Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog won't eat, has diarrhea, and eats grass. What should I do now?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 1 month old | 35 lbs

My year old Dashador won't eat. I've tried his dog food, wet food, cheese, rice etc but nothing. He still drinks water and acts fine. He eats grass and has diarrhea. It's been 2 days with out food and I'm super worried. What should I do? How can I get him to eat?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Elizabeth

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on July 23rd, 2019

Poor Ace! The diarrhea could be due to many conditions including eating something he shouldn’t have, bacterial over growth, parasites or other even organ disease. It's likely the diarrhea and the not eating are related. If the diarrhea has continued beyond 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. With continued diarrhea, there are often bacterial shifts in the gut that will make matters worse regardless of the initial cause. Make sure to bring in a sample of fresh stool. The doctor will check him for parasites and bacterial over growth. Many times a bland diet can help and then a slow, gradual introduction to the normal food can be done. A bland diet can consist of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% boiled white rice. This should all be plain. A good diet in general is Royal Canin. It is low residue and highly digestible. Since Ace will not eat anything you offer, he needs treatment and medication to get and feel better. When pets don't eat well, they often don't drink as much as they should and can become dehydrated. Have him examined today. I hope Ace starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions!
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on April 21st, 2020

    Hopefully you meant your dog! I would pick up her food for a few hours, then offer a bland meal of boiled rice and chicken to help with any minor GI upset. If the diarrhea continues, she stops eating, or has new symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, etc, a vet visit is best.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on February 5th, 2018

    I usually recommend skipping one meal to really rest the GI tract, then feed small amounts of something bland such as boiled chicken and rice with no spices or fat. If this does not seem to improve the diarrhea in a few days or if you notice any blood then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 9th, 2017

    I would have trouble resisting such a cute face as well! It would be best to withhold all food for 12-24 hours to give his GI tract a rest. You can resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts afterwards. Start with a tablespoon or two then gradually increase the amount. Feed until the stool is normal then transition slowly to his regular diet. If the diarrhea does not resolve or if he develops lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite or abdominal pain then have him examined by your veterinarian.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My dog has mucous diarrhea, shaking, and ate dirty diapers. Advice?
You need to make sure Ace doesn't have access to diapers or any other item that may cause dietary indescretion. You can try feeding a bland chicken and rice diet for a couple of days but if it is not clearing up he needs to see a veterinarian. If he is on monthly heartworm prevention the chance of intestinal parasites is lower. But I agree with a baby in the house it's a good idea to have Ace checked. And if he isn't one prevention get him started on it for your child's safety as well as Ace's health.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog won't eat, is throwing up, and has diarrhea. Is it serious?
Based on the information provided, I'm not clear as to how long the loss of appetite and other symptoms have been going on, but I'm assuming more than 24 hours. It sounds like your big man normally has a very healthy appetite. The symptoms do seem pretty vague, but if they are becoming more frequent, it is definitely time to see your veterinarian. Lots of things could cause Cash to stop eating; everything from a virus, to a blockage from something he ate, or kidney or liver disease, and more. Your veterinarian will likely want to start checking some bloodwork and maybe getting abdominal xrays. The previous episode of diarrhea may or may not be related, but I think it is time to look into this further. In response to your question "could this be something serious", that is harder to answer. In short, yes it could, but I hope it isn't. Only with a full exam and some testing will your veterinarian be able to answer that fully. I hope your Johnny Cash is on the mend soon.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog has loose stools, won't eat, and eats grass. Should I worry?
It appears that poor Oreo is having some sort of intestinal problem. This is often due to an infection or parasites, but can indicate other disorders of the digestive system. Loose stools are not too concerning, but a dog that stops eating is. Dogs usually have to feel rather bad to stop eating. Considering this, it's best to have Oreo seen by a vet in the next 24 hours. It's difficult to know how concerning this is without seeing him, but if he's otherwise acting normal, then I would not be too worried. It's best to just get him checked. The vet will be able to help narrow-down the cause of this and give medication to make him feel better. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and Oreo feels better soon.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My dog isn't eating, has diarrhea, eats grass. Should I give Imodium?
I would recommend feeding small bland meals frequently with an added probiotic such as fortiflora. If diarrhea is mild it is often preferred to allow it to be expelled naturally if drinking and alert. Imodium is generally used alongside other treatment or where no signs of infection are identified
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog won't eat, has bloody diarrhea, and vet said wait. What now?
Poor guy. It sounds like you should go to another vet for a second opinion here. Something is definitely causing your pets inappetence and GI symptoms. Some things to consider as causes would be addison's disease and pancreatitis. I would recommend going back to the vet to have bloodwork analysis and a urinalysis to start. They may also want to do radiographs as well. In the meantime it is best to offer small portion meals of boiled plain chicken or lean ground turkey and white rice with some pedialyte (non-flavored) diluted 50:50 with water to help replace some of the electrolyte losses. Best of luck with your pet going forward. Take care
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog ate something from grass, has diarrhea & lethargy. No vet?
I'm very sorry to hear that Peanut isn't feeling good. Unfortunately with the symptoms you have described, especially the lethargy and diarrhea, I am very concerned about what he may have eaten. Any number of plants etc can potentially be poisonous, including mushrooms. I would check your yard (or wherever you weee with Peanut when all this started) for mushrooms or any other types of plants. Look also for indications of any other items-has something been spilled or sprayed on the grass? Are there other pieces of whatever Peanut may have eaten lying around? I know you mentioned financial concerns, unfortunately with the symptoms you describe I feel the best thing is for Peanut to go see a veterinarian. Given such a rapid decline through the day today I am very concerned about how Peanut will progress from here. If you simply cannot make it to the ER then monitor Peanut closely overnight, try and tempt him to eat and drink, and make sure to take him outside frequently to relieve himself. Schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning. I hope Peanut's condition improves for you!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My dog eats grass & shrubs, has diarrhea. Is his diet lacking?
Grass eating is one of those annoying habits that some dogs just tend to have. The cause of this is not really known, although there are a couple of theories as to the reason. You have already mentioned possible dietary deficiencies (or at least Rino might think he has one) or assistance with digestion. So long as Rino is not eating grass constantly, it is not likely to cause any serious digestive issues. You will likely continue to see occasional diarrhea and/or vomiting. It is preferable that he eats grass over unknown shrubs, as there are many toxic plants that grow in the wild. I would consider adding a probiotic to the diet in an attempt to try and make the stool a little firmer. I usually recommend Fortiflora as a good choice. It is a packet of powder that you sprinkle on the food once a day. Hope this helps work things out.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog FoodDog Health & WellnessPrescription Dog Digestive MedicationsWet Dog FoodDog Grass Saver Treats & BiscuitsVeterinary Diet Dog FoodElectrolytes for DogsDry Dog FoodDog Stool Eating DeterrentDiuretics for DogsDog Medicine and PrescriptionsDog First Aid & RecoveryDog Probiotics & Digestive AidsDog Bowls & Feeding SuppliesDog Incontinence & Bladder Control MedicineDog Vitamins & SupplementsDog Pain Medicine & ReliefPrescription Dog AntibioticsPrescription Dog Insulin & Diabetes MedicationDog Anxiety Medication
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button