Senior dog sick, bloated, and hips worse after eating new food?

Question

Hi there. A few days ago our 13 yr old beag-weiler got into our roommates dogs food and since then has been not well. He's barely been eating, has only pooped a few times and not as much as he usually does. He's bloated and has a bit of trouble with his back legs - he does have hip dysplasia but we have been managing with glucosamine. His hips were fine until this happened. He breathes heavily after going for short walks now. He's still drinking water and peeing fine. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 100 lbs

Destini R. Holloway, DVM · Accepted Answer

Poor guy. It sounds very plausible that he could either have severe gastritis (inflammation of his stomach) from the recent switch in food, or he has something else entirely going on internally that is the source of his pain. Many organs are in the belly area, so the pain could be from anything. A good physical exam is needed first to isolate where the pain is coming from, and then he needs to get on medications to help mange his hip dysplasia a bit better, besides just the glucosamine. Glucosamine is a good 1st line of treatment for joint problems because it is so readily available, but there are much stronger medications your vet can get Wretch on to help manage his condition better. Heavy breathing after a walk is highly suggestive of joint pain, so its best to visit your vet to get him on something that is going to be more effective for his condition. For now, its best to keep Wretch's activity level light so that he doesn't over exert himself, leading to more injuries and pain. Here is more information on hip dysplasia in pets and the treatment options available ---> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952203 I do hope that Wretch's hip dysplasia and over health improves soon! Best of luck and take care.

Senior dog sick, bloated, and hips worse after eating new food?

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