Want to know what's making your dog lazy? If his demeanor has suddenly changed from peppy and playful to pooped out, it's important to figure out the underlying cause. While he may simply be under the weather, lethargy can also be a symptom of something more serious. Is your Dog Lazy? Or is he sick? Here's a look at some symptoms and causes of this sometimes disturbing dog behavior.
Symptoms
- A sudden change in demeanor from playful to tired and sleepy
- General lethargy; he doesn't want to play and isn't interested in the things that usually interest him
- He hides from you and your family and doesn't want any contact with people or other animals
- He's not eating or drinking as much as he usually does
- Weight increase
- Doesn't like cold places
- Your dog seems to be sleeping all the time
- He also may seem weak
What Might Be Making Your Dog Lazy
- Anemia: This condition causes a low red blood cell count, which can drain your pet's energy. Common causes are iron deficiency, blood loss, or trauma and flea infestations.
- Thyroid condition: If the thyroid glands are malfunctioning your dog will display lethargy as well as greasy skin and an unusual aversion to cold. This can sometimes indicate an iodine deficiency.
- Nutritional or behavioral disorders: These disorders will usually reveal themselves after lethargy persists and no other medical cause is apparent.
- Gastrointestinal disease: This usually causes vomiting and/or diarrhea as well as lethargy. See your veterinarian immediately if vomiting and diarrhea are frequent and persist; your dog can quickly become dehydrated.
- Urinary tract disorders: This must be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
- Medication-related: Has your dog recently begun taking a new medication? Check with your veterinarian to see if his lethargy could be related to the drug.
- Serious disease: Cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary disorders, chronic infections, and cancer can
all make a dog lazy, and are more common in older dogs.
Non-Causes
It's commonly believed that spaying or neutering can cause a pet to become lazy. This is simply not true. Don't be afraid to spay or neuter your pet for this reason and don't ignore symptoms of laziness and lethargy in a dog that was recently spayed or neutered; it could be a sign of something serious and completely treatable.
Dogs are social and engaging creatures. If your dog suddenly wants nothing to do with you, don't ignore this change in behavior. A trip to the veterinarian is in order to determine whats making your dog lazy.
