Why won't my dog eat and struggles to walk? Is it an emergency?

I am so very sorry to hear about your dog. Based on your photos she looks severely emaciated and dehydrated, and possibly anemic (I can see her third eyelid in one photo and it looks quite pale). The possible causes are many and could include severe parasitism, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, organ failure, cancer, toxin exposure. Your dog needs veterinary attention right away if she is to survive, or to help her pass peacefully if you are unable to provide care for her. It sounds like she is suffering and she needs to be examined by a vet and have some testing done (such as stool testing and bloodwork to start) to try to determine why she is so ill. I wish you the best of luck with her.

I'm sorry to hear Breeze isn't feeling well. I wouldn't say it's an emergency but diarrhea is pretty uncomfortable and I recommend getting medication to remedy that. I would see if she would eat the boiled chicken and rice to help settle her stomach. I would also recommend blood work and X-rays to make sure there's not something else more serious going on in her intestinal tract. Good luck and kisses to Breeze!

Poor Orea! This is really concerning and I am really worried that she cannot walk straight. There are several things that can cause this like anti-freeze toxicity, spinal issues, bacterial infections, and much more. I would have your vet take a look at her as soon as possible as this could be a medical emergency. Your vet will be able to do bloodwork and even x-rays if needed and get her started on the proper treatment plan to help her feel better. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately these are very general signs of being unwell and it is not possible to tell you what might be wrong with your dog. However, the reluctance to walk and the fact that Ryder is nearly 13 years old, is a good indication that he may be suffering from serious arthritis which now is paining him so much that he cannot hide the pain anymore. This, of course, may also be the cause for not eating. You should make an appointment with your vet for an exam of his hips and legs, a small NSAIDs panel (blood work) and pain medication.

I am very concerned about your dog's condition and highly recommend a veterinary visit. There are a few general categories that fit with what your dog is showing at home. One would be weakness due to a nerve problem in the back end. This can happen if a disc has moved out of place in the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord. This can cause dogs to have trouble walking and placing their feet in an appropriate way. Some have the appearance of walking on their toes. Otherwise they are able to place weight on the back legs but stagger or sway when walking. This can be an emergency situation if the disc slips more into the spinal cord and causes paralysis. Another type of weakness that causes trouble getting up is if there is a lack of proper blood circulation. The lower level of blood in the body causes them to be lethargic due to the decreased oxygen circulating throughout the body. In an older dog, the most common cause of this is with a tumor or mass on the spleen that has ruptured. The spleen holds a large amount of blood and if it has a rupture, the blood leaks out into the abdomen. In addition to the lethargy, we often see pale gums and a pot belly appearance due to the pooling blood. An x-ray or ultrasound would help determine if this is occurring. These are the two most common reasons for such a dramatic change in her appearance. There is also the chance of her eating something she shouldn't. The best thing for her would be to have an exam as soon as you are able to determine what is causing her signs. The vet may recommend bloodwork or an x-ray. Unfortunately. older large breed dogs can lose nerve function in their back legs due to age changes. There is little we can do to help this aside from keeping them comfortable. Due to how sudden the signs showed up, this is less likely, as it is often a more gradual change.

Poor Diamond! From what you're describing here, it definitely sounds like she's extremely sick and may die without immediate veterinary care. I would recommend taking her to your nearest emergency clinic immediately to be seen - there is nothing you can do at home for a problem as serious as this. If you're not sure where to go, try calling your regular vet's office. Their voicemail message should have contact information for your nearest ER, or an on-call doctor for emergencies.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Emmy. Poor girl. It does sound like she is in pain, and it's concerning that she's been behaving like this for two days. I would keep a close eye on her tonight, offer her some boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice, and let her rest. If she is still acting this way in the morning, have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!