Reasons why your pet is lethargic

Sharing a home with your little one is sure to make you know your pet the best. With time, there can be changes that are noticed in them like the signs of inactivity. On an average, a pet dog sleeps 10 hours a day and a pet cat sleeps for 12 hours.

Although you might find them playing, eating or randomly walking about the house, the smaller signs of inactivity may be indicative of a larger problem. Knowing your little one, it will be easier for you as a parent to point out the difference between relaxing and being lethargic.

There can be cases when the pet doesn’t eat, doesn’t respond when you call, or no longer feels like playing, walking, or doing the things it normally loves to do. These are the cases that help you know that something larger and potentially problematic could be going on.

Read on for five of the most common reasons for pet lethargy:

They’re Sick

The time when your little one is abnormally calm and quiet, the first thing that should pop in the mind is that it is sick. If it continues to be that way for more than a day, it is time to visit the vet.

In cases when persistent vomiting or blood in the vomit and stools accompanies the lethargy, the reason lying behind is bound to be extremely concerning.

Also, pets tend to skip meals when they aren’t feeling well. Anything that exceeds skipping of one single meal may indicate trouble and medical issues like heartworm disease, kennel cough, problems with the heart or liver, diabetes, or tumors. The sooner these are diagnosed, the likelier the pet is to recover.

They’re Frightened

The first thing a vet is bound to ask you when you visit to know the reason behind the lethargy is how long have you had the little one home. Initially, the pup may be scared and needs the time to adjust to the new environment. The best is to spend a little time as it adjusts to you and the new surroundings.

New surroundings aren’t the only fear that can cause a pet to act lethargically. Loud noises like fireworks, smoke alarms and gun shots as possible triggers for behavioral lethargy and while in many of these cases, the symptoms are acute.

They’re Reacting Poorly to Medication

Medications for some ailments may have side effects which may lead to lethargy in pets. If you notice a behavior change after introducing a new medication, call your vet immediately.

They’ve Ingested Something Poisonous

This is particularly likely to happen during the summers when your dog ingests chemicals. If you notice a change in its energy level immediately after cooking items that are potentially deadly to dogs like garlic and onions, an immediate examination by the vet is recommended.

Lethargy is very common in pets but it is always wise to keep a keen eye on the behavior of your pets so as to ensure an immediate visit to the vet before things go bad and harm the health of the pet.