My 5-year-old Lab barely eats, grunts when lying down. Is he in pain?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Rambo. His behavior suggests that he is painful. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. His breed is especially prone to neck and/or back pain. If this is the case, it requires prompt treatment. In the meantime, keep him quiet and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Rambo could have a number of problems that could cause lethargy - anemia, tick borne diseases or other infections could make him seem sleepier than usual. I would recommend having your vet examine him - they may recommend checking some blood work as well.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Rambo evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Oh no, poor Madison does feel ill! It is possible that she is suffering from arthritis, as that is common in middle aged to older large breed dogs, but she could also be suffering from a systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. Given that this has been going on for a couple of days, it would best that she is seen by a vet first thing in the morning. Keep her warm and quiet tonight, and try to tempt her to eat by offering her small amounts of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice.

If Ranger is in pain, and the lameness doesn't resolve after a day or so, it's time to take him in for an exam. Your vet may want to do X-rays of the painful limb and put him on pain medication. Hopefully it's something simple and Ranger feels better soon!

Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Rocco! I do not think him being neutered 6 months ago has anything to do with a poor appetite and lethargy. the heat can make dogs slow down but it doesn't make Labs not eat! Labs love food. I am worried and recommend you have him seen by your Vet for an exam, blood work and belly X-rays. Possible causes are: kidney problems secondary to Lyme disease (huge issue in US with labs, even young ones), ate something causing a blockage, cancer and many other things. I would take him in since it has been a few weeks. I wish you the best!

Blackie could have a dental problem causing him pain, or he could have a disease called masticatory myositis which causes pain on opening of the mouth. I would take him into the vet on Monday to have this checked out. Best of luck.

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco. I'm sorry to hear about your dog. It sounds like Cash needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. If he has had such an abrupt change and is now not eating or getting up, I would recommend he be seen as soon as possible. Unfortunately that would mean an emergency vet visit but for an 11 1/2 year old Lab it could mean severe pain from arthritis, trauma, some internal organ disease, cancer, or some infection. There are just too many possibilities at this point. If it's nothing too serious you will have alleviated his issues today and have peace of mind. If it is something serious then he will be in the place that is best suited to take the best care of him. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Grunt! Most of the time, despite how severe a dog's dental disease is, dogs still eat. Severe oral pain can cause a dog to stop eating, but it's isn't as common as we think. Grunt is an old guy and that worries me a lot. There are many reasons for a senior dog to not be eating well and be crying in pain: Kidney or liver disease, arthritis, neck or back pain, cancer and many other things. From your pictures he does have pretty bad teeth, but I can't be certain that is the cause of his symptoms. As for a pain reliever, giving him human medications without knowing why he isn't eating isn't advised. Human medications are not well tolerated in our animals and the dose ranges are very narrow. Some of these medications can hurt the liver and kidneys and since that is on the list as why he could be sick I can not advise you giving him any human medications. I recommend an exam by your Vet. If they think his teeth are the cause then they can prescribe s

Since he’s still eating this is most likely from pain not an internal organ problem. There is a good chance he over did it and he has arthritis pain. I recommend giving him a gentle massage, and getting him up for several short walks during the day. Once he’s up and moving a little he should feel better. Bring him in Monday for an exam and a senior work up if he hasn’t had one lately. They may do X-rays to check his joints. They can then tell you whether it’s arthritis or a more serious medical problem. There is prescription medication for his pain and he should be back to his old self in a few days. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Milo.