Why is my senior Chihuahua not eating, lethargic, with black poop?

I highly recommend taking Frankie to a veterinarian. He needs fluids and blood work. It can be pancreatitis, a bleeding ulcer, parvo, intestinal parasites, etc. It is something where a physical examination and further diagnostics are warranted. There is nothing over the counter I would recommend giving, I would recommend just going to a vet. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds as Peanut is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking him to the vet the first chance you get, he will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection he will need an anti nausea injection, antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better.

I'm so sorry to hear that Chi Chi isn't feeling well. She may have one problem that is causing all her signs or she may have 2 separate problems. I see that she is a Dachshund, and I'm sure you know that they are known for having back problems. So, she may be having back pain that is causing her to not want to jump and not be able to do the stairs normally. Back problems in Dachshunds can be very serious, so I would recommend keeping her rested and having her veterinarian examine her to see if they can find any back pain or abnormalities on her neurological examination. Our biggest fear about black tarry stools is that they can be be due to bleeding in the stomach. If you have given Chi Chi any medications that are not prescribed by your veterinarian, be sure to stop those right away. Bleeding into the stomach can be serious, so I would recommend Chi Chi seeing a veterinarian ASAP. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Chi Chi feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor guy! From your description, it definitely sounds like something is wrong. Vomiting dark black material and dark tarry stools are often signs of bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which can be extremely serious. Not eating and not wanting to walk down the stairs are vague signs that indicate he is in pain or not feeling well. I would strongly recommend taking your dog to the vet today for an exam, since this sounds like quite a serious problem. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment.

Stomach ulcer, pancreatitis, Addison’s, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancers are all in my lists. If she hasn’t had a broad spectrum deworming then I would do that for sure even if fecal tests were negative. Also- if she has been on steroids she needs to wait weeks, Even months before the ACTH test for Addison’s can be run. It sounds like you and your veterinarian are on the right path to help find the cause. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite and lethargy can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Gracie Mae evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Based on your description of the black stool, lethargy, and decreased appetite, I am concerned that June may be very ill. The black stool could be blood in the stool, which could be caused by parasites, change in diet, toxin ingestion, infectious viral diseases, blockage in the intestines caused by ingestion of a foreign body, or a mass/growth in the gastrointestinal tract. Please make an appointment to have June seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, as blood in the stool can lead to anemia, and can be very dangerous if left untreated. In the mean time, if she is not eating well, you can try boiling boneless skinless chicken in water, shredding the chicken, and feeding her small amounts of the resulting chicken broth and cooked chicken once it has cooled. I recommend taking in a fecal sample from June to your vet as well, as that may aid them in making a diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!