My picky dog won't eat and is lethargic. What's wrong with him?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Coby is lethargic and not feeling well, I would have him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. He may be dealing with an infection or have something else going on that needs to be diagnosed by a vet. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Charlie! There are several things that can cause him to be lethargic and not eat like kidney or liver disease, an infection, a tumor/cancer, general GI upset, parasites, and much more. Since he has an extensive medical history and he isn't eating well and lethargic, I would strongly recommend to have your vet take a look at him asap. Your vet will be able to do a fecal, blood work and even x-rays if needed. They will be able to recommend the best treatment plan for him to help him feel better! I hope this helps!

I am happy Luna is feeling better but a picky eater can be very frustrating. In my experience most dogs will not starve themselves. Changing foods often or back and forth Luna is learning if she does not eat she will get a better or different food. If the vet told you she is healthy I would start some touch love on her. I would get a food you want to feed and put it out for her. If she does not eat for 1-2 days than I would not be concerned. Typically once Luna realizes she is not getting anything else she will eat. Also if LUna is holding her body weight I do not get overly concerned. My own dogs will eat fast one day and slow or not at all the next. I think dogs will sometimes change there eating habits and this is okay as long as they are maintain weight and are still happy and healthy. I hope that helps

A few things could be going on: One, if he got into people food and it was high fat or very rich, he could be experiencing some digestive upset. Picking up his regular food and feeding a bland meal of boiled rice and chicken may help settle his stomach and get him back on schedule. Signs of GI upset also include vomiting, diarrhea, sore belly, etc. If this is the case and a bland diet doesn't help, or he has quite a few GI symptoms, seeking veterinary care is best to rule out more serious issues such as pancreatitis from eating people food. Two, if he prefers people food to his food, it could be he's trying to "hold out" in the hopes you are going to give in and give him more. If he's otherwise healthy and normal, it is best to stop offering ALL people food and treats, and only offer his dog food. You may need to put his food down for 10-15 minutes several times throughout the day to encourage him to eat. Most dogs will not starve, and will eventually check out their food and eat it. (Sometimes pretending its people food can kick-start this as well!)

I'm sorry to hear that Django hasn't been feeling well! Sudden diet changes can cause acute episodes of gastroenteritis (inflammation in the GI tract), which can lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. You can try continuing to withhold food for the rest of the day today, then offer small frequent amounts of a bland diet starting tomorrow morning. Feed boiled white meat chicken and white rice (1 cup for every 10 pounds of body weight) for several days if his vomiting and nausea subside. After a few days, gradually mix his normal food in with the bland diet over another 5-7 day period. All of that said, if Django remains lethargic, refuses to drink any water, or experiences profuse vomiting, he should be examined by a vet because he may need fluids or other medications. I hope that he feels better soon!

Poor Lyl. There are so many things that can cause not eating and lethargy so it is hard to say for sure what is going on. I would make sure her gums are pink - if they are white, yellow or grayish blue then she is in critical condition and needs to go to the emergency clinic. Otherwise, you can try feeding her some plain boiled chicken (no bones) and white rice tonight and see if she will eat it. If not, then I would have your vet take a look at her. Your vet will be able to determine if she is in pain anywhere or if something else is going on. They will be able to do bloodwork and even X-rays if needed. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better really soon!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Causes of a decrease in appetite are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infection, he ate something gross that is upsetting his stomach, he ate something that is stuck, food allergy/intolerance, Inflammatory Bowel disease, Addison's disease, new treat/food/table food. Sometimes this can be behavioral as well, he is waiting for something better like the Pedigree. If there is not other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy then that is likely the problem. If you recently got a new bag of his food the company may have changed the formula or there is a issue with that bag of food. If you really don't want to feed him Pedigree then hold your ground. Offer his normal food, you can add water to it to make it more tempting, and if he doesn't eat it then pick it up. Do not offer treats or any other food and then he is not fed again until his next meal time. You can also consider feeding him once daily. If he is otherwise sick, please repost with his symptoms and we will provide advice. I hope this helps and I wish you and Puku the best!