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Unspayed dog shaking, lethargic, won't eat or drink. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Female | unspayed | 10 years and 7 months old | 14 lbs

My dog is shaking badly and won't eat or drink since yesterday. She's very lethargic and not showing any interest in anything. I'm so worried about her but I don't have the money to go to a vet

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Darvishian

Veterinarian

Published on August 6th, 2017

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!. So sorry to hear about Boo Boo. Unspayed female dogs can suffer from a uterine infection called pyometra. It normally occurs 30-60 days after a heat cycle. Signs include lethargy, pain in the belly, increased thirst, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, decreased or no appetite. If this is the case you need to have her evaluated immediately. These infections can become a serious problem very quickly. Your vet can assess her and then advise some blood work and imaging studies to diagnose such as x-rays or ultrasound. The treatment for this is to spay her (ovariohysterectomy) and remove her infected reproductive tract. These dogs may or may not have a thick, pus like discharge from their vulva. Again it could be something else like an infection somewhere else, inflammation, internal organ disease but with the history and known status of the dog, I would assume pyometra until proven otherwise. Please get her evaluated right away

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 25th, 2016

    Poor Bella! Having a dry and cold nose is not a sign of illness, as a wet and moist nose can turn dry and cold due to temperature changes. I see that she isn't spayed. Unspayed dogs are prone to a life threatening infection of the uterus called a pyometra. It will cause a dog to feel very well, become lethargic, and not want to eat. A pyometra is fatal without treatment, so I would recommend taking her into a vet now for a health check. Should she have a pyometra, spaying her is one of the recommended treatments.

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