My old dog won't eat, walk, or go outside to potty. What's wrong?

It sounds like Millie is in pain. Please have her seen by a veterinarian immediately so they can assess her. Your vet may want to run diagnostic testing such as blood work to look for signs of infection (such as pancreatitis, which can cause diarrhea) or imaging such as x-rays to look for signs of injury.

Poor Milly! That is very concerning. I would recommend taking her in for an examination by a veterinarian. Falling can be a sign of cardiac disease or neurological disease. Sometimes it can be something like Old Dog Vestibular disease which causes severe neurological signs like circling, nystagmus (eyes bouncing back and forth) head tilt and falling over. This condition usually self resolves, but needs a veterinarian exam to differentiate from a more serious condition. Sometimes it can be a heart problem which is causing poor circulation which would require medications. A veterinarian will do an exam to localize the problem to a system and then blood work . Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am very concerned about your dog's condition and highly recommend a veterinary visit. There are a few general categories that fit with what your dog is showing at home. One would be weakness due to a nerve problem in the back end. This can happen if a disc has moved out of place in the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord. This can cause dogs to have trouble walking and placing their feet in an appropriate way. Some have the appearance of walking on their toes. Otherwise they are able to place weight on the back legs but stagger or sway when walking. This can be an emergency situation if the disc slips more into the spinal cord and causes paralysis. Another type of weakness that causes trouble getting up is if there is a lack of proper blood circulation. The lower level of blood in the body causes them to be lethargic due to the decreased oxygen circulating throughout the body. In an older dog, the most common cause of this is with a tumor or mass on the spleen that has ruptured. The spleen holds a large amount of blood and if it has a rupture, the blood leaks out into the abdomen. In addition to the lethargy, we often see pale gums and a pot belly appearance due to the pooling blood. An x-ray or ultrasound would help determine if this is occurring. These are the two most common reasons for such a dramatic change in her appearance. There is also the chance of her eating something she shouldn't. The best thing for her would be to have an exam as soon as you are able to determine what is causing her signs. The vet may recommend bloodwork or an x-ray. Unfortunately. older large breed dogs can lose nerve function in their back legs due to age changes. There is little we can do to help this aside from keeping them comfortable. Due to how sudden the signs showed up, this is less likely, as it is often a more gradual change.

I'm sorry that Millie isn't feeling well! The fact that she is unable to stand is very concerning and requires immediate veterinary attention. This loss of energy combined with vomiting can be an indication of a pyometra, or an infection of the uterus, which can make dogs very sick and potentially be life-threatening. Most towns/cities have emergency clinics which are open 24 hours/day. I hope all is well with Millie!

Poor Milo! He sounds quite ill at the moment, and his symptoms could be caused by a severe GI illness, liver disease, eating something rotten, a foreign body, kidney failure, or even cancer. It's best given his old age and his symptoms that he is seen by a vet as soon as possible for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays. These tests can help the vet diagnose what is causing his symptoms so treatment can be discussed and started.

Hello. In an older dog, lethargy can be due to infection, inflammation, arthritis, immune dysfunction or even cancer. You do need to have Mylo seen by your veterinarian so the appropriate tests can be conducted & correct treatments started to have Mylo up & running around again soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes it would be best to have her seen. Decreased appetite and lethargy are very common symptoms of many diseases, many of which may be treatable. The best way to know what is going on (diagnosis), how serious it is, and how to help her feel better is to have her seen. Most likely your vet will recommend some senior bloodwork and xrays to start. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!