 5th, 2021
This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort.
The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. Another check up is required to determine specifically the underlying cause of it through more investigations.
Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on February 25th, 2018
Further assessment is needed in my opinion as lethargy is always a concerning sign, even though (unfortunately) quite generic. To be able to comment what happened at the ER and try to give you a list of differentials I would need more clinical informations I am afraid.
Lethargy could come from a variety of causes like gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort.
Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.1Pet Parents found this answer helpful