Why is my 8-year-old Shih Tzu shaking, hunched, and not eating?

I am sorry to hear that Junior isn’t feeling well. Those symptoms are pretty vague and can be associated with many different problems. I would be suspicious about neck and back pain, but nausea and abdominal pain could be possible as well. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and I hope they find the answer and he is improving quickly. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Shiko isn't feeling well. A cause of a hunched back and weakness (especially if seen more in the back legs) is something called IVDD (intervertebral disc disease). This can be very painful and would result in normal bloodwork and normal eating/drinking. To diagnose this properly you need a CT, however it can sometimes be seen with radiographs. I would discuss this as a possible cause with your vet. If this is the case pain medications and strict cage rest is recommended for 4-6weeks, or possible surgery if it gets worse. Talk to your vet about this. Good luck with Shiko.

Hmm. That is odd. With no other symptoms besides the shaking, it is hard to say for sure. Shaking can be a sign of pain, neurological or an acid/base imbalance. I would continue monitor him for the next 12 hrs to see if this behavior continues. If it does then the next best step is to get some baseline bloodwork to look for underlying issues. You can also feel around to see if Snickers is painful in any particular area. That can help the vet focus on that one area to look for underlying causes. At this age most dogs also have arthritis, so it is a good idea to get Snickers on a daily joint supplement regardless. My top recommendations here for over the counter products is Dasuquin or Cosequin, and for veterinary prescription products it is Rejuvenate. Best wishes with your pet Snickers and I hope that you get to the bottom of her possible pain soon! Take care.

Poor guy. He certainly sounds like he may either be in pain or has some underyling neurological disorder going on here. Your vet should know where to start looking once a complete physical examination is done, because much more information can be gathered here. They will certainly want to start with some baseline bloodwork and possibly some x-rays if he seems to have any musculoskeletal issues as well. Some possible causes for these symptoms would be an underlying neurological disorder (i.e. IVDD), Addison's disease (disease of the adrenal gland), a toxin ingestion, or just pain from something internal. I do hope that your pet starts to feel better soon! Best of luck tonight at the vet. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bobo! He is so cute in his bed! It sounds like Bobo is experiencing periodic stomach pains. The noises you hear is likely gas moving through his intestines. Gas can be painful. When dogs are in pain they shake, don't want to move and whimper. Possible causes are: viral or bacterial infection, reaction to a new food/treat/table food, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver problems, food allergy or intolerance or cancer. Since Bobo is older I do recommend having him seen Monday when your Vet opens for blood work and belly X-rays. In the mean time I would start a bland diet of boiled chicken or hamburger with rice. Feed 1 cup per 20 lbs per day as small frequent meals. I wish you and Bobo the best!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Peanut. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. He will be carefully examined to determine if this is the case or if he has another problem. Based on these results and any diagnostic testing, treatment recommendations can be made. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

This is a quite generic but concerning sign. 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. None of the ingredients you mentioned are toxic. Unfortunately a check up is required to determine more specifically underlying cause and treat appropriately. 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.