My dog suddenly stopped eating food but is drinking water. Is it parvo?

A puppy can absolutely stop drinking / eating if it has parvo or there may be another cause. There are many causes of inappetance so it is hard to say for sure what the cause would be with Ella. I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). Considering your suspicion, a clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. 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!

Parvo virus can occur in adult dogs but often is more of a worry in puppies. Rye could have some other infection or a GI foreign body or perforation if he chews or eats bones or other items. Addison's disease, parasites, kidney failure or diabetes mellitus can all cause vomiting. I would recomend getting Rye to vet for physical exam. Depending on exam findings they may recommend tests or may be able to start symptomatic care to help stop the vomitting and get him feeling better. The sooner he is evaluated and treated the easier treatment may be. If he becomes dehydrated or loses too much protein or nutrients from vomiting he may require fluid therapy or more aggressive treatment to recover. I hope Rye feels better soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes it's quite normal, parvo is a very painful disease that makes them very weak and appetite may vary greatly for several days at the very least. you need to give it a day or two at least, as long as he is not vomiting that is the most important thing.

It sounds like your puppy is extremely sick, and parvovirus can take a few weeks for a dog to fully recover. It's very concerning he is not drinking as dehydration is the number one cause of death in these animals. He should see a vet again immediately, please take him into one now. Best of luck.

If Wisky is unvaccinated, the clinical signs you are reporting are consistent with Parvo, though they are also consistent with many other possibilities. Parvo typically manifests in younger dogs (under six months), but we do see it more rarely in dogs greater than one year, particularly those who were never previously vaccinated during their puppyhood. While he is continuing to eat and drink, I have to wonder how much nutrition he is able to keep down if he is continuing to vomit and have diarrhea. If you are unable to get to a vet, you can certainly try fasting for 12 - 24 hours, then feeding a bland diet of boiled chicken / hamburger and rice for 3-5 days. You can also utilize certain over the count anti-diarrheal and antacids, though finding a dose that is small enough for Wisky may prove difficult. All and all, if these clinical signs continue or worsen, I would strongly advise finding a way to get him into the veterinarian. Small dogs dehydrate quickly if they are vomiting and can also become hypoglycemic. The consequences of those two conditions together can have a disastrous outcome. There are options for at-need clients including services that provide credit or funding. Care credit, scratch pay, and private good samaritan funding would be the best places to start. Hope this helps.

Other considerations may include pancreatitis, foreign body in gi tract (partial or complete obstruction), parasites, dietary indiscretion causing gastroenteritis, intussuception, and a few others. All of these would require further testing or evaluation to identify. Because your dog is so small it can easily become hypoglycemic if not eating. As a result, I would recommend seeing your vet or an ER vet if you cannot get in by the morning if symptoms havent inproved significantly. You can rub a little corn syrup or maple syrup on the gums to try and stave off low sugar temporarily. If vomiting becomes more frequent overnight, you shouldn't wait until morning.