Having a good appetite in a dog is a sign of health. If your pet begins to refuse food and becomes lethargic, this is an “alarm bell” that you need to check the state of its health.
There can be many reasons for poor appetite and lethargy. Some of them can be considered normal, others can be associated with serious diseases. Before you take any action, you need to understand exactly what is causing these symptoms. Therefore, when they appear, it is better to contact a specialist.
Causes
The animal may refuse to eat and be lethargic due to health problems:
- diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis);
- ear diseases (otitis, otodectosis and others);
- gastrointestinal problems (gastritis, enteritis, intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis);
- poisoning;
- injuries that are accompanied by pain;
- oncology;
- viral and bacterial infections (staphylococcus, adenovirosis, leptospirosis);
- helminthic infestations, the presence of fleas, lice, lice and other parasites;
- liver, kidney failure.
Some dog breeds are very sensitive. Any stressful situations can cause lethargy and poor appetite. This includes a change of place of residence, the death of a loved one, or a long absence of the owner.
Parasitic diseases in dogs
It is worth noting that parasitic diseases are extremely common among pets. Taking into account the parasite’s habitat, all diseases are conventionally divided into four large groups :
- External (fleas, lice eaters, ticks);
- Skin (itchy itch);
- Abdominal (live in the external cavities of the body, for example: fly larvae can be found in the nasal cavity);
- Internal (Trichinella, Plasmodium falciparum, Ascaris).
You can diagnose the presence of parasites in an animal using the following signs :
- A prolonged cough is a clear sign of the presence of parasites in the lungs.
- The presence of worms is accompanied by severe itching in the anal area.
- Skin parasites contribute to hair loss and dullness.
- Rapid weight loss with excellent appetite is a clear sign of the presence of roundworms in the body.
- Constant constipation or diarrhea indicates the presence of internal parasites.
Associated symptoms of diseases, diagnosis and treatment
Since poor appetite and lethargy can be a sign of various conditions, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms that accompany them.
Learn about the first signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis in dogs, as well as about the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
How and how to treat inflammation of the third eyelid in a puppy? Effective treatment options for pathology are collected in this article.
The final diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian after a clinical examination of the dog and diagnostics, which may include:
- clinical blood and urine analysis;
- bacterial sowing;
- Ultrasound;
- endoscopy;
- X-ray and others.
Poisoning
An animal may refuse food and lie down all the time due to poisoning by poor-quality food, chemicals, or medications.
It is important to observe the dog and pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:
- vomit;
- diarrhea;
- difficulty breathing;
- refusal of water.
In case of poisoning by certain chemicals, the dog is given an antidote. Also assigned:
- sorbents (Enterosgel, Polysorb);
- antispasmodics and painkillers (No-shpa, Spazmalgon);
- diuretics (Furosemide);
- hepatoprotectors (Essentiale, Karsil);
- antiemetics (Cerucal).
Important! In cases of poisoning, it is necessary to take the animal to the clinic as quickly as possible. Treatment begins with a starvation diet and detoxification measures. Solutions of glucose and NaCl are administered intravenously.
Gastrointestinal diseases
Clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases are very similar to signs of poisoning. In a dog, the problem with lack of appetite may be associated with gastritis, enteritis, intussusception (intestinal obstruction) and other pathologies.
These diseases can be accompanied by severe pain, which causes the animal to refuse food and water. There may be a bowel disorder - constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, and problems with the hind limbs often occur. The dog lies down a lot and breathes heavily.
Intestinal obstruction is considered a very dangerous condition. It can be caused by foreign bodies entering the gastrointestinal tract, strangulation, or vascular embolism. In puppies, blockage can occur due to coiled worms. Animals develop continuous vomiting, complete apathy, and severe pain. Sometimes there is only general weakness without vomiting.
As a rule, drug therapy for intussusception is ineffective. The problem is corrected surgically. After the operation, a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed.
Viral infections
Often, against the background of poor appetite and viral diseases, the temperature rises. An animal can pick up the virus on the street, through contact with other animals. Being in a cold, damp room, drafts, reduces immunity, which opens the door for infection.
For a speedy recovery when infected with viruses, the animal must be provided with favorable conditions. The room should be dry, air temperature +18-22°C. You need to let your dog drink as much as possible. To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes and immunostimulants.
Worms
There are many types of helminths that parasitize a dog’s body and cause various diseases. Depending on the concentration of worms, helminthiasis can be asymptomatic or accompanied by symptoms of varying severity.
In addition to poor appetite and lethargy, your dog may experience:
- unstable stool;
- rubbing your butt on the floor;
- hair loss;
- skin rash;
- weight loss.
With intestinal helminthiasis the following appear:
- flatulence;
- vomit;
- pallor of mucous membranes.
To get rid of helminths, anthelmintics are prescribed:
- Pyrantel;
- Milprazone;
- Drontal;
- Troncil;
- Pratel;
- Milbemax.
In advanced cases, deworming medications should be given to the dog at least twice with an interval of 1-2 weeks. The dosage of the product is selected taking into account the weight and general condition of the animal.
Liver failure
The influence of toxins, parasitic infections, viruses and other factors causes generalized damage to the liver tissue. Vascular anastomoses are formed, through which blood immediately enters the bloodstream.
Signs of liver failure:
- severe depression;
- refusal to eat;
- the animal lies down and does not respond to the owner’s call;
- intoxication causing vomiting;
- strong thirst at the beginning of the disease, then refusal of water;
- dryness, yellowing of the skin;
- abnormal stool, stool becomes light, almost white;
- ascites;
- in severe cases, paresis of the limbs and convulsions occur.
Treatment tactics are selected based on the causes of deficiency. The main task is to restore normal functioning of the liver. It is recommended to take hepatoprotectors, immunostimulants, vitamins, and, if necessary, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Infectious diseases in dogs
The main feature of all infectious diseases is that they are caused by pathological microorganisms and are, in most cases, contagious. Symptoms of canine disease of infectious origin are distinguished by a certain pattern of progression, since their formation and spread depend on the stage of the life cycle of the pathogenic agent. Puppies, animals with weakened immune systems and old pets are susceptible to similar diseases
However, it is worth noting that after the course of the disease, post-infectious immunity is formed in the body: the dog becomes immune to the virus that affected it for a long time. If an illness of infectious origin is diagnosed, the dog should be immediately isolated from its fellow dogs, and a thorough general cleaning should be carried out in the room where it lived.
Infectious diseases are conventionally divided into four main stages of development:
- Hidden or incubation period (the duration varies depending on the type of infection and the dog’s immunity);
- Preclinical;
- Clinical (this stage is accompanied by a significant manifestation of the disease);
- Outcome of the disease (full recovery, complications or death).
Viral diseases
Perhaps the most common diseases that dogs are susceptible to are viral ones.
Viral diseases:
- Rabies;
- Aujeszky's disease;
- Plague of carnivores;
- Infectious tracheobronchitis;
- Infectious hepatitis;
- Coronavirus enteritis;
- Parvovirus enteritis.
Rabies : infection occurs through direct contact with the saliva of a sick animal. The virus that has entered the body first penetrates the back, and then reaches the animal’s brain, where it actively develops, causing an inflammatory process. The course of the disease is accompanied by the following symptoms: changes in behavior (the animal is either afraid or excessively petting). Quite often, the dog begins to chew heavily on the bite site, is overly excited, has no appetite, vomits, and salivates profusely—these are the initial signs of the development of the disease.
The next stage of the disease in a dog is accompanied by aggression , even the most harmless animal is capable of attacking a person, even the owner, tries to run away, and profuse salivation. Subsequently, the signs of rabies development intensify: convulsive seizures appear, the duration and frequency of which change as the disease develops, body temperature rises significantly, and muscle paralysis occurs.
Plague : infection occurs through direct contact with a sick animal or through their infected external objects. The main signs of the plague are: a significant increase in body temperature, lethargy, a desire to retire, lack of appetite, inflammation of the mucous membranes, fever, purulent masses may be discharged from the eyes and nose. A pronounced symptom of the development of plague is excessive dryness of the nose, as a result of which the skin cracks, causing a feeling of discomfort and pain, the dog constantly sneezes. Also, a characteristic sign of the disease is difficulty breathing, abnormal bowel movements and vomiting.
This is interesting: How long does it take for discopathy to develop in dogs?
Aujeszky's disease or “false rabies” is diagnosed due to the following signs: decreased or lack of appetite, excessive salivation, fearfulness. A more pronounced symptom of false rabies is severe itching of the muzzle, as a result of which the animal, in despair, loses control over itself and scratches, tearing off the skin until it bleeds.
We looked at the most common diseases, but there are many more of them in nature. To identify other diseases, the owner of his pet should carefully monitor his physical and emotional state in order to promptly recognize the disease based on the following signs :
- Sneezing, difficulty breathing;
- Decreased or lack of appetite;
- Discharge of purulent discharge from the eyes and nose;
- Lethargy and apathy;
- Increased body temperature;
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
If you notice at least a few symptoms, you should immediately show your pet to a veterinarian. The appropriate course of therapy will be prescribed by a specialist based on an examination of the animal. As a rule, treatment includes an injection of serum with antibodies that effectively fight the infection, and a course of antibiotics .
Bacterial diseases
- Tuberculosis;
- Leptospirosis;
- Fungal diseases;
- Salmonellosis.
symptoms will help identify diseases of bacterial origin at an early stage :
- Vomiting, diarrhea, foam at the mouth;
- Lack of appetite;
- Depressive state, desire for solitude;
- Increased body temperature.
By contacting a veterinary clinic in a timely manner, you can help your animal receive the appropriate and necessary treatment .
In what cases is lack of appetite normal?
You should not immediately run to the doctor at the slightest deterioration in your dog’s appetite. In some cases, this may be a physiological norm:
- Estrus, pregnancy and childbirth are a period of hormonal changes that affect appetite. If nothing bothers your dog other than poor appetite, you don’t need to do anything, just watch. Your appetite should return to normal soon.
- Pickiness - the animal may refuse new, unfamiliar food, and also if the dog is fed by a stranger. This is a kind of protest sign.
- The period of teething - it is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the oral cavity in puppies. To alleviate the condition, a dog may chew everything around and refuse food.
- Bad mood - an animal may starve and lie down all the time if it misses its owner, if it spends not enough time on the street, or if it is not provided with sufficient physical activity.
- Heat - in such cases, dogs begin to eat less and drink more. If the general condition remains normal, then the appetite will return as soon as the air temperature is comfortable.
- Old age - animals may refuse to eat in anticipation of their own death.
Find out how to make a knitted hat for a dog with your own hands and in what cases your pet needs a hat.
The advantages and disadvantages of ready-made dry food Perfect Fit for small breed dogs are written on this page.
Go to the address and read about the first signs, symptoms and treatment of colitis in dogs.
Diagnostics
Both stupor and coma are emergencies that require immediate treatment. You will need to provide the veterinarian with a detailed medical history of the animal, including a list of symptoms and the order in which they appear. After your story, the doctor will conduct a complete physical examination of the dog. Laboratory examinations include blood cell counting, biochemical analysis of blood and urine. Stupor and coma can be caused by several diseases, and these tests can help identify them.
For example, in case of lead poisoning, the level of red blood cells will be elevated. When there is infection or inflammation, white blood cell levels increase (in response to infection or injury).
A blood chemistry test may reveal low or high levels of glucose or sodium in the blood, or the accumulation of nitrogen-containing waste products such as urea (usually excreted from the body in urine) in the blood.
A urine test may reveal high levels of glucose in the urine (a characteristic symptom of diabetes), high levels of proteins not normally present in the urine (a sign of an immune-related disease), or the presence of large crystals in the urine (commonly seen in liver disease or ethylene poisoning). glycol).
If the cause of coma or stupor is not obvious, more specialized tests may be needed. Infections are one of the most important risk factors, especially in the case of untreated diseases. Your veterinarian will try to determine if your dog is suffering from diseases that commonly affect dogs and can lead to stupor or coma.
