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Why is my senior dog clingy, not eating, and crying when touched?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 22 lbs

Hi My dog's behavior has changed...female 8 yrs, 22lb (overweight) chihuahua mutt. She follows me 24/7 or is always aware of my location. I can't say that I've seen her eat or drink...she has refused any water I've put in front of her. She also sometimes cries when touched...a kiss or pat on the head, picked up or moved in the night...but only sometimes. Her temp is 101; I've gently poked, pulled & squeezed her...no cries of pain. She can jump up & down from furniture & bed. Thx cathy

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 1st, 2017

Hi Cathy, I'm sorry to hear that Demitasse isn't feeling well! A temperature of 101 F is normal. My primary concerns are her possible decreased appetite, random cries, and sudden change in attitude and being generally clingy. These are all pretty generalized symptoms, but it does seem that she's painful and not feeling well, so I'd recommend having her seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to do a thorough exam to see if they can detect pain anywhere, and will likely recommend running bloodwork to look at Demitasse's organ function, particularly with her decreased appetite. I would also recommend that you test her appetite a little bit with a few treats, or a little bit of bland food such as lowfat chicken and white rice - it will be helpful for your vet to know if she's eating anything at all, and if she can hold that food down or if there are any other symptoms such as vomiting. With the information they gain from the exam and any diagnostics, your vet can then offer specific treatment for her issue, and will likely start her on appropriate pain medication if warranted. I hope this helps and she feels better soon! Feel free to request a consultation if you'd like to discuss Demitasse in more detail.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hi Cathy! It certainly sounds like Demitasse isn't feeling well at the moment. I can say that her temperature is normal. A dog's temperature varies between 101-102.5F, so she does not have a fever. It is very concerning that you haven't seen her eat or drink, and that she is refusing any water you've put in front of her. Unfortunately her symptoms are signs of many different illnesses, and could be caused by systemic illness, infection, dental disease, inflammation, or injury. They could also be due to something serious such as heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or even cancer. A senior dog's organs do not function as well as a younger dog, so it becomes especially concerning when they don't drink as it leads to dehydration. Dehydration can have serious consequences on their kidney function, especially if they already have kidney disease (which I'm aware you don't know if she does or not). The best thing to do is have her seen by a vet today for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will tell the vet how her organs are functioning, and what could be causing her current symptoms. Once a cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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