Why is my senior dog inactive, whimpering, and has a hard belly?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Schnauzer | Male | neutered | 9 years and 9 months old | 15 lbs
My dog is 9 years old. He is a schnauzer Maltese mix. He has not been very active recently. He doesn’t jump on the couch anymore. He whimpers when you touch his side or belly. His spine feels popped out almost. He acts depressed and like he has no energy. I took him to the vet and they did blood work which came back fine, said he had nothing wrong with him. His belly also feels hard.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 31st, 2017
Hello. I am glad that Cooper's blood work came back fine, but I am puzzled as to why they did not recommend anything to make him comfortable. It definitely sounds like he may have some significant arthritis. Perhaps an x-ray of his spine will convince them of the need for some pain medication or other treatments. If they are not willing to help Cooper, perhaps there is another veterinarian who can help him. I hope he finds some relief & feels better soon. Take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 31st, 2017
I'm so sorry to hear that Cooper is not feeling well. It sounds like there is something going on that is not showing up on bloodwork. With what you described, there could be something painful in his back or his abdomen. If the pain medication is not helping, it is probably time to do more testing to figure out what is wrong. X-rays of his back and abdomen may be the next step to evaluate that is going on. Sometimes it is very hard on exam to determine if a back or abdomen is painful because the muscles wrap around the same area, but x-rays can sometimes help us figure it out. If x-rays are normal, you could also consider doing an abdominal ultrasound to get a better look at the internal organs in the abdomen to see if there is anything abnormal there. I wish I had a simple answer for you, but it sounds like we need to do some more investigation to figure out what is going on with Cooper in order to figure out the best treatment plan to make him feel better. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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