My senior dog has monthly stomach aches, panting, and won't eat. Why?

I am very sorry to hear that Poppy is experiencing these problems, I am sure it is very unsettling for you both. There are a number of potential causes of such clinical signs, including dietary indiscretion, pancreatitis, parasite infestation, infection, and ingestion of a toxin or poison. I would believe the most likely cause based on your description is that Poppy has a mild gastrointestinal infection or she ate something she shouldn't have. Because you have only noticed these signs over the course of a few days I would continue to monitor Poppy at home. Here is what you can do to help her; Rest Poppy's gastrointestinal tract by holding back food for a few hours. Then you can continue with a bland and easily digested food of the boiled chicken breast and white rice diet and provide plenty of fresh water. I also find that boiled, mashed skinless sweet potato is helpful for diarrhoea if she develops any. If Poppy does not improve, has profuse vomiting or diarrhoea, you notice fresh blood, Poppy seems lethargic, in pain or depressed I would advise a trip to the veterinarian. Here are some links to helpful resources for you in case dirrhoea starts: https://www.petcoach.co/article/most-common-causes-of-diarrhea-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea/ I hope that answer was helpful and more importantly that Poppy feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

Panting heavily when it is not hot in the environment is usually a sign of pain or discomfort. If Mia has had a poor appetite for a few days, it is possible that she has a chronic condition such as liver or kidney disease that can be diagnosed on routine screening bloodwork. Unfortunately at age 12, especially for a large breed dog, serious/not curable conditions such as cancer (usually diagnosed on chest/abdominal X-rays) is a possibility as well. Less scary possible causes of the panting could be discomfort from pancreatitis which is often caused by table food and treated with fluid therapy +/- anti-nausea medication, or pain from arthritis which can be treated with pain meds pending screening bloodwork to rule out pre-existing liver/kidney issues. Especially since Mia seems uncomfortable, it would be best to bring her to your vet for an evaluation. Good luck!

I am so sorry Chi hasn't been feeling well. If all the tests were clear then I would recommend having an abdominal ultrasound performed. This would look at the architecture of the intestines and stomach and see if there is anything else that could be going on with Chi. She could have pancreatitis, a foreign object, a bad gastrointestinal upset, and much more going on that may or may not show up on the blood work and might not even show up on X-rays. I would also recommend a bland prescription diet to help settle her stomach also. I would have a ultrasonographer or an internal medicine specialist to perform the ultrasound. I hope Chi feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, and thank you for your question. Mojo's symptoms may be indicative of gastroenteritis (a gut infection), gastrointestinal parasites, food intolerance or food allergies, pancreatitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. As you can see, the list of possibilities is long and varied. I would recommend taking him to the vet. They can perform a full physical exam and assess for any areas of pain, which would be supportive of pancreatitis (for example). They may recommend testing a stool sample for parasites, senior blood work, and/or taking x-rays of the abdomen. At minimum, they can prescribe medicine to help with the tummy upset and improve his comfort. In the meantime, I would continue with the probiotic, and try small, frequent meals of a bland diet such as boiled chicken and white rice. This may be easier for his tummy to digest. I would also think back to any new food or treats that were introduced prior to this problem starting, and if so, make sure to eliminate them in case they are contributing to his symptoms. I hope this helps, and that Mojo feels better soon!

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.

Poor Diesel! The Metacam would be the more likely culprit for the upset stomach, as this is a common side effect with NSAIDs - but the omega-3 supplement could certainly be a possibility. I would suggest calling your veterinarian to let them know that Diesel has been having stomach issues on his meds. They may suggest trying him on a different NSAID such as Rimadyl or Galliprant, to see if he tolerates this better.

It sounds like something is causing her discomfort. She should really be examined by a vet, if it continues. She could have a problem with her back, neck, or abdomen causing her some pain. Your vet can do a thorough physical examination to localize the problem and then treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory or pain medications. Hope she feels better soon.