You are trying to find out what is wrong with your dog or cat and you read about a few different health conditions. One symptom that is often mentioned is “lethargy’. What is that? It means your pet needs to see a veterinarian. If you live in or around Hallandale Beach or Dania and your furry friend needs a check-up, contact our team at Neighborhood Veterinary Center.
What is Pet Lethargy?
Lethargy is sometimes described as another way of saying, “very tired.” However, with pet lethargy, it is much more than just being really tired. The pet has lost interest in just about everything including other pets, playtime, you, and even food. Your pet is just no longer acting like your pet.
Lethargy Can Be a Sign of Illness
Many times, this is a signal that your pet is sick. For example, lethargy is one of the symptoms of canine parvovirus or parvo. However, in parvo, lethargy is also accompanied by other symptoms. If your pet has other symptoms like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or coordination problems, take your pet to the veterinarian’s office. Even if your pet has no other symptoms and gets better in a couple of days, call the veterinarian.
Treatment for Lethargy
If your pet has no other symptoms other than lethargy, the veterinarian will perform tests like a urinalysis, blood test, fecal test, and a wellness exam to try to pinpoint the cause of your pet’s lethargy. Sometimes, especially in older pets, the problem ends up being malnutrition.
Better Nutrition
Talk with your vet about what foods should be in your pet's diet. These foods need to be high in quality protein from meat, not fillers like soy, wheat, and corn. Dogs will gobble down soy, wheat, and corn, but they do not give as much energy-giving protein as meat. Cats are obligate carnivores and have problems digesting anything but meat. Fiber can help provide a slow release of glucose, which helps give your pet energy.
Avoid Fad Diets
Fad diets don’t just happen with people food, they also happen with pet food. Grain-free was the big buzzword in pet food a few years ago. Now, grain-free food has been linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly heart condition. Guess what one of the symptoms is for this condition? That’s right, lethargy. Other symptoms include problems breathing, a persistent cough, and collapse.
Contact Our Veterinarians at Neighborhood Veterinary Center
Pet lethargy is often a sign of illness or malnutrition, so your pet needs to be taken to a veterinarian. If you live in the Hallandale Beach or Dania areas, contact Neighborhood Veterinary Center to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians. Call our team today at (954) 505-3757 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
