What to do When Your Dog is Lethargic

Lethargy can be described as extreme tiredness and overly lack of energy. Lethargy can be caused by a number of reasons some of which are serious or normal. Moreover, it can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition that could be fatal if left untreated. When you notice your dog exhibiting symptoms of the disease, we recommend consulting with your vet officer in order to diagnose your pet and recommend the right medication. In this piece, we offer you tips on what to look out for and what to do. 

Difference Between a Lethargic Dog and a Tired Dog

Tired dogs and dogs with lethargy may exhibit almost similar symptoms although the signs for lethargy are way too serious and obvious. A dog that is lethargic is unusually inactive and not interested in getting up and doing normal activities while a tired dog may just be resting but is easily excited and ready to play. 

Causes of Lethargy in Dogs

Lethargy manifests differently in dogs and can vary by age. Across all ages, it may be caused by factors like a sickness with low thyroid levels being key culprits. In young puppies, it can be caused by low blood sugar levels. In senior dogs, the problem can be caused by arthritis causing inactivity as they are more often affected by the condition. If your dog is not eager to get up and do the things they normally do, we recommend taking this seriously and contacting your vet officer in order to get to the root of the problem. 

How to Handle Lethargy 

Since weakness and lethargy can indicate anything from a chronic condition to a life-threatening illness, you should always talk to your vet when you notice symptoms. We recommend not running your own diagnosis on the pets when the signs manifest. Consulting your vet officer will enable you to be sure of what medication is being done on the dog for safety reasons. We recommend taking immediate action when you notice signs to avoid taking the problem to a serious level. 

Conclusion 

Lethargy is not just the normal tiredness or inactivity in dogs that you may be used to. We recommend going through the above tips in order to learn more about the condition and what to do about it. 

References: PetWebMD, PetMD, VeterinaryEmergencyGroup