My Dog Seems Sad And Tired: Causes

What to do if my dog seems sad and tired? Dogs are often very expressive creatures, and they can often communicate how they are feeling with their facial expressions. If your dog does not seem to have any interest in food, this could be a sign that they are depressed or generally feeling unwell. Dogs who are generally lethargic will usually have sunken eyes or pupils, lack of appetite, skin problems, or lumps on the body.

Causes of sadness and fatigue in dogs

For many pet owners, figuring out what is wrong with their dog can be an exhausting and frustrating process. There are a number of reasons that dogs may seem sad and fatigued, such as anxiety, thyroid disorders, and even chronic pain. A veterinarian will need to perform tests to find the root cause of the problem for any solutions to be given. Nowadays, more people are considering pet insurance for their dogs due to the increased costs of medical treatment.

Possible causes

• Pain: Dogs experience the same types of chronic pain as humans, from arthritis to pancreatitis. In these cases, stressful or painful conditions can be managed to reduce the pain and discomfort that will otherwise just get worse over time. Chronic pain in dogs is not always curable but it is manageable with a combination of medication and physical therapy and can even be prevented in many cases with exercise and weight management practices.
• Metabolic diseases: An increased awareness of metabolic diseases in dogs has led to the development and implementation of screenings and treatments. The most common cause of these diseases is an inability to produce or metabolize one or more specific enzymes. These disorders mainly affect the liver, for example, creating a buildup of fat and cholesterol. This can lead to liver disease by damaging the organ, as well as other conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and high blood pressure leading to cardiovascular disease.
• Poisoning: Almost any substance can be toxic to dogs, but some substances are more likely to cause poisoning than others. Common poisons for dogs include plants (such as mushrooms, lilies) and household items (such as cleaning products). Signs of poisoning in dogs may include dilated pupils, drooling, an irregular heartbeat, seizures, coma, or death. If you believe your dog has been poisoned by one of these substances it is important that you contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Infection: Many people are unaware of the symptoms of infection, but it is possible to spot them. An infected dog will have a fever, lethargy, redness around the eyes and mouth, discharge from the eyes and nose, and coughing, these are some of the common infections in dogs- canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine influenza. If your dog has any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.
• Depression: Dogs can experience depression just like humans do. Often, in order to diagnose depression in a dog, you will need to provide your veterinarian with an in-depth history and complete physical examination. The diagnosis is often made by ruling out other causes of the symptoms such as pain or another medical condition. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment options may include antidepressants, behavior modification (e.g exercise), or both.
• Anemia: Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells. The symptoms, as well as the severity, vary from dog to dog. Dogs can also be more prone to anemia if they are overweight or lack exercise, or if they have a food allergy, a parasite infestation, or a gastrointestinal problem.
• Changes in medication: The life of a dog can be drastically changed by the type of medication they are on. Medications are typically prescribed for either heart disease, epilepsy, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or pain management. The medication taken will depend on the severity and diagnosis of the ailment. When changing types of prescriptions for certain medications in dogs it is important to monitor their behavior and urine to ensure that their body doesn’t have adverse reactions to the new drug.

What to do if you spot any of the symptoms

An animal’s veterinarian is the best person to speak with when you need advice about your pet’s health, and it’s important to take your dog for a check-up each year to detect any potential illness. It may be difficult to notice changes in your pet, so looking out for these seven signs could be helpful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my dog seems sad and tired. This is a problem that needs to be addressed soon. If you have noticed your dog acting the same way, then I suggest taking it to the veterinarian because this could be a health problem instead of just being sad or tired.

This article is just a small guide, if you spot any of these symptoms on your pet, please take him to the veterinarian to be sure and provide your friend with the best care possible.