My new dog is underweight, wheezing, and tired. Is she sick?

He is very cute! Congrats on the adoption. Frequently, these rescues may have a low grade illness. The stress of transport and a new home can cause a worsening of symptoms. Since he is "new" to you, have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions. Consider blood work and a fecal exam to make sure the weight issue does not have a serious underlying cause. At the very least, he will get a clean bill of health and you can likely chalk up the symptoms to the stress of transport and a new home. Monitor for other signs such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhea or a loss of appetite. It may take him a few days to settle in.

Hello there! While Luna's weight loss and poor coat may be from malnutrition, the heavy breathing and joint pain makes me concerned about other potential medical issues that she may be facing. First, be sure that she was on proper heartworm and flea/tick preventative while she was on the farm. Dogs that spend lots of time outdoors will come into contact with mosquitoes and parasites, which could explain some of her symptoms, should she have contracted a vector-borne disease like heartworms, lyme disease, or rickettsial infections (rocky mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis). The symptoms Luna is exhibiting could be indicative of any or all of these diseases. I also worry about intestinal parasites potentially stealing some of her nutrition, which can cause weight loss and a poor hair coat. All of these disease processes can be ruled out at the vet's office. A small blood test can check for heartworms and tick-borne diseases, and a stool sample can check for intestinal parasites. I highly recommend that you bring Luna in as soon as possible to have her looked at. Good luck, and I hope Luna gets well soon!

It does sound like Harley is feeling sick, and this lethargy could be caused by a systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. The runny nose could be due to a respiratory infection or allergies, while her looking at her behind could be due to impacted anal sacs, pain, or intestinal worms. I do think it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet tomorrow, and I don't feel you need to rush to the the vet tonight if she is eating and drinking. But definitely have her seen by a vet in the morning for a health check if she is still acting this way tomorrow.

Since Harley is showing a lot of symptoms of illness, it would be best to schedule a veterinary visit first to see if you can figure out the cause of her symptoms. It's possible they may be treatable with changes in diet or medication that can improve her quality of life. Your vet can also discuss with you prognosis of any illnesses, help determine if she is in pain, or discuss other problems that are found, which can help you make a better informed decisions about how to handle Harley's future care.

Poor Baby! I am sorry she isn't feeling good. The symptoms you have mentioned make me concerned that Baby may have some sort of respiratory issue-kennel cough, pneumonia. I would recommend contacting your regular vet and arrange for her to be seen today. Advise them she has just come from a shelter situation, as repsiratory diseases can be quite contagious. They will likely ask for you to keep Baby in the car until they are ready to bring her into an exam room. Your vet will do a thorough exam, listen to Baby's heart and lungs. They may recommend some diagnostics such as X-rays and bloodwork too. Depending on the issues identified treatment may range (assuming it is a respiratory issue) from oral medications and rest at home, to hospitalization with IV fluids, oxygen therapy and injectable medications. I hope Baby starts to feel better soon!

It sounds like this is probably an umbilical hernia if it is above the spay incision. If the hernia is large and changes in size there could be risk of organs becoming entrapped in the space - pain and vomiting would be the two most common symptoms. If it is small or if it closed around a small amount of fat then there may not be any concern. A hernia shouldn't be related to a wheezing cough - this could be a sign of kennel cough or other respiratory infections, and if it continues I'd recommend having Harley examined by your vet.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Harley! Look closely at Harley's eyes...are they moving quickly side to side or rolling? If they are then he could be having a vestibular event. The most common cause is a middle ear infection (under the ear drum) that causes inflammation of the peripheral nerve that control balance. Other causes could be more serious: stroke, seizure, brain tumor, metabolic issues or bleeding that is causing weakness. Harley should see your Vet ASAP this morning for an exam. I hope this helps and I wish Harley the very best!