My dog is refusing food and water. When should I call the vet?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buddy. I am sorry to hear that he is not eating or drinking. You will need to schedule an appointment with his veterinarian, ideally today. If he is not eating and drinking, there is a reason. Furthermore, it is easy for him to become dehydrated. He could be experiencing pain somewhere such as his neck, back or joints. He could have inflammation in his gastrointestinal tract or be experiencing a systemic disease that is making refuse his food. His veterinarian will gain information based on his physical exam as to what his problem may be. From there either medications will be prescribed or he will require further testing. In the meantime, try to encourage him to take in some water. Some dogs will even take ice cubes. I hope this information helps!

You need to get Tucker to a vet for an exam ASAP. It sounds like he is very sick and is in pain. Remember, he is almost 14 years old which is around 90 years old in human years. He could have some significant underlying medical condition. Please take him to a vet immediately for an exam. Don't let him suffer.

I'm sorry to hear that Twinkle hasn't been feeling well today. I would recommend that he is seen by his veterinarian. There may be something on the physical exam that will point to a diagnosis such as joint pain. He may also need laboratory work to determine the cause of this sudden change in him. Encourage him to continue drinking water so he does not become dehydrated. You can offer him food, but stay with his normal diet. Good luck!

I would be worried that he ate a poison or has a serious disease. This is not something you want to wait any longer to get treated. You should take him to be evaluated by a vet doctor as soon as possible, or his condition could quickly get worse. In the meantime, make sure he has plenty of clean water available. You should also put some oral rehydration (ORS) salts in his water to help keep him from getting dehydrated. I hope that helps and Tuffy gets better soon.

I am no sure how long this has been going on for; however these are severe and warrant a vet visit. I would highly recommend taking Gizmo to the vet right away. They need to run some tests to determine what the underlying problem is since just about every condition can cause these symptoms. You can try offering him a small amount of honey (1 tsp) or some canned tuna for now to see if that can give him a little energy; however, he needs to see a vet for further care. I do hope that your furry friend Gizmo is able to make a full and speedy recovery soon! Best wishes and take care.

If Tison is a normal weight then I’m not as concerned about the irregular eating pattern. Many dogs self regulate and only eat what they need and vary the amount based on their activity. If he has an empty stomach he could be vomiting from stomach acid buildup. Usually feeding a treat or small meal if he will eat it can reduce the vomiting. You may also want to try another good quality food to see if that improves his eating. It’s best if dogs eat at least once daily. If he has a poor hair coat, is thin or lethargic then this behavior could be a sign of an underlying medical problem that should be treated. He could have intestinal parasites, a food allergy or GI condition. In that case I recommend a veterinary exam and lab tests to determine the problem and get the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tison.

An adult dog that has no other medical conditions can usually go for 12-24 hours without eating as long as he is still drinking water and is alert. He may just have a bit of an [upset stomach](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-treat-your-dogs-upset-stomach) from something he ate (that he wasn't supposed to) or he could have a touch of gastrointestinal infection. Continue to monitor him. If his symptoms worsen - he stops drinking, becomes lethargic, develops a fever, or begins [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/article/vomiting-in-dogs) or has [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-in-dogs), then you should [contact your veterinarian](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-handle-a-pet-emergency/).