

What’s the Difference Between a Lethargic Dog and a Tired Dog?Ī dog that is lethargic is unusually inactive and not interested in getting up and doing normal activities. Recognizing when your dog is lethargic and being proactive helps your veterinarian give your dog the best care. It may be difficult to make that distinction, but you know your dog better than anyone. Lethargy is defined as a lack of energy and enthusiasm, but what does that mean for your dog? It is an important distinction to know if your dog is truly lethargic (which could indicate a medical issue) or is just tired.
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Here’s what you need to know about lethargic dogs, from how to tell lethargy apart from tiredness, possible causes of lethargy in dogs, and when to call the vet. If your dog is acting lethargic, the only way to truly determine the cause and the best treatment is having a veterinarian examine them. Call Advanced Animal Care, Richmond today.Lethargy is a symptom that can show up with many different health issues in dogs. If Your dog's behavior is out of the ordinary, we recommend bringing him or her in for a wellness exam. Poor diet and obesity can cause your dog to age quicker than you want. It is important for your dog, that you schedule regular visits with your Richmond Kentucky Veterinarian so that you can make sure your dog is staying as healthy as possible. Problems with osteoarthritis causes pain as the dog ages and to avoid the pain, they will become less active. Other organ disease also causes lethargy.įinally, some lethargy is normal, as a dog gets older. The heart is not the only organ that can get diseased. Heartworms and congestive heart failure often look the same. Heartworms come from mosquitoes and it only takes one bite.

Heartworms are common in dogs who are not on a prevention regimen.

Lethargy can also be a sign of heart disease or other organ disease. There also may be internal bleeding as in the case of an ulcer. Anemia is often caused by parasites such as a flea infection or intestinal parasite. Others will require antibiotics.Īnother cause of lethargy is anemia.

Some of these illnesses can be prevented with vaccinations at your regular exam. Dehydration or death from a serious infection is an outcome you want to avoid. If you are noticing lethargy and other symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarhea you should bring your dog to the veternarian as soon as you can. There are other infections, bacterial and viral that can cause lethargy and a dog will appear sick. Some of the main causes of lethargy in dogs is infections such as canine distemper or canine paravirus. It is good to check with your veterinarian in Richmond Kentucky to get a proper diagnosis. Does he seem sick? Lethargy in Dogs can be caused by a number of diseases. How is he breathing? This could indicate a problem with his heart or heartworms. There are a few other symptoms you should check. Maybe he isn’t interested in his favorite toy or going outside. You wake up one morning and notice your faithful friend has no energy and doesn’t feel like playing. It is better to be reassured everything is fine than waiting and allowing a serious problem to get worse. It’s a good idea any time you don’t know what is wrong with your pup and you notice a change in his normal routine that you do call your vet and make sure nothing is wrong. Many people call a veterinarian in Richmond Kentucky because their dog's seeming more tired than usual.
