Why is my dog throwing up, lethargic, and crying when picked up?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite and vomiting can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Layka evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. You can offer a bland diet which may help. This diet could be composed of rice, boiled chicken, ham, turkey, lean hamburgers or low fat cottage cheese. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

This sounds like abdominal pain, or back pain. Since she’s not spayed you need to be concerned about a uterine infection which could cause lethargy and abdominal discomfort. If she has a bulging disk in her back that can cause pain also. I would take her temperature to check for a fever, and if she has a fever or these symptoms continue then please bring her in for an exam and treatment. They will feel to find where she’s painful and may do an X-ray or blood tests to diagnose the problem. She’s a very small dog so please don’t wait too long since she doesn’t have the body reserves of a bigger dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Luna.

There are many causes for [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/) and lethargy in dogs. Your dog could have a severe GI illness, [pancreatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-pancreatitis), a foreign body causing an [obstruction](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/bowel-obstruction-in-dogs), or may have eaten something rotten. I recommend withhold food for 12-24 hours, and then feeding her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice in small amounts for several times a day. After a couple of days of the bland diet, you can slowly add back in her normal diet. If she continues to vomit in the absence of food, vomits the bland diet, stops drinking water and vomiting water, has diarrhea, and/or becomes very lethargic, you need to take her into your vet immediately.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Sophie has been seeming uncomfortable when being picked up a certain way, and is eating and drinking less. While more common in larger breed dogs, it is possible that she has some "growing pains", or panosteitis, in her long bones, which is painful for her when she is picked up as you are describing. This discomfort may be causing her to eat and drink less, and be less playful too. I'm glad to hear that she is not painful in her chest, abdomen or back. She may be suffering from neck pain, which can be a common occurrence in smaller breed dogs. If she continues to seem uncomfortable, lethargic, and have a decreased appetite and water intake, I recommend having her evaluated by your veterinarian. He/she can perform a thorough physical exam to better localize her discomfort and pain. He/she may also recommend bloodwork to evaluate for any underlying systemic disease that could cause her to have a decreased appetite and act lethargic. Please do not give Sophie any pain medications that are intended for humans, such as Advil or Tylenol, as these can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds like Princess is unwell. She could have a GI illness, may have eaten something rotten, a foreign body, or pancreatitis. I see that she is unspayed, and an infection of the uterus called a pyometra occurs in unspayed dogs and causes these symptoms. For now, I recommend monitoring her. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, and then feed her boiled white meat chicken and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. If she keeps that down, you can slowly add back in her normal diet. Monitor her closely for signs of a pyometra, such as more vomiting, her belly becoming swelling, extreme lethargy, and discharge from her vagina. You can also take her temperature to monitor for fever, which would be above 102.5F. If you see any of those signs I mentioned above, take her into a vet immediately. In addition, if the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she vomiting the bland diet, she develops diarrhea, she stops drinking water and start vomiting water, or she becomes very lethargic, take her into your vet right away.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry to hear about little Sophia. I am worried in this case about pain- back pain specifically. Her breed and what you describe are very typical of this. But other things such as infection or orgsn disease are possible. I think regardless of cause, Sophia needs to see the doctor for a good physical exam and some prescription pain medication if appropriate. Best of luck to you and Sophia.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The symptoms you describe are concerning for something serious causing her pain or discomfort from something. I advice that you have Meg evaluated by your veterinarian for a thorough examination and further diagnostics to be followed by therapy if indicated based on findings. At the very least, if she is confirmed to be in pain or discomfort, she could at least be started on pain control medications. Good luck!