My dog won't eat and has something odd in his poop. Should I worry?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes! It does look like Brady is passing adult worms. If that is fresh stool and hasn't been sitting outside for hours. I recommend collecting a stool sample and having it tested by your Vet. The worms seem shorter and thicker than round worms so it is important to know if the is fresh stool or old stool since free living nematodes do come to eat stool. A stool sample (looking at the eggs) will help identify the exact parasite he is passing and then how to treat it. Dogs usually do acting normal when they have worms. He is only 6 months so intestinal parasites are common. I hope this helps and I wish Brady the best!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! His current anorexia is likely why he has not been defecating. Anorexia for 3 days is concerning given the possible diseases that could be causing it such as pancreatitis, foreign body ingestion, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases and even cancer, especially in an older dog. I highly recommend that you have Batista evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment of this. Diagnostic tests are likely to include bloodwork and abdominal radiographs though other tests may be recommended based on the physical examination findings. You may try to offer Batista a palatable diet including things like boiled chicken, ground beef and white rice to entice his appetite though it is extremely important to figure out what is causing it to be able to help him. Keep water available at all times to prevent dehydration. Good luck with your boy! Will keep my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

Hello, thank you for being concerned about your neighbors dog. Loss of appetite can be from an infection, parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, ingestion of a foreign body, or some toxicity. I would try to encourage your neighbor to have his pet examined at the earliest convenience. Not eating for 3 days is a serious sign of something going on. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Your dog needs to be seen by your vet as soon as possible. Any abrupt change in behavior or attitude is a sign he's not feeling well, and without an exam from a vet there's no real way to know what's going on and therefore, how to treat it. He could have eaten something he shouldn't have that's causing an obstruction or irritation, he could have been exposed to something toxic that you weren't aware of, there's a number of possibilities. Your vet will do an exam, lab work, possibly x-rays if indicated, and based on these results, your vet will be better able to understand what is going on with your dog and how best to treat him.

It certainly is concerning that Loki’s appetite has been decreased for so long, and if he is also losing weight there is probably a medical reason for why he doesn’t want to eat. When a dog isn’t eating much it also doesn’t produce as much stool, and I would guess this might be why Loki has not defecated in three days. Of course there are many other possibilities as well, and I would recommend seeing a veterinarian for a physical exam to start. They might recommend checking blood work as a first step.

Poor Bruce Wayne! There certainly could be something going on like pain, upset tummy, parasites, or even just anxiety. If anything has changed with your work hours, anything in the home, new people or lack of people, etc then anxiety would be the top of my list. Otherwise, I would be concerned something else is bothering him. I would have your vet take a look at him to ensure he isn't painful anywhere. Your vet can also do a fecal and blood work if needed. Your vet will be able to get him on the proper meds and even start him on an anti-anxiety medicine if needed. You can also try a calming collar like sentry or adaptil for a more natural anti-anxiety remedy. The collars don't work on everyone though. You can also entice him to eat by adding a little bit of plain chicken over his food. I hope this helps and he starts acting better soon.

Since this has been ongoing I recommend getting him seen by your vet to find out what is causing his loss of appetite. It may be that he's holding out for people food but the vomiting is concerning. Your vet will do an exam, lab work, possibly x-rays and based on the results your vet will be better able to tell you what is going on and how best to treat it.