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my dog is 13 yrs old and a mutt. he has been acting lethargic, not eating, and disinterested. i thought this was him just getting old but when i took him to my aunt's house he perked up and ate and played with the other dogs. i took him home and the same thing lethargic, no appetite, and no spunk. i took him back to my aunt's same thing perked right up. as a younger dog he didn't like other dogs or mind being alone. is depression a possibility?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: mutt Age: 13 Name of Dog: bubba Already Tried: tried walks and other interaction
Hello. Could you check a couple things for me: > Check his gums- are they pink, pale or blue? > Press on the sides of his abdomen- is he painful or is it distended? > Is he vomiting or having diarrhea?
gums are normal color.....abdomen is normal although he lost a lot of Weight.....no vomiting occasional diarrhea
Ok thanks. With weight loss, lethargy, decreased appetite and intermittent diarrhea, I would really worry that there is something chronic going on here. The weight loss is the most concerning part. In a 13 year old dog, weight loss is often due to something consuming calories faster than they can be consumed. When a dog is not eating well, they consume even more calories and the weight drops rapidly. Cancer is by far the most common cause of this rapid weight loss in older dogs. A good cancer screening would be chest and abdominal x-rays +/- an abdominal ultrasound. Bloodwork can sometimes be helpful for liver or kidney disease, but many cancers will not cause abnormal blood work when we check it. I know it's kind of a broad answer, but the signs are fairly vague and could point to one of many different causes. A good work up will narrow the list down and let you know if there is any surgery or chemotherapy or other treatment that may put the disease process in remission. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
my dog is 13 and is most likely riddled with cancer i was more hoping that you could explain the change in mood, symptoms, and general behavior when we changed surroundings
Ok. I do think it sounds like he is getting depressed when home alone. It's not uncommon for an older dog to have spurts of energy when around younger dogs. Often it helps them to keep active and ultimately live longer. You may consider getting another dog to keep her company and keep her active.
Experience: DVM, Emergency Veterinarian, BS (Physiology)