My dog is rubbing his face on the ground and won't eat. What's wrong?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hoonie. Some dogs will occasionally skip a meal, but it can also be a sign of illness. If he seems lethargic, continues scratching or skips another meal, then he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

I'm sorry your dog isn't doing well at the moment! It's good that she isn't vomiting, but I understand why you would be concerned that she isn't eating her normal food. There could be a couple of reasons why this is happening. Given that she is rubbing the underneath of her mouth on the carpet, it could be her mouth is painful. That would explain why she won't eat the dry food but will eat something softer such as chicken and rice. She could have a dental problem causing her pain, such as severe gingivitis, a tooth root abscess, or a broken tooth to name a few causes. It could also be that she is feeling nauseous and the chicken and rice is the only thing that settles her stomach. I would monitor her for now. Just offer her the chicken and rice tonight, but try the dry dog food again in the morning. If tomorrow she is still refusing to eat her dry food and rubbing her mouth on the carpet, I'd make an appointment with the vet for her to be seen. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

If only Winston could talk! Unfortunately, it's impossible to know why he is doing this. Check his face for any redness or lesions. Check his ears and his mouth for any abnormalities. If you can't find anything, have him examined by the veterinarian. It's possible his neck is hurting or his face is itching due to an allergic reaction. I hope this provides some guidance.

Based on what you are describing I would guess that Charlie may have gotten stung or bitten by something on his face while on the walk. He should be fine and may just have a little focal area of irritation. If you notice any facial swelling he may be having an allergic reaction. If this occurs you should take him to a vet to be looked at. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I would recommend that you have Cookie re-examined by the vet. If he chews on bones, he could have a piece lodged in his intestines. Other causes of not wanting to eat include dietary intolerance or indiscretion, food allergy, intestinal parasites, gastroenteritis, bacterial or viral infection, IBD, pancreatitis, among others. Cookie will probably need x-rays and/or bloodwork to make a diagnosis. As for the rash, there could be lots of things and he will need to have a vet examine it for a diagnosis. It could be bacterial infection, ringworm, mange, or a skin or hair disorder. The vet will likely collect a small sample to examine under the microscope to make a diagnosis.

I'm sorry to hear Gizmo isn't acting himself! Without seeing him it is very hard to say. It sound like he could be painful and he's acting anxious. I recommend taking him to the vet for a full physical exam. Have them check for pain in his limbs or spine. Have them check for an ear infection or any evidence of fleas. Also have them check his anal glands. These are common areas that pets have problems and show signs of anxiety. I would also question if there have been any loud noises or thunder storms. These things can also cause stress in pets. Please do not give any medications over the counter until you talk to your vet. Good luck and kisses to Gizmo!

Cub is such a cutie! I'm sorry to hear he is not feeling himself. If he is crying and has a poor appetite, I worry that he is in pain somewhere. His behavior toward your other dog may be his way of showing stress. I would definitely recommend that he be assessed by your family vet soon. I hope this helps, and your little pooch is feeling better soon!