Sick puppy, lethargic, won't eat

[sarahcarp]

I have a 5 month old yorkie boy and he has not wanted to eat since yesterday. He has been lethargic since early afternoon. He was running around and playing this morning but has since become lethargic, and is not acting normally at all. I have dealt with my other yorkie's upset tummys before but not to the point where they refused to eat anything, as he has done. I made him chicken and brown rice, which he wanted nothing to do with, coaxed him with wet food to no avail, he mostly just wants to sleep. I've gotten so worried about him I have been giving him unflavored pedialyte to make sure he stays hydrated as he has not interest in drinking either, I think I gave him a little too much because he threw it up about an hour ago. I gave him a little more after, about 3 little droppers full and plan to continue to do so, just in smaller doses. His nose is cool and moist, his gums and tongue are pink. I even put a little caro syrup on his tongue and gums (its supposed to be a substitute for nutrical, since I just realized my nutrical has expired) to make sure he has some sugar for energy, but he still just wants to sleep. I can't afford to take him to the emergency vet, but I will if it is serious enough. I'm wanting to wait out the night so I can take him to his normal vet but was just wondering if that might be too dangerous? If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. He may have just eaten something out of the yard when I took him out to go potty. He hasn't been exposed to any strange animals, but he has been staying at my boyfriend's house the past two days because I have family in town. I was wondering if he may be homesick? I come and spend time with him at night, and he has seemed fine until today. I've just run out of ideas on how to coax him into eating and am worried about how it will effect him.

[annamalyssa]

I think you should take him to the vet asap, lethargy, refusal to eat and not drinking are signs of parvo which is VERY serious. Parvo starts this way and then vomiting and diarrhea begins. I am not sure if you are familiar with the disease but it can kill a small puppy in 24 hours if not treated promptly. It could also be something else but just to be safe I'd take him in.. the test is only around $25.00.

If he is vaccinated it may be a mild case but it is VERY important to keep him hydrated, I would go purchase either another tube of nutri-cal or nutri-stat if you cannot get him into the vet and give him that as well as pedialyte every hour or so to keep him hydrated and fed.

Does he have a fever at all?

[sarahcarp]

No, he doesn't have a fever at all. His nose feels cool strangely. He is vaccinated but needs one more series of shots. I had a bad experience with the 24 hour vet when my mom's dog got hit by a car so I hesitate to take him there, I'm going to try and wait til morning to take him to his regular vet. He's very tired, and when I covered him up to keep him warm he stayed wrapped up so I think he may be cold. He just got up and wanted some attention, but he's still very weak and unlike himself. I read about parvo earlier because I suspected it but I'm just not sure. I just keep hoping he just ate something he shouldn't have. He doesn't have a fever which is a key symptom although his stool was loose this morning it wasn't that bad and there was very little of it. I'm having alot of difficulty deciding what to do, he looks a little perkier, but I'm no vet. I just wish with all my heart that he would eat something, and I have offered him all kinds of appetizing things. My other yorkie is jealous he's not getting the same special treatment.

[bchgirl]

You took his temperature or are just going by how his nose feels?

[sarahcarp]

I took his temperature just now, it's 100.4 I don't know if that's abnormal for a puppy. He seems a little better he's sitting up and awake and looks a little brighter. I don't know where to get nutrical besides the vet, do they sell it in drug stores?

[katelin]

Nutri-cal is sold in pet stores too.

Could he just be exhausted and stressed from being in a different place away from you?

No temp and pink gums and no diarrhea or vomiting. That is all good news. Not eating could be from stress. Also, with tiny puppies, if they are cold they cannot eat.

I'd keep up the pedialyte and Karo syrup, and continue to offer food. Keep him warm too. Good luck.

[sarahcarp]

Originally Posted by katelin

Nutri-cal is sold in pet stores too.

Could he just be exhausted and stressed from being in a different place away from you?

No temp and pink gums and no diarrhea or vomiting. That is all good news. Not eating could be from stress. Also, with tiny puppies, if they are cold they cannot eat.

I'd keep up the pedialyte and Karo syrup, and continue to offer food. Keep him warm too. Good luck.

He isn't very small, he's between 5 and 6 pounds and isn't fully grown yet. He's usually so hearty that's why I got so scared when he suddenly fell sick because there was such a dramatic change in one afternoon. I think it may be partially due to the fact that he's here (with his dad and my boyfriend who he is very familiar with and fond of) instead of at home with his mother and sister who he has never been separated from. I was going to take him home but I'm afraid he may get his sister sick (who is the same age). He seemed very happy the past 2 days, so I had no reason to suspect before that he was depressed about being here. It has caused him to noticeably eat less though, maybe he just got a little hypoglycemic from not eating enough. I've continued to offer him food but it's almost like the thought disgusts him. He turns away from it and is completely disinterested. His father had some similar issues growing up with being a picky eater but I could always make him eat if I gave him something he really liked. I'm just going to keep on with the pedialyte and karo syrup until I can take him to the vet in the morning, I just feel so bad for my little boy

[annamalyssa]

Originally Posted by sarahcarp

No, he doesn't have a fever at all. His nose feels cool strangely. He is vaccinated but needs one more series of shots. I had a bad experience with the 24 hour vet when my mom's dog got hit by a car so I hesitate to take him there, I'm going to try and wait til morning to take him to his regular vet. He's very tired, and when I covered him up to keep him warm he stayed wrapped up so I think he may be cold. He just got up and wanted some attention, but he's still very weak and unlike himself. I read about parvo earlier because I suspected it but I'm just not sure. I just keep hoping he just ate something he shouldn't have. He doesn't have a fever which is a key symptom although his stool was loose this morning it wasn't that bad and there was very little of it. I'm having alot of difficulty deciding what to do, he looks a little perkier, but I'm no vet. I just wish with all my heart that he would eat something, and I have offered him all kinds of appetizing things. My other yorkie is jealous he's not getting the same special treatment.

He may have a mild case of parvo which would cause symptoms like parvo but possibley without vomiting or diarreah and maybe even without a fever ( not sure if this is possible but it may be I suppose ) anyhow.. if you cannot get him to the vet, I would just keep a close eye on him.. make sure you get pedialyte in him every 2 hours and karo syrup if you cannot get nutri-cal every hour. Keep him warm and just watch him closely .. I will pray for him and hope it's nothing serious.. if he begins vomiting or diarreah take him to the vet immediately as Parvo is SERIOUS and KILLS FAST especially in small babies. Hope that helps some.

[annamalyssa]

Originally Posted by sarahcarp

He isn't very small, he's between 5 and 6 pounds and isn't fully grown yet. He's usually so hearty that's why I got so scared when he suddenly fell sick because there was such a dramatic change in one afternoon. I think it may be partially due to the fact that he's here (with his dad and my boyfriend who he is very familiar with and fond of) instead of at home with his mother and sister who he has never been separated from. I was going to take him home but I'm afraid he may get his sister sick (who is the same age). He seemed very happy the past 2 days, so I had no reason to suspect before that he was depressed about being here. It has caused him to noticeably eat less though, maybe he just got a little hypoglycemic from not eating enough. I've continued to offer him food but it's almost like the thought disgusts him. He turns away from it and is completely disinterested. His father had some similar issues growing up with being a picky eater but I could always make him eat if I gave him something he really liked. I'm just going to keep on with the pedialyte and karo syrup until I can take him to the vet in the morning, I just feel so bad for my little boy

Also, if it is hypoglycemia just make sure that he gets that karo syrup and stays warm, if he gets worse and doesn't want to get up or anything than you should take him to the vet immediately.. since hypoglycemia that is in it's later stages can cause a coma and death as well. I don't want to scare you at all , It's just that I am sure you are aware how delicate these little guys are when it comes to illness.

[sarahcarp]

Thanks so much for all your advice and concern for my little Boomer. Thanks so much Adrianna for your prayers, that means alot to me. I'm going to be checking on him every hour tonight and giving him fluids and karo syrup, and he's going to the vet first thing in the morning unless he gets worse and I have to end up taking him tonight. Thanks again for everyone's help, this is the only source of information that has been helpful and caring.

[dwerten]

honey also can be used instead of nutrical