[Jentuck13]

Hello, my dog woke up this morning not feeling well. He is not throwing up but he does not want to go outside and all he is doing is lying down and he has some drool. (normally he laps it up) He also has not eaten or drunk today. What can I do to make him feel better?

[Wondergirl]

Had you noticed any problem before this? How old is he?

[Jentuck13]

No,he just woke up like this. His nose is cold and kind of wet. I did put some chicken broth in his food and he still does not want to eat. He is 5 years old.

[Wondergirl]

Be sure to keep him hydrated. Pedialyte is good.

I'm just a cat person, but know the Dogs experts watch this board faithfully, so you will get more answers today. Please check back.

[Jentuck13]

I hope so, I will be waiting. My dog is like my son. I hate that I don't know what to do... :((

[Wondergirl]

I know exactly what you mean. I had to put down a 20-year-old cat last week, and it nearly killed me. He was in a third of my life and helped us raise our kids. He didn't seem to be in pain, but so much was going wrong.

Being five years old gives your dog's problem a positive prognosis. If no one shows up soon, I'll PM them.

[Jentuck13]

Ok, thank you so much. I am hoping that he just has a touch of the flu or something like that.

[Jentuck13]

It also seems like he wants to throw up but just kind of coughs.

[Wondergirl]

Are his ears warm? That's how we tell if our cats have a fever. It might work that way for dogs too.

Do you have a vet? Maybe call and run this past him/her or a technician?

[LadySam]

What are the chances that he has gotten into something? Such as the garbage or some chemical?
Have you changed his diet? Does he ever get table scraps?
Have you noticed any diarrhea?
There are lots of things that could take him off his feed and make him not feel well.
I would touch base with a vet or emergency service.

[JudyKayTee]

There is also a dog flu going around. My Vet actually is offering flu shots for dogs!

How long has it been now since he ate or drank? Dogs dehydrate VERY quickly. Will he lick icecubes if you offer them to him?

Is he alert? Is he going to the bathroom? Is his stomach tender to the touch?

[Jentuck13]

No, I don't believe he could have gotten into anything, he is in the house unless he has to go potty. I live in a very small town and the vet is closed and out of town, that's why I thought I could get some answers on here before Monday.

[Jentuck13]

I don't believe he go into anything, he is in the house unless he goes out to go potty. I have not changed anything, there is no diarihea. I can not contact the vet because he is closed and out of town until Monday. I live in a very small town it Upper Michigan. :((

[Jentuck13]

He is alert, I did touch his stomach and he doesn't mind. He has not eaten or drank anything since last night. He is not going to the bathroom.

[Wondergirl]

How has he been acting during the past hour? Sleeping? Snoring? Gagging? Looking uncomfortable? Wheezing?

Can you get your hands on Pedialyte?

[JudyKayTee]

Will he take ice chips, lick ice cubes in your hand, something to get some fluid into him - ?

If he'll drink Pedialyte, that would be good - my dogs won't drink it but the ice cubes work.

[Lucky098]

Canine influenza doesn't affect dogs like it does us.. It mimics a really BAD case of kennel cough.

If your dog hasn't been drinking and is lethargic... start looking around for things he might have ingested. Its christmas time... maybe he ate some ornaments? Chocolate?

Your vet is completely unavailable? Or just closed? I'm sure he'd be taking emergency calls.. or at least referring to an emergency clinic. Dogs can't stay off water for days.. Just like us, we need water more than food in order to survive.

Excessive drooling would indicate pain or upset stomach... Rub your hands down all his legs.. flex his joints, see if he shows any pain what-so-ever to any type of maniuplation.. Run your hand down his back.. Put light pressure on his spine with your fingers placed on both sides of his spine.. See if he shows pain. Typically, excessive pain would mean more water intake.. but not all dogs work by the book...

It could be anything really... You need to contact a vet somehow and at least talk to them..

Purchase canned food and see if he eats it. The moisture in the canned food should help him stay hydrated... and if you need to force feed, its easier to ball up and shuv into his mouth.

[horrido]

I know most people don't have the money to run to the vet every time, but you really need to watch for certain things. Not eating and especially not drinking are red flags for me. I once had a dog who swallowed a golf ball which resulted in a GI track blockage. A lovely dog - best Frisbee dog I ever owned. She died in surgery. With a GI track blockage, you don't have time to observe. If it doesn't start drinking and eating within the day, you need to get it into the vet that night.

[JudyKayTee]

Canine influenza doesnt affect dogs like it does us.. It mimics a really BAD case of kennel cough..

I thought kennel cough symptoms are a harsh, persistent cough, sometimes sneezing, runny eyes and/or nose, no fever.

I thought canine influenza symptoms are much the same but with a different cough and a possibly a fever.

- this is from stepdaughter's textbook. Is the info wrong? Am I reading it wrong?

[Aurora_Bell]

No Judy, that's right, but defining the cough is where the issue is.