My senior dog is lethargic with gas and won't eat. What's wrong?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 7 years and 8 months old | 66 lbs
I have a golden lab mix male dog age 7.5 years. He has always been a very laid back gentle dog. For the past 6 months, he has been very melancholy. He had tummy issues as a pup but did well afterward. The past 6 weeks, he barely eats, his tummy gurgles like crazy and he has terrible gas. He is much more lethargic at times. We put him on Prilosec and a probiotic for the past 2weeks but nothing has changed. We are worried he may have a tumor or worse.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 31st, 2018
Hello, and thank you for your question. Mojo's symptoms may be indicative of gastroenteritis (a gut infection), gastrointestinal parasites, food intolerance or food allergies, pancreatitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. As you can see, the list of possibilities is long and varied. I would recommend taking him to the vet. They can perform a full physical exam and assess for any areas of pain, which would be supportive of pancreatitis (for example). They may recommend testing a stool sample for parasites, senior blood work, and/or taking x-rays of the abdomen. At minimum, they can prescribe medicine to help with the tummy upset and improve his comfort. In the meantime, I would continue with the probiotic, and try small, frequent meals of a bland diet such as boiled chicken and white rice. This may be easier for his tummy to digest. I would also think back to any new food or treats that were introduced prior to this problem starting, and if so, make sure to eliminate them in case they are contributing to his symptoms. I hope this helps, and that Mojo feels better soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 21st, 2017
Oh no, poor Ozzy! It's very serous that he has lost weight, won't eat dog food, and is passing bloody diarrhea in addition to being lethargic. In a senior dog, I would be very concerned he could be suffering from cancer, kidney or liver disease, or hemorrhagic gastroenteritis among other causes. Ozzy really needs to see a vet as soon as possible as he sounds quite sick, and I feel his symptoms are severe enough to warrant a trip to the vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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