Why is my senior dog constipated, vomiting, weak, and falling?

Hi and good morning! Thank you for your question. If he has gone 3 days or more with no bowel movement, then I'd bring him into your veterinarian to check him out. He could have a blockage or a neurological issue causing dysfunction of the nerves innervating his colon, a GI tumor or kidney dysfunction causing a dehydrated colon. Keep an eye on him and keep feeding a high fiber diet as you have been. Hope he passes stool soon!

I'm sorry to hear that Mayhem hasn't been feeling well. The signs that you describe - reluctance to use stairs, pain on manipulation of the tail, not pooping (likely due to pain while posturing/squatting), lethargy, and a decreased appetite - are all most suspicious for a sign of back pain. This could be a result of a soft tissue injury while playing, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE), among others. Regardless of the cause, it sounds as though Mayhem is quite painful and would greatly benefit from an urgent trip to the vet for an exam and pain medications. Do not give any pain medications at home (including aspirin), and only give medications prescribed by his vet as most human pain medications are not safe for use in dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

Hello and thank you very much for your question. I am jealous that you live in Australia. It seems great. As long as your poodle is eating, drinking, and playing normally, I would not be concerned yet. In fact, many older animals don’t have as many bowel movements daily as younger dogs do. I have even heard situations about completely normal animals not defecating for an entire week. But, If your pet has not defecated in another 48 hours, you may want to call the veterinarian just to see if they will prescribe a laxative or a fiber supplement to help the bowel movements along. If your dog, however, starts to feel lethargic or if they do not eat as much as they normally do, I encourage you to contact the veterinarian sooner than the 48 hour waiting period. I hope I have given a satisfying answer to your question. Have a great day.

If Popeye hasn't passed any stool at all in a week, I would be worried. It is a good idea to bring him into your vet for an exam and potential X-ray to check for obstructions, constipation, etc. They can also address the coughing to see if it is related, or if other issues such as trachea problems, heart/lung issues, etc need to be addressed.

Poor Tanner! I highly recommend bringing him to your vet for a complete exam and workup to rule out any more serious health issues such as neurologic problems, illness, metabolic issues, nerve or muscular problems, etc that could be causing this. Since he is a senior, issues such as severe arthritis or other senior-related illnesses could also be a cause of his trouble getting around and holding his stool. Your vet can work with you to see if anything can be done to help him feel more comfortable, such as pain or arthritis meds, or even changes in routine to help get him up and outside to potty a bit easier such as taking him out more often or keeping him in an easy to clean area if you aren't home.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Neiko. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian as he sounds painful. He may be experiencing joint pain. This would make it difficult for him to hold the posture to defecate which would explain why he has not gone recently. Based on his exam findings, x-rays may be recommended and pain medication will likely be prescribed. Do not give over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It sounds as if Maggie is either constipated, or is having trouble with her anal glands. These glands are just inside the rectum and may need to be emptied out, at your vet clinic. The other possibility is that she has a painful back or pelvis, which could be making it difficult for her to position herself to pass stool. Sounds like she could use a trip to see her vet, as soon as possible! Best of luck with Maggie!