My dog, over a year old, hasn’t eaten for five or six days, only drinks sometimes, low spirits—what is wrong?

A dog not eating has many causes, often serious illness; observe other signs and get a full exam for the cause. When anorexic, try canned food, paste or meat to see if it is just picky; if so, fix diet and stop human food. If it tries but can’t eat, check the mouth for objects, dental disease or stomatitis.

Watch for diarrhea or vomiting—if present, it may be poisoning, infection or organ failure; see a vet.