My puppy has diarrhea and is lethargic. Is it time for a vet visit?

It always concerns me when young puppies get lethargic. Puppies are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) than adult dogs, so diarrhea is more serious for Wallace than it would be for an adult dog. If he's back to acting normally, eating, drinking, and doesn't have further diarrhea or vomiting, it's perfectly fine to continue monitoring him at home. However, if he remains lethargic, has more mucousy diarrhea, begins to vomit, or refuses to eat or drink normal amounts, then you should have him examined by his vet. Your vet will need to do a physical exam. Depending on their suspicions based on their exam findings, they may recommend some diagnostic testing or may opt to start him on some medications. Possible causes of this type of issue include stomach upset from a virus, intestinal parasites, among many other issues. If your vet finds that Wallace is dehydrated, they'll also be able to give him some fluids. I hope that he feels better soon!

Poor puppy. He is so sick. Because it has been more than 24 hrs with this pup, I would highly recommend taking him to your vet to be seen. He most likely has a serious illness that requires prescription medications and supportive care through the vet. I would have him seen today if possible. Until you can get him in, offer him some non-flavored Pedialyte diluted 50:50 with water to help keep him hydrated. Dehydration is the biggest concern with puppies at this age who are ill. I do hope that your fur baby Tiger feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

Depending on the cause of the diarrhea it could take 24-48 hours for diarrhea to improve. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian when you are able to see if this is expected or if Dallas needs to be rechecked. If she begins vomiting, seems very lethargic, or if you see blood in the diarrhea you should see an emergency veterinarian right away.

Possible causes of vomiting include GI illness, eating something rotten, a foreign body, or a pancreatitis. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain what is causing his vomiting, but I can say that when a dog is vomiting for longer than 24 hours, it's time to see a vet. I would take Scooby into a vet now to diagnose what is causing his vomiting so he can be treated. I hope this helps!

The vet can be pretty stressful, and it's possible the meds given caused some drowsiness (it would be hard to say without knowing what was given). I would keep an eye on Brinx and let him rest tonight and see how he is doing in the morning. If he is still lethargic in the AM or refuses to eat even a bland meal, letting you vet know is best.

Hello and thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear Texas is not feeling very well. Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and decreased appetite are very concerning signs and have many causes behind them. Infectious causes, internal organ dysfunction, or a foreign body or GI obstruction could be at play. Texas is really better off in the care of a veterinarian today as a veterinary hospital will be able to diagnose and treat Texas effectively and give him the proper care he needs. If a vet isn't an option, there are not a lot of home treatments for these symptoms. Try and keep Texas hydrated to offering water to him frequently and offering him unflavored pedialyte in his water may help as well as feeding him a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice. Keeping him warm and comfortable will also help. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Texas feels better soon.

I'm sorry to hear that Loin isn't feeling well. Vomiting and diarrhea in a young dog can be caused by a variety of conditions, but the most common include parvovirus (unlikely if he has been fully vaccinated), gastroenteritis (stomach upset) from eating different foods, table scraps or treats, intestinal parasites, or another GI virus. Since his diarrhea looks quite liquid with possible blood in it (difficult to tell from the picture), I recommend taking Loin to his vet for evaluation. The vet will be able to run a test for parvovirus, stool sample to check for parasites, and any other indicated testing to get to the bottom of this issue. If Loin is dehydrated, he may need IV fluids. Until you can get to the vet, withhold food for 12-24 hours. After that time, talk to Loin's vet about starting him on a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice for a few days before gradually transitioning back to his normal dog food over another 5-7 days. I hope that Loin feels better soon!