Archie is sick!

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

So Archie hasn't eaten anything in 24 hours and has loose stool and a little constipation.  He has been drinking a little which is good, but not as much as usual.  He has been sleeping at every chance and when we go outside to the bathroom, we walk like each block (We live in the city) and he just sits there and stairs aimlessly.  He is very lethargic and just walking slow with head down.  He tends to get upset belly here and there and I think he just had a tummy ache, but I always get a little nervous with the little guy when he's not acting his crazy wild fun silly self. 

But I am most confused by his walking a block or so and then just stopping, sitting down and starring at me.  When I say lets go and start to walk he pulls back and won't move a budge.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sam, you need to get him to a vet. Loss of appetite, lethargy and confusion or change in behavior can be signs of something serious. Please get to the vet now. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

I will call my vet first thing in the morning and try and get him out there tomorrow.

This isn't something completely out of the norm...I definitely think he may have a sensitive stomach, gluten free, etc.  Something of that because he does tend to get tummy aches sometimes.  But I do respect your opinion and I will call the vet in the morning. I just don't always jump at the vet approach because most times we go for something like this (mostly when he was younger) its nothing just normal upset stomach and its a hefty bill.

Also, can't dogs get like stomach bugs, etc. like humans?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think all you say is true and I might wait myself but I tend to treat many things myself due to my medical training. But the lethargy and the way you describe his behavior concern me.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Well he did go to full days of doggie daycare 4 days this week and to the dog park yesterday and today for like 2 hours each time, so the lethargy park is difficult to really say whether its from being exhausted from all the play this week or because he's sick.  Thats always difficult too, because he is a doggie daycare "regular".  Also, today he was totally his normal playful self at the dog park with all the dogs.  He's just tired, not eating and has loose stool (but at least he's going) right?

Also, he is a picky picky picky stubborn eater! Always has been, so theres many times where he goes a full day with barely eating.  Also, I started him on Acana yesterday. Although he hasn't had it yet, he does go to the bowl and sniff and walk away (so maybe he doesn't like it? or just isn't into it yet?) 

As for the sitting while walking...Archie is a stubborn brat LOL, so he does like to pee and then go home sometimes (especially when tired), so yeah some of these signs he is showing could either be do to exhaustion from so much exercise or because he's sick.  That's why I usually wait and see, but I also like to be proactive and seek Vet help if necessary. 

What are your thoughts?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sam, a stomach bug or a sensitive stomach would not cause lethargy or the stopping, staring, and refusal to walk. It wouldn't cause sleeping every chance he gets. These are signs that he may be in pain, and of something seriously wrong. If it is bloat or a blockage, he may not have until tomorrow. 

Has he had ALL of these symptoms before??? Clearly the walking a block and then stopping and staring are not things he normally does when he has a little upset stomach.

I will vouch for the fact that F usually advises people to watch and wait, so the fact that she also thinks he needs to be seen tells me something. I hope it tells you something too.  

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

See my post above that I just told F.

I am most likely going to call the vet in the morning and have them look at Archie. It makes most sense and I do like to be proactive, but yeah just look above so I don't have to repeat myself LOL

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am completely overreact when it comes to all things Jack..that is undeniable.... I have a strong propensity to error on the side of caution....I think my years of being a human emergency room nurse and often seeing the worst case scenarios ...I put that on my dog.

I always used to tell my parents who brought their kids in, they will never be sorry they brought them in but yes, you can be sorry for not....I could tell countless stories of the sorry side.

What concerns me is the lethargy......and the not acting normal....... Can you tell if he is dehydrated....is his gums sticky? Really it is your call but I would rather be out money then wake up to a dog that suffered all night.....

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

I agree with you.  I am always proactive about these types of things...See my post above about what I replied to F, Calla, and Luca about.  But yeah, he has been drinking a little today, so I doubt he is dehydrated, but I just checked and he seems to be fine.

I will call the vet first thing in the morning and have him checked out.  They will probably be able to see him in the AM or lunch time tomorrow.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

I just checked again and his gums seem to be pretty wet.  I ran my finger across the top and bottom from front to back and my hands are pretty slimy and wet.  So that is good. 

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

I would go to the vet too. With all that exercise he should have worked up an appetite and a puppy siting on walks is kind of odd. Oliver is always hungry after day care and the dog park. Have you tried putting out a bowl of your previous food to see if he'll eat it? Maybe he doesn't like the Acana and isn't eating because he's being picky and stubborn. Oliver went on a hunger strike for a day when I tried to rotate to Orijen 6 Fish... LOL

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

LOL well his Science Diet that I am trying to get him off is in the bowl mixed with Acana...theres like 90% SD vs. Acana.  So I doubt its that?

He's always been picky.