My 9 year old dog Shadow is a 98lb GSD. He is normally in good health except for his left rear leg and hip has arthritis. I walk him every night for about 30 min. (but before the following we where watching my friends westy and he was more active then normal) so.. Three days ago Shadow started acting a little funny. Friday I had to coax him to come eat his dinner . Saturday he refused to eat at all. Sunday I had to pick him up on all fours to go outside and he would walk into walls/chiars if I am not holding his collar. So that Afternoon I got him into the Vet. The Vet told me that his pain is from the arthritis and it has gotten so bad that he has stopped eating. He is already taking rejuvenate but the vet added rimadyl and gave him a shot of Adequan.

At the Vet:
He has no fever
They checked his urine (he has had a UTI a few time)
His poop is normal
No temperature

This AM:
Same vitals
No Fever
but his stomach seems to be a little swollen

But: The only thing I could get him to eat was a few liver treats and a 1/2 a slice of cheese. He did not move from the same place all night and if I don't hold him while he is walking he will run into anything he is walking for.

What can I try to feed him? My vet has been very good in the past, but should I try a different one.

stomach swollen--first thing that comes to my mind is bloat. If his abdomen looks or feels distended and hard--like he has an inflated ball inside, that is a possible sign of gastric torsion/gastric dilation/volvulus. Is this something the doc checked for yesterday? Is the stomach swelling new? is it getting worse?

Hey John, maybe a couple of xrays should be taken, see if maybe something un-diagnosed has come up.

Are there any other signs? If there are - mention them to your vet. Excessive salivating or dry mouth? Drinking well? Head down? Hunched posture? Glassy look in the eyes? Shallow breathing? Pale gums? Laying down comfortably or holding head up and turning restlessly? Rectal temperature decreased?

Hey everyone, I went ahead and ran him to the vet after I posted yesterday... It turned out to be a tumor on his spleen and I lost him in surgery.. The dr said it was probably cancer Mastocytomas but I.. I don't recall if that was the name I was to upset. Thanks for all of your help from now and in the past! He was the best dog I have ever had and I owe most of that to everyone on these posts for helping me train him.. RIP Shadow, GSD 8 years old...

I am sorry you lost him. It is always so sad to say good bye.

I am very sorry, John.

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Shadow.

So very sorry for your loss. 8 is too young to say goodbye.

I'm so sorry, John. And relieved that it was so fast, too.

I know that's no help to your grief.