Lethargy in Dogs

Does your dog remain lethargic throughout the day? If yes, then keep on reading.

Generally, excessive tiredness or lethargy signifies any underlying health issue which is why your pooch’s body appear weak. Lethargy can indicate anything from chronic illness to a fatal medical issue. The dog owner should never consider his pooch’s tiredness merely as an act of laziness. On noticing that your dog shows no interest in eating, playing, etc. and spend most of the time sleeping then you need to take it seriously and should consider finding the reasons behind your furry companion’s prolonged tiredness.

Lethargy in dogs ranges from slight to moderate to extreme. Slight lethargy doesn’t indicate any abnormal spectrum of health as just like humans, sometimes, dogs can also feel less active due to hot weather, etc. Whereas if your dog displays moderate lethargy like not interested in eating, walking, playing to extreme lethargy like not moving at all then you need to take him to a veterinarian. Dogs are very active animal & having a lack of energy can suggest a wide variety of dog ailments.

In this article, we’ve rounded up a few common causes & signs of lethargy along with its suitable treatment & prevention.

Let’s look into some of the common causes of lethargy in dogs:

• Infectious disease like kennel cough, distemper, heartworm disease, etc.
• Anemia
• Fever
• Pneumonia
• Malnutrition
• Chronic illness like liver or heart problem
• Parasites
• Side effects of medication
• Poisoning
• Pain
• Collapsing

These are the possible causes of lethargy in your dog. The dog owner should understand the urgency of the situation and act actively to understand what exactly is wrong with his furry companion. The dog owner should never mistake lethargic behavior as relaxed, and should always look for possible causes behind his furry companion’s excessive tiredness. If the lethargy persists for more than 24 hours then you need to act actively as otherwise, the medical problem can become more severe.

Let’s look into some of the common signs of lethargy in dogs:

Being a responsible dog owner, you need to keep a close eye on your furry companion whenever he seems excessively tired. You need to look out for the signs of lethargy as then you’ll be able to give your pooch needed help.

• Excessive sleep
• Exercise intolerance
• Lack of excitement
• Labored breathing
• A rise in body temperature

The severity of the problem must never be overlooked and on noticing any of the lethargy signs then the dog owner should get it treated as soon as possible. A healthy dog sleeps for around 12-14 hours to keep his health intact but if your dog remains sleepy all day & also feel tired in the waking hours then you should consult a veterinarian as there could be an underlying medical issue that is causing excessive lethargy in your furry companion.

The dog owner should never force his furry companion to exercise or play when he doesn’t feel like doing it. Forcing him to play & neglecting his lethargy can make more weak. In milder cases, dogs may just sleep excessively and don’t exercise but in severe cases, your dog’s body temperature may rise up & even collapse.

Treatment of lethargy in dogs

If you notice lethargy in your dog then you need to take your furry companion to a veterinarian. He will perform a thorough physical test of your pooch and will ask you about his medical history which will help him in understanding the underlying illness which is making your dog lethargic. The doctor will do a bunch of other tests such as x-rays, blood, and urine test, etc. then he will give the needed medication.

Prevention of lethargy in dogs

We all know that prevention is better than cure which is why every dog owner should consider doing possible things which will help in preventing lethargy in dogs. Feeding healthy and nutritious food is one of the best ways to prevent any medical issues in your furry companion. Also, make sure to provide him adequate exercise as it will help him in being physically fit and keep him away from lethargy.

Final Thoughts

The dog owner should take his furry companion’s lethargy as a serious issue and not as laziness. Dogs love to play around when they are physically & mentally healthy but when they have something going on with their body then he may become lethargic so the dog owner should always take his furry companion to the veterinarian so noticing lethargy in him.

Here is an infograph to better understand it.

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