My senior Shih Tzu is shaking, not eating, and drinking a lot. Why?

Tibby sounds like he isn't feeling quite himself. He is getting to be an older guy, at 14, and drinking alot of water can signify many issues like diabetes, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infection, etc. He may be licking his paw because his paw is itchy or painful. Also, studies have shown that excessive licking is sometimes a sign of abdominal pain in dogs. I think you need to schedule a geriatric appointment with your veterinarian to identify what might be going on with Tibby. Be prepared for some blood work and likely a urine test, and perhaps other diagnostics depending on what your veterinarian finds on physical exam.

Hello, sorry to hear about your pup. There are several causes for increased drinking and decreased appetite. However, it may be that he is just a bit cold. Some other causes could include anxiety. Finally underlying metabolic diseases such as kidney disease, cushings, hypothyroidism, or other forms of GI disease may cause this as well. If he continues to do this then he should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Diagnostics may include bloodwork, an abdominal x-ray, or even an ultrasound. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello. It definitely can be age related. Disease, & loss of kidney function can cause increased thirst & increased urination. You should have Barney evaluated by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear about these changes for Shadow. Increased water intake and urine output is always concerning, especially in an older dog like Shadow. I would recommend a visit with your veterinarian, for a thorough physical exam and some blood work. A number of diseases/conditions can result in increased water intake and urination including diabetes, cushings disease, kidney failure and even a severe urinary tract infection. Your vet can run some bloodwork and may look at a urine sample to help determine the nature of Shadow's condition, and then they can discuss treatments and options.

I am sorry to hear that Junior isn’t feeling well. Those symptoms are pretty vague and can be associated with many different problems. I would be suspicious about neck and back pain, but nausea and abdominal pain could be possible as well. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and I hope they find the answer and he is improving quickly. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lulu. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. It does not sound like she is not feeling well. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. It causes dogs to shake, pant, and not want to move. Most will hesitate to jump on furniture or be reluctant to do stairs. If this is the case, x-rays can be taken of the spine. Based on these results, medications are prescribed. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her if possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

I am sorry to hear about your chihuahua. Because of her age and her symptoms (lethargy and decreased appetite) I would definitely recommend an examination by a veterinarian. We can certainly see medical problems in older dogs that can cause these symptoms such as kidney disease, infections, liver disease, and more. An exam by your vet and some bloodwork may help to be sure there isn't a treatable medical issue. If there are no abnormalities found, then they may recommend some over the counter products that can help with anxiety such as Adaptil which is a pheremone product available as a plug-in or collar, Zylkene or Composure which are calming supplements, a thundershirt which is a compression vest that calms some dogs. And in some cases prescription strength medication may be necesssary from your veterinarian.