Why is my senior dog suddenly lethargic, not moving, or interacting?

Yes it would be best to have her seen. Decreased appetite and lethargy are very common symptoms of many diseases, many of which may be treatable. The best way to know what is going on (diagnosis), how serious it is, and how to help her feel better is to have her seen. Most likely your vet will recommend some senior bloodwork and xrays to start. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Moxie. I think that her sudden change in behavior is worrisome. Dogs can slow down as they age. However, she is only middle aged. Plus age changes are gradual. Not as dramatic as you have described. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. I worry that she is painful somewhere. For example, neck and/or back pain is common in small and medium breed dogs. Arthritis or a soft tissue injury could also explain the signs you are seeing. The veterinarian will carefully examine her. X-rays may be recommended. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help her feel better. In the meantime, keep her quiet and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Lyl. There are so many things that can cause not eating and lethargy so it is hard to say for sure what is going on. I would make sure her gums are pink - if they are white, yellow or grayish blue then she is in critical condition and needs to go to the emergency clinic. Otherwise, you can try feeding her some plain boiled chicken (no bones) and white rice tonight and see if she will eat it. If not, then I would have your vet take a look at her. Your vet will be able to determine if she is in pain anywhere or if something else is going on. They will be able to do bloodwork and even X-rays if needed. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better really soon!

I suppose it could be pain - some dogs just tend to be stoic at the vet hospital and will not react painfully. The fact that Ace doesn't want to jump and avoids being picked up makes me wonder if he might have some back pain. There are of course many other diseases that could cause lethargy with normal lab work - tick borne disease and splenic disease are two possibilities. You may want to recheck with your vet and see if they would recommend more tests, or you could ask about a trial of pain medication to see if Ace improves.

Poor Gnatti! It sounds like she has a lot of stuff going on. She is probably uncomfortable which is why she is sleeping more and not wagging her tail. It sounds like your vet has her on some good medicines to help her feel better. She may just need some more time to feel better. I would also talk to your vet about arthritis/pain. Your vet may want to put her on some meds for pain/inflammation. You can also give her some plain chicken and white rice to help entice her to eat if she doesn't have a good appetite. If that doesn't help, I would talk to your vet about starting her on a daily appetite stimulant. Finally, if your vet hasn't already, I would talk to them about checking her liver and kidney values to ensure there isn't something more serious going on with her that could be causing the lethargy. I hope this helps and she starts to perk up soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lack of energy can be the sign of many things that go from just being tired to actually representing a problem like due to pain for example. If he is otherwise fine, I recommend you keep a close eye on him for now. If there is no improvement within the next 2-3 days, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

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 Dexter 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!