My senior dog is lethargic with gas and won't eat. What's wrong?

Question

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. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 7 years and 8 months old | 66 lbs

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

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!

My senior dog is lethargic with gas and won't eat. What's wrong?

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