Get certified in Pet First Aid & CPR: Individuals for just $49.95.
This video is normally available to paying customers.You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.
Sometimes you may notice that your pet is just a little bit off. And even though you can't quite put your finger on it, you know something is wrong. Now, lethargy is about as vague as science can get when it comes to assessing our pets. But it's important that you remember you do know your pets best and so don't ignore that gut feeling that something could be wrong. If you are noticing your pet is not quite herself, the first thing you want to do is get her vital signs, to decide is there anything else you should be concerned about. Are any other behaviors abnormal? If she's eating, drinking and her vitals are all good, it might be okay to keep an eye on her lethargy for a little bit, especially if there's a reason for her to be feeling off. Maybe you were outside exercising more than you usually do and she's tired. Maybe she's feeling off because there has been a change to her environment. Did you introduce any new pets or other family members to the household? If you have a reason for her to feel off, but she's otherwise doing okay, keep an eye on it. But if it persists for more than a couple of days, it probably needs to be investigated. And because lethargy is such a vague sign and could be caused by any number of things, there's not a lot that you should be doing at home. You don't want to give any medications or anything just in case this could complicate things. You want to take note of what she's doing exactly, what vital signs you've measured and take that information to your veterinarian which will help them come up with a plan for where to go from there.
In this lesson, we'll be getting into the subject of lethargy in your pets, what specifically to look for, and what you should to do about it.
There are times when you may notice that your dog or cat is just acting a bit off. And while you may feel like something might be wrong, you just can't put your finger on it. Enter lethargy.
Pro Tip: The signs of lethargy can be quite vague, which means assessing for it in your pets may not be an easy thing to do. It's important to remember that you know your pet better than anyone, and if you think something is off, trust your gut instinct and investigate further.
What's the first thing you should do? Whomever just shouted, get your pet's vital signs, yes, that's correct. And well done! After getting those, look for any behavioral changes.
If your pet is eating and drinking and all of the vital signs are normal, it's OK to keep an eye on your pet's lethargy for a while, especially if there is a reason for her lethargy.
Any number of things can contribute to lethargy in your dog or cat, but there are a couple you can try to rule out immediately. The good news is that if the reason is related to one of these, you can probably rest a little easier.
If you've determined that your pet has a good reason for her lethargy and everything else with her seems normal and healthy, just keep an eye on it. However, if it persists more than a couple of days, you should probably investigate it further and consider making an appointment with your veterinarian.
Because lethargy is such a vague sign or symptom to measure, and because it could be caused by any number of things or situations, there's not a lot you can do about it at home, other than take notes about your pet's recent vital signs and behaviors.
Warning: Do not give your pet any medications, even if it's all-natural kava kava or whatever. This could only complicate matters.
What you should do is simple. Take notes regarding:
Any information that you think may help your vet better diagnose and treat your pet's lethargy should be collected, written down, and taken to the vet's office.