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My senior dog has diarrhea, vomiting, and won't eat. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 9 years and 11 months old | 15 lbs

My dog is 10 years old. He is having diarrhea. He had it on Wednesday but then on Thursday he was better then today he starting having it again. Just now when he went it was like a like Orange. He’s not eating but he is drinking water. He has also threw up a little and it’s like yellow. He is walking around fine. He isn’t weak or anything like that. My vet is out sick. Idk what to do.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on February 21st, 2020

I would recommend finding another vet. You can call your vet to see where they recommend you going since she is unable to see Baybay. Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite can have several causes, including dietary intolerance or indiscretion, food allergy, intestinal parasites, GI blockage, gastroenteritis, bacterial or viral infection, IBD, pancreatitis, among others. The vet will do an exam and discuss his medical history to determine which diagnostics may be needed.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 8th, 2017

    Yes, I would definitely have your dog seen by a vet, and I'd recommend having him seen by a vet tonight. It's quite serious that he has been vomiting and having diarrhea for four days, and is lethargic. A senior dog like him can easily become dehydrated, and I would be very concerned that he is dehydrated from all this vomiting and diarrhea. In a senior dog, his symptoms could be caused by GI illness, eating something rotten, a foreign body, pancreatitis, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer among other causes. I would take your dog into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see him ASAP. The vet can diagnose what is causing his symptoms and can treat him for them.

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    Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 15th, 2019

    Hi. Poor Raegan. It sounds like he is pretty sick! There are many causes of vomiting and diarrhea. It can range from gastroenteritis, something they ate, something stuck in the intestines, pancreatitis, dietary indiscretions, all the way to even cancers. So it is hard to say the cause in his case. It has been several days, so I am definitely concerned. I would recommend getting to the ER for an exam, full labwork and xrays. This will help guide.towards the most probable cause and rule out alot of potential causes. In addition, they cam.start supportive care.

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 2nd, 2017

    I would recommend seeing a veterinarian as soon as possible. I am mostly concerned that he is feeling weak and lethargic. This could be a sign of serious underlying disease in an older dog. Diarrhea can be related to a number of diseases, but an older dog who is also lethargic and weak should be examined right away. It is possible that he is dehydrated, has liver or pancreatic disease, or an infection. You could try encouraging him to drink water (try offering a small amount of bland broth) until you are able to see a veterinarian but I wouldn't recommend any other specific treatment at home.

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