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My dog is bloated, slow, shaking, and can't jump. Is vet care urgent?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 17 lbs

My dog’s stomach is very bloated, he has been moving really slow, and he has been having trouble jumping onto the bed. He usually does it with no problem. He also has been shaking quite a bit, but I assumed it was because he was cold, so I covered him up and he stopped shaking after a while. What is wrong with him and what should I do? He also seems to have been going through old dog vestibular disease a few days ago and then it stopped. If needed, could vetcare wait until tomorrow?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on February 11th, 2018

I am sorry to hear that Max isn’t feeling well. So many different problems could be causing the signs you are seeing. Some of those are urgent and some of them are not. If the bloating seems to have occurred quickly (like over a few hours), and his decrease in energy has as well then I am more concerned. I worry about the possibility of a bleeding abdominal tumor or possibly a stomach torsion. However less concerning problems such as Cushings or thyroid disease could be at fault as well. I would highly encourage you to seek veterinary care soon, and possibly even tonight if his symptoms are worsening. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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    Answered By Josie Drayton, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 29th, 2018

    I am sorry to hear that Oliver is not feeling well! It sounds like he is uncomfortable and while there are a lot of possible causes for his signs, some of the possible causes are serious emergency conditions. I would recommend having him evaluated by a vet as soon as possible, especially if he is retching, vomiting or not eating. They may perform some testing (like X-rays) and provide treatment to get him feeling better. I hope Oliver feels better soon!

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