Why is my 12-year-old Golden Retriever not eating and losing weight?

I would definitely recommend some blood work, if this hasn't been done recently. Older dogs are prone to a number of health issues that can cause decreased appetite along with being less active - chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism are two possibilities that are both very common. In many cases, these issues are treatable (at least to some extent) once a diagnosis is made, so it's well worth checking for them if you can - hopefully, there are some things you can do to make him feel better for as long as possible, even though he's getting older.

More testing needs to be done to find out what is going on. You cannot allow her to continue to barely eat food. I suggest x-rays and/or abdominal ultrasound as the next steps in finding out what is going on.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a very concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. An immediate check up is needed as persistent inappetence could deteriorate his clinical condition rapidly. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Poor Mazy! It definitely sounds like something isn't right. There are many different things that could cause decreased appetite and lethargy, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine her and run some tests. She could have anything from liver or kidney disease, to heart disease, arthritis pain, a GI problem of some kind, or even some type of cancer. I would recommend taking Mazy to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

I'm concerned that Shin is sick and that he could have something serious going on like diabetes, kidney failure, liver disease, heart disease, or cancer causing him to not eat, lose weight, and vomit. He sounds extremely sick and he needs to see a vet immediately. I'd take him into one now for a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. Please take him into a vet now. Best of luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Stone is a little thin from the photos, and the amount of weight he has lost in the past 3 weeks is definitely cause for concern. The next steps after checking for intestinal parasites include blood work to make sure that there isn't an underlying infection present and that organ function is normal. It can also determine that food is being digested and nutrients are absorbed appropriately. X-rays and an ultrasound can rule out masses, obstructions, and inflamed bowels. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

The weight loss and the not eating may indicate a disease state. At 12 years old, things like kidney disease and cancer become more worrisome. I recommend to have Stitch examined by the veterinarian and plan on running some diagnostics to go looking for any problems. Best of luck.