The dog does not eat and sluggish legs. Lethargy and lack of appetite in a beloved dog: what to do

Lethargy with a simultaneous lack of appetite can serve as signs of illness in many living beings, including. But you can observe these also in a healthy animal, if, for example, the dog ran for a long time and a lot in hot weather, and bitches are characterized by a decrease in appetite and some lethargy during estrus.

Animal lethargy can be caused by stomatitis or other gum infections. Its characteristic features are sores, small abscesses both in the mouth and on the gums of the dog. Ear infections that are accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge also cause discomfort to the dog and the dog becomes lethargic and loses the desire to play and run. Such infections are also dangerous because, out of ignorance, you can grab the dog by the diseased ear and cause an involuntary aggressive reaction in it. Therefore, pay attention if the dog begins to shake his head, tilts it to one side or the other, if the ears are touched.

Ear infections can be signs of allergies caused by food sensitivities or atopic dermatitis. In this case, the dog should be transferred to a special hypoallergenic food and consult a veterinarian who will select her diet. However, in all these cases, you should not self-medicate, but show the animal to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

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It happens that a pet suddenly refuses food, not paying attention to either the bowl of food or the knock of the refrigerator door. Then the question arises before the owner, why is he not eating, what to do with it, and how dangerous is it?

First of all, take another look at what you are trying to feed your dog. Perhaps you gave her a new food that the dog for some reason does not consider edible? Or did you cook fresh porridge with meat, deciding to add carrots instead of the usual cabbage, which confused your pet? It could also happen that you came across low-quality food or meat; you didn’t notice it, but the dog immediately smelled it and decided to refuse food.

Think about whether you pamper your dog? Perhaps you give him treats from your table so often that your pet does not consider it necessary to eat ordinary food, hoping that he will get something tasty.

Of course, there are dogs that are ready to eat any amount of food at any time of the day, but your dog may not be one of them. A healthy dog ​​may well refuse to eat, as it is full. This usually happens with young dogs when the owner incorrectly calculates the amount of food the pet needs. Perhaps your dog should be fed twice a day instead of three, or reduce the portions.

If everything is in order with the products and the amount of food, refusal to eat may be the first sign that the animal is not feeling well. Take your dog's temperature. To do this, insert the tip of the thermometer, after lubricating it with petroleum jelly, into the rectum of the animal and hold for one and a half to two minutes. If the temperature managed to rise above 38.5 - your pet is sick. Go to the vet, because a dog with a fever does not mean that he has a cold. This can be a sign of anything from fleas to piroplasmosis.

If your dog refuses to eat, watch him for a while. How does she behave? Is your animal active? Has the dog refused to eat only once, or is it more than the first meal he skips? In the end, even an animal may simply not have an appetite.

Among the diseases that occur in cats, piroplasmosis is quite common. This infection is transmitted from an infected tick when it bites a pet. To protect the cat from unpleasant consequences, it is important to carry out the correct treatment as early as possible.

How does piroplasmosis occur in animals?

How to recognize a disease in a cat?

Piroplasmosis in cats occurs in acute or chronic form, diseases usually occur 1-4 days after the bite of an ixodid tick. It is very important to notice changes in the behavior and condition of the animal, which makes it possible to conduct a pet in a timely manner, avoiding the development of many complications.

The disease in cats is manifested by the following symptoms:
- increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- rapid breathing;
- lack of appetite;
- lethargy and apathy.

Attentive cat owners may notice that the conjunctiva and the mucous membrane of the eyes have become yellow, which is caused by damage to the kidneys. All these signs of piroplasmosis are especially noticeable in young animals, therefore, in order to detect the disease in older cats, it is necessary to carefully monitor them during the period of tick spread.

How to treat piroplasmosis in a cat?

If you find signs of piroplasmosis, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Treatment must be carried out in the first two days from the moment the first symptoms of piroplasmosis appear. Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using a blood test taken from the auricle of a pet.

Veterinarians recommend that pet owners use special protective equipment against ticks in the spring and autumn, since such actions are a reliable prevention of piroplasmosis. Such prophylactic agents are available in the form of shampoos, ointments, gels or collars. It is also important to strengthen the cat's immunity, this can be done through the use of echination. This is often used in the manufacturing process of dietary supplements that come in the form of potions. Preventive actions will increase the resistance of the cat's body to various infections that are dangerous to their health.

Sources:

• Piroplasmosis in 2019
• Piroplasmosis in cats in 2019

Distemper is one of the most serious diseases of carnivorous animals (including domestic dogs). The disease can affect the brain and nervous system, any internal organ and limbs. In severe cases, animals that have survived the disease remain disabled.

What is a plague

Routes of infection and vectors

The main sources of infection are sick and ill animals ( with direct and indirect), infected environmental objects (feed, water, air, excretions of sick animals, feeders, rooms and bedding, care items - everything that was used and where sick individuals were kept) . In addition, humans, vehicles, birds, and even insects and worms can be vectors.

The virus enters the environment with urine, dead skin epithelium, feces, with discharge from the nose, eyes and mouth. A sick dog, even before the first symptoms appear, is able to infect other individuals with its breath. The incubation period of the disease is 2-3 weeks, depending on the form of the disease. A cured dog retains the ability to infect other animals for 2-3 months.

Studies have shown that the distemper virus completely disappears from the blood 2-3 days after the onset of the first symptoms. The disease continues, mainly due to the development of a secondary infection. Although the virus is no longer present in the blood, it still lives in other parts of the body, and in advanced stages often causes very serious damage to the internal organs.

There is no single and effective treatment for this terrible disease. Therapeutic procedures are mainly aimed at maintaining the vital functions of the body, raising immunity and blocking the spread of possible secondary infections. All manipulations with a sick animal are made based on the severity of his condition.

Despite their best efforts, they are practically powerless against the plague. And death rates are still high.
This is due to the fact that in the body of a dog, as in the body of every animal, there are beneficial bacteria that are involved in the process of digestion of food. With a sharp change in diet, the number of bacteria changes dramatically, and they do not bring the desired benefit. The result is indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting, gas or constipation.

Scheme of transfer to a new feed

The dog must be accustomed to food for 10-12 days. This period must be divided into 4 parts - 2-3 days each.

In the first 2-3 days, prepare a single feed rate as follows: mix 75% of the old feed with 25% of the new feed. In the second 2-3 days, prepare a single feed rate in the proportion of 50% of the old and 50% of the new feed. In the next 2-3 days - 25% old and 75% new. The final stage is the presence of 100% new food in the diet. If in the process of transferring from one food to another, the condition of the dog and the stool have not changed, continue to feed according to the scheme. Otherwise, the new food should be discarded and another one chosen.

If the dog is reluctant to eat the food on the first day, the proportion of the new food should be reduced. Let's say, increase the amount of feed not by 25%, but by 20 or 10%. Thus, the period of transfer to a new feed should be divided not into 4, but into 5-10 parts. It is also advisable to increase the transfer time itself so that the dog gets used to the taste and smell of the new food.

Food varieties

Each food is focused on certain breeds of dogs and contains micro and macro elements aimed at maintaining the health of your pet.

For example, each manufacturer in its assortment has food for puppies, sterile, lactating and elderly animals.

This is due to the fact that at a certain period of life an animal needs a different set of vitamins and microelements to increase the activity or maintain a certain organ or system, for example, to maintain the function of the liver or genitourinary system.

According to their appearance, feeds are divided into dry - moisture content less than 14% (granulated feed, biscuits, croquettes, etc.), semi-dry (boiled meat containing preservatives) and feeds with a high moisture content - frozen and canned meat products.

Your puppy was active yesterday, but today refuses to eat? There may be several reasons for this behavior, including your fault. For example, if the puppy was scared or was in some kind of stressful situation. You could accidentally hit him or yell, and the dog took everything too seriously.

This option is the least problematic, but if the dog refuses to eat due to poisoning, then veterinary intervention is indispensable. In this case, you need to carefully observe the behavior of the dog, and if you see that he is constantly lying down, breathing heavily, occasionally vomiting and shaking, then things can be really bad.

The main causes of hunger and lethargy

Dogs are animals that enjoy an active lifestyle. They are always happy to walk in the fresh air and new games. That is why, if the dog is lethargic and constantly sleeping, then this should alert the owner and serve as a signal to immediately contact the veterinary clinic.

natural lethargy

There are several natural causes of lethargy in a dog that are not serious and can be easily treated:

• When a dog lacks vitamins, it becomes passive. The natural treatment in this case is to make up for the deficiency of the vitamin.
• If a sluggish dog lies then this may be evidence of boredom itself. The danger of this phenomenon lies in the fact that boredom can develop into depression, which is difficult to treat. Try to give your pet more attention.
• Old age is a common reason that a dog is lethargic, does not drink, refuses to eat. You can try special games for older dogs, but if this does not help, then you just have to put up with natural aging and support your friend.

First clinical signs

After the end of the incubation period, the first warning signs of the disease appear. The first manifestations are not too pronounced.

1. Some lethargy and depression of the dog.
2. Appetite decreases, the animal begins to refuse food and water. Sometimes vomiting starts.
3. The mucous membrane of the eyes becomes bright red.
4. Scanty mucous discharges appear from the eyes or nostrils.
5. Not too bright digestive disorders may be noted.
6. The coat of most dogs with plague becomes disheveled.
7. In connection with photophobia, the dog tends to hide in a secluded place, is not shown to the owners and does not respond to commands.

The severity of symptoms varies widely. In the first days after the onset of the disease, the temperature rises and remains high for three days.

If the dog is adult, healthy and has strong immunity, it is able to cope with the disease on its own, the disease soon undergoes regression.

Diagnosis of diseases that cause loss of appetite

Often, at home, it is not always possible to quickly and correctly diagnose a disorder due to which the puppy breathes heavily, vomits, shakes and falls on its hind legs. The best thing you should do in this situation is to seek veterinary help immediately. Only in this case can we hope for a positive outcome. Even with a slight delay, the condition of the dog may deteriorate sharply, and the treatment will be ineffective.

Despite the huge danger to the health of the animal, there are often adherents of home procedures. But if your dog is not eating anything, what can you do for him without identifying the cause of the hunger or doing it wrong? Only a diagnosis by a specialist with the help of x-rays, ultrasound and laboratory tests will help to correctly determine the cause of the disease. Remember, if you value your pet's life, then self-medicating is an extremely unwise idea.

If the dog is not eating, the veterinarian is faced with the difficult task of determining what exactly caused this symptom. To do this, a specialist usually needs to conduct a series of studies, including:

1. Ultrasound performed to assess the condition of the most important internal organs of the dog;
2. General blood analysis;
3. X-ray, which allows to detect neoplasms, an increase in the heart and other disorders;
4. An ACTH stimulation test that will help confirm or refute the so-called Addison's disease.

If the above measures did not help clarify the picture of a possible disease, the doctor may insist on a series of additional tests.

How to treat distemper

An important component of treatment is the appointment of drugs that increase the body's immune defenses. A sick pet is prescribed intravenous administration of glucose, urotropin, calcium gluconate. Droppers with isotonic solution are placed. Suprastin and diphenhydramine, vitamin C are injected intramuscularly. In order to prevent paralysis and muscle paresis, prozerin is prescribed. If you need to relax excess muscle tone - mydocalm. The cutaneous form of distemper implies the appointment of antibiotic therapy.

Do not self-medicate. The drugs are prescribed by the doctor. Dosages of drugs are calculated based on the body weight of the pet.

The animal should be kept in a dry and warm room, in the absence of drafts. It is necessary to constantly carry out hygiene of the eyes and nose.

Dogs- These are animals that prefer an active lifestyle. They are always happy to walk in the fresh air and new games. That is why, if the dog is lethargic and constantly sleep t, this should alert the owner and serve as a signal to immediately contact the veterinary clinic.

Natural lethargy in a dog

There are several natural causes of lethargy in dogs which are not serious and can be easily eliminated:

• When a dog lacks vitamins, it becomes passive. The natural treatment in this case is to make up for the deficiency of the vitamin.
• If a sluggish dog lies then this may be evidence of boredom itself. The danger of this phenomenon lies in the fact that boredom can develop into depression, which is difficult to treat. Try to give your pet more attention.
• Old age is a common reason for the dog is lethargic, doesn't drink refuses to eat. You can try special games for older dogs, but if this does not help, then you just have to put up with natural aging and support your friend.

Lethargy in a dog as a symptom of a disease

Usually, if the dog is sick, then lethargy is accompanied by additional symptoms, for example, the disease is indicated by the fact that the dog does not eat or drink, lethargic and almost does not respond to external stimuli.

Hypoglycemia - lack of sugar - is one of the most common causes of the dog is lethargic. The animal simply does not have the strength for an active lifestyle. The disease is quite easily treated in the early stages, but in the "neglected" state it can cause convulsions and loss of coordination of the animal in space.

If a dog not eating and lethargic in the spring and summer, you should check your pet for tick infestation. Piroplasmosis can lead to liver failure and death of the animal.Various infectious diseases are a common cause of the dog is sluggish, sleeping constantly refuses to eat.

What to do if the dog is lethargic?

If a the dog is lethargic due to illness, only an experienced veterinarian can make a competent diagnosis.

Therefore, it is very important to bring the animal to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible or call the veterinarian at home. Remember that your quick reaction can save the life of your four-legged friend.

Why did the dog suddenly become lethargic?

It seemed that just yesterday the animal was cheerful, full of energy, willingly took part in games and other amusements. Today, the pet lies limply on its litter, indifferently looking at what is happening around it. His eyes are sunken, he refuses to eat and even his favorite treats. We begin to understand that something is wrong with the dog. In our new article, we will tell you in which directions you should start moving.

What is lethargy in dogs? As it became clear from the preamble of the article, identifying lethargy in dogs is a fairly simple matter. Such a dog may not respond to the call, ignore the treat, and indeed any stimulation stops working. The animal lies and sleeps almost all the time.

Of course, a lot depends on the temperament of the dog: you can talk about lethargy only when you have studied your pet well. What are signs of lethargy for one dog is within the normal range for another. However, let's assume that a negative change has occurred in the dog's behavior. Let's take a closer look at the reasons.

Diet. Very, very much depends on proper nutrition, including the temperament of the dog! If the animal is malnourished, receives insufficient vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain optimal physical fitness, it will inevitably be lethargic. Start with nutrition, try to adjust the diet a little. If everything goes well, then we pointed out the problem almost immediately!

Animal weight. Do you have a dog of a breed characterized by a high level of activity? Let's check if her weight is normal. Sometimes excess weight for an active dog causes a domino effect - it immediately folds and turns into jelly. Again, you will need to adjust your diet in the direction of reducing the calorie content of food, as well as increasing physical activity!

Diseases and infections. Your dog may have caught a cold or other respiratory illness while walking. In two days, the dog's body begins to prepare for a fight with the infection, and the animal really seems lethargic and lifeless.

Anemia. Anemia is a disease of the blood cells in which the level of hemoglobin drops sharply. The symptoms of anemia are very similar to those described above. Look at the mucous membranes of the eyes and gums of the animal - if they are pale, anemia may be the cause.

Breathing problems. If your dog has not previously had asthma, upper respiratory disease, or allergies, then it may be due to individual exercise intolerance. The dog is not getting enough air to breathe normally. Most often, such problems occur in dogs of brachycephalic breeds - they are more prone to respiratory diseases, as well as overheating.

Side effects of medications. Before you give your dog a drug, carefully read the accompanying document, which reports possible side effects. Perhaps among them are both lethargy and drowsiness. In this case, consult with your veterinarian whether it is worth continuing treatment with this drug or if you need to choose another medicine.

Heatstroke. Of course, in the summer, on sultry and hot days, the risk of getting a heat stroke increases many times over. The dog may suffocate, faint, her temperature will rise. In first aid, try to take the animal to a cooler area, wrap it in a wet towel, then immediately seek veterinary help.

Immune disorders. All the same symptoms appear. It is necessary to show the animal to the veterinarian. To rule out this cause, he will prescribe several tests.

Poisoning. The effect of various poisons and toxic elements is different for everyone - the symptoms of poisoning can occur both immediately and after a few days. Think about whether your dog could at least theoretically get poisoned by something. If yes, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, this cause is quite rare, but can lead to fatal consequences. Carbon monoxide poisoning is equally dangerous for dogs and humans. Sometimes this happens in garages or parking lots where there are cars with running engines. Poisoning is also possible in megacities. Perhaps we will devote a separate article to this topic.

Did we forget to mention something? Do you have something to add and how to supplement? Write us!

Have you noticed that the dog does not eat as much as it used to? Perhaps she constantly vomits, breathes heavily, or looks sick? Do you know what caused this change in her behavior? If not, then let's try to understand the possible causes of symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, drowsiness and loss of appetite.

Why won't my beloved pet eat?

Has your dog always been active, delighted you with its excellent appetite, but now its bowl is still full, and the pet lies aloof to the side? Often this behavior is a symptom of a serious illness, but not always. So why isn't the dog eating?

First, remember exactly how long has your puppy been vomiting, panting, or just constantly turning away from the food bowl? Perhaps it happened after some stress. Secondly, try to determine on your own the reasons for refusing food.

It also happens that a dog refuses to eat because the owner spoiled the pet or accidentally caused negative associations with food. For example, if the puppy has never eaten, and you decide to offer him something that he loves, then later the animal will again wait for a delicious treat and will not eat ordinary food. Another situation - you got angry or showed aggression while feeding a pet. Now he associates food with your anger.

These are options that can be corrected without the intervention of a specialist. As a rule, in this case, the refusal of food is not accompanied by other symptoms.

But if the dog does not eat anything, while its general appearance has changed, its former activity has been lost, it lies lethargic, breathes heavily, vomits, or while it only arches its back from abdominal pain, its hind legs do not stand, then such symptoms can even be life-threatening .

Diagnostics

At home, it is not always possible to make a diagnosis. If your pet lies lethargic, does not eat anything, vomits, breathes heavily, his hind legs give way, his gums become pale, his temperature rises, he does not play and tries to retire - in this case, you need to urgently go to the veterinary clinic. Ask why go? Yes, because often for the diagnosis a specialist needs to do laboratory and clinical studies, conduct an x-ray or ultrasound, which is impossible at home.

Only after the diagnosis is made and the causes of the symptoms determined, effective treatment is prescribed.

How to normalize a dog's appetite

1. If the hunger strike is caused by stress or shock, then you just need to pay more attention to the pet, stroke its withers more often and calm it down. With enough attention, the pet will soon begin to show interest in food and nothing will have to be done.
2. After changing the diet, in case of refusal to eat, you should try to return to the previous diet. Introducing new foods or switching to a different diet should be gradual.
3. The dog does not eat anything, breathes heavily, vomits, shakes, its hind legs are not kept straight - urgently go to the doctor! Remember that any disease is best treated at an early stage. And even if it is cancer or advanced piroplasmosis, then you can at least alleviate the symptoms.
4. If your pet is picky about food, try giving him food every day at the same time, but remove the bowl of food every time the dog comes up and refuses to eat.

When fasting is considered the norm

1. Pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy and after childbirth, hormonal changes occur in the dog's body. It may even be draining to some extent, but such changes will not last long. You don’t need to do anything right away, but it’s better to follow.
2. Pet sickness. It also happens that she is sick and she already feels that now it is better for her to postpone the meal. This may be the first wake-up call for the owner, who will have to pay more attention to the pet in order to identify the disease in time.
3. An excess of nutrients. Your pet can feel for himself that at the moment there are a lot of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in his body. Then he will feel great even in the absence of appetite. Do not force or scold him in this case.
4. Blues. Change of weather, season, bad mood can also cause temporary starvation. As a rule, the pet will not miss a lot of feedings in this case.