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My dog is sleepy and has loose stool. Should I take her to a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Female | spayed | 1 year old | 66 lbs

Hi there, pika our golden doodle has become fussy with food. She doesn’t eat in the morning but will then eat both breakfast and dinner at night. She has been sleepy (potentially lethargic) during the days but when we get moving she’s ok. Is this normal for feeding or should we take her to a vet to see if she’s sick? Her poops are a mix between solid and loose (not diarrhea but not solid) should we be seeing a vet?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Karly Macon, DVM, MS, CVA Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Veterinarian

Published on August 13th, 2018

Hi there! I would not be concerned about Pika’s chosen eating schedule at all. Some dogs are less food-motivated than others. However, if she has consistently loose stool she may benefit from a probiotic or by switching to a diet that is more digestible for her particular GI system. I would start with a fecal exam to make sure she doesn’t have some kind of parasitic infection or bacterial overgrowth casing the looser stool and then go from there. Your veterinarian should be able to clarify what, if anything, is going on. Hope that helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 26th, 2019

    No. That is not normal. I recommend to try a different food. Some diets are just too rich for some pets. Try something like Royal Canin. In general this diet line tends to be very easy to break down and does not contain a lot of excessive fillers. Many dogs do wonderful on this diet line. Make sure to transition the diet slowly and you will know within one month if she will do well on this diet or not. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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