My dog is limping, not eating, and won't get up. Is it serious?

I am very concerned about your dog's condition and highly recommend a veterinary visit. There are a few general categories that fit with what your dog is showing at home. One would be weakness due to a nerve problem in the back end. This can happen if a disc has moved out of place in the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord. This can cause dogs to have trouble walking and placing their feet in an appropriate way. Some have the appearance of walking on their toes. Otherwise they are able to place weight on the back legs but stagger or sway when walking. This can be an emergency situation if the disc slips more into the spinal cord and causes paralysis. Another type of weakness that causes trouble getting up is if there is a lack of proper blood circulation. The lower level of blood in the body causes them to be lethargic due to the decreased oxygen circulating throughout the body. In an older dog, the most common cause of this is with a tumor or mass on the spleen that has ruptured. The spleen holds a large amount of blood and if it has a rupture, the blood leaks out into the abdomen. In addition to the lethargy, we often see pale gums and a pot belly appearance due to the pooling blood. An x-ray or ultrasound would help determine if this is occurring. These are the two most common reasons for such a dramatic change in her appearance. There is also the chance of her eating something she shouldn't. The best thing for her would be to have an exam as soon as you are able to determine what is causing her signs. The vet may recommend bloodwork or an x-ray. Unfortunately. older large breed dogs can lose nerve function in their back legs due to age changes. There is little we can do to help this aside from keeping them comfortable. Due to how sudden the signs showed up, this is less likely, as it is often a more gradual change.

He really needs to see a vet. You didn’t mention if it was a front leg or hind leg. He could have a simple strain/sprain. It could be a genetic OCD lesion or hip dysphasia. It could be a torn CCL if it’s a back leg. There is no way for us to diagnose this via the internet. He needs to be examined by a vet in person. It sounds like he’s in pain and that’s why he’s not eating.

Lameness, loss of appetite and energy are definitely concerning. This can be caused by tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease. There are also certain bone and joint diseases that only affect growing puppies, and need to be ruled out with an x-Ray. I recommend having your appointment sooner rather than later, you may want to call your vet and ask for an earlier appointment.

Poor Lady! It sounds like something is definitely wrong. These are very concerning symptoms, but unfortunately they are also very vague and could be caused by almost any kind of serious illness. Some possible causes would include liver or kidney disease, pancreatitis, pyometra (a life-threatening uterine infection that is common in unspayed female dogs), or ingestion of something toxic. I'm afraid this sounds like it may be a life-threatening problem, so I would really recommend taking Lady to an emergency vet immediately for an exam. He/she can do some diagnostic testing if needed to help determine what's wrong and get her started on appropriate treatment for her illness.

The face that she hasn’t eaten in 5 days and now won’t drink has name very concerned. Many different things could be causing her symptoms. Problems such as tick infestation like ehrlichia can cause these signs. Also fungal infections or cancer would be high on my list of possibilities. I worry that if she continues to not eat or drink she may not survive until the 1st. You may want to consider looking for financial help, applying for care credit, or calling your veterinarian for recommendations on possible funds or low cost clinics in your area. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

Hello Dogs don't often get growing pains, but since Oakley is limping and also vomiting, I would recommend that you have her checked. Puppies can limp from injury but best to have her checked, and they can also find out why she's vomiting. I would recommend feeding her a diet of boiled chicken and rice this evening to help settle her stomach. Best wishes to you and Oakley.

I would take Gulli back into a vet immediately. It's quite serious that she has completely stopped walking, and she could have a serious problem with her back, neck, and/or hips preventing her from walking. She needs x-rays to diagnose what is causing the problem as well as further treatment. Please bring her into the vet. Good luck, I hope this helps!