My dog won't eat and sometimes hides or acts scared on walks. Why?

Unfortunately these are very general signs of being unwell and it is not possible to tell you what might be wrong with your dog. However, the reluctance to walk and the fact that Ryder is nearly 13 years old, is a good indication that he may be suffering from serious arthritis which now is paining him so much that he cannot hide the pain anymore. This, of course, may also be the cause for not eating. You should make an appointment with your vet for an exam of his hips and legs, a small NSAIDs panel (blood work) and pain medication.

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. Praying stance (like the one in the picture) is sometimes related with cranial abdominal discomfort/pain and presence of foreign body in the stomach/first part of the intestine or pancreas inflammation. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence last for more than 24hours. 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. Her legs may be hurting as well from something like a soft tissue injury or back pain for example which may be causing her to not eat well. I recommend that you have Zoey evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. 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!

Hello, I am very sorry to hear about Millie. I am concerned about the symptoms Millie is exhibiting and I would recommend having her seen by a veterinarian. Lethargy and inappetance are nonspecific signs in dogs, meaning that they can be caused by many underlying conditions. Your veterinarian can perform an examination and discuss the need for other diagnostics such as systemic bloodwork and possibly X-rays to look for any signs of pneumonia or abnormalities within her abdomen. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Milo is having some issues eating and is experiencing some weight loss. There can be many medical causes for these types of symptoms including dental disease and tooth pain, pain from osteoarthritis, organ dysfunction, or other causes. My best advice to you and Milo would be to have Milo evaluated by a veterinarian to help pinpoint a cause so he can be treated appropriately and hopefully made to feel better around meal times. I hope this helps and best wishes to you and Milo!

That's not good,. Unfortunately a loss of appetite is a common sign of many illnesses. I wish it could narrow it down, but I can't without seeing Riko in person. I would take him into another vet for a second opinion as well as blood work and a urinalysis.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a very concerning presentation. 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. An immediate check up is needed as persistent inappetence could deteriorate his clinical condition rapidly. 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!