My 15yr old dog has stopped eating his favorite food
MY DOGS BEHAVIOR HAS RECENTLY CHANGED My dog is a 15 year old beagle. In the last week he has stopped eating his favorite foods unless we feed him by hand. He appears to be having trouble walking and has difficulty gettnig up the back 4 steps to get back into the house. When he does go outside, he just lays on the grass or concrete. His intake of water has been more than cut in half. He apprear to be having some difficulty walking. He no longer barks when someone comes to te door.Is this just old age or should I be concerned. Mark
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By: Kara McCarty El Segundo, CA
Replied on 04/19/2011It's impossible to say whether your dog is depressed, inappetant and lethargic because he is in pain or because he is weak due to some sort of internal organ disease. A beagle that doesn't want to eat should never be taken lightly. Old age isn't a disease but the longer our pets live the more likely that something will stop working the way it should which will cause their behavior to change. Your dog needs to see his veterinarian for a thorough physical examination, bloodwork and possibly some radiographs depending upon what your veterinarian finds. Don't wait as your dog sounds very sick and the quicker the cause can be identified the better for him.
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