Articles with lethargy

Acute Kidney Failure in Dogs: Blitzen’s Tragic Story. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

Many things can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Toxins are high on the list of potential causes. What constitutes a toxin, though? The well-known substances that cause injury to the kidneys include antifreeze grapes and raisins over-the-counter pain relievers Infections, such as leptospirosis are not far behind. This does not, however, constitute a complete list. Diagnosing kidney failure is…

by Jana Rade

Weakness and Lethargy in Dogs: Mandy Cannot Walk. What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Mandy became ill quite suddenly. She became lethargic, didn’t want to get up, and didn’t want to eat. Mandy was a nine-and-a-half-year-old female German Shepherd. Considering her age, she was in good shape until this happened. It was apparent Mandy was not well. Besides losing her appetite and strength, she was extremely thirsty and started having potty accidents at night.…

by Jana Rade

Fatigue in Dogs: Razzle Goes Listless. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

Lethargy, weakness, or fatigue in dogs are vague symptoms. However, they can mean that your dog is seriously ill. Dogs are normally bundles of energy and joy. Naturally, a day of fun can make your dog tired. But what if they become more listless and fatigued than is reasonable for the amount of activity? Potential causes of weakness and lethargy…

by Jana Rade

Is Severe Lethargy an Emergency?

Lethargy is a state in which your dog is uninterested in or unable to go about their normal activities. Your dog will act tired, weak, and lacking energy. Lethargy, particularly severe, most definitely, absolutely is an emergency. Your dog is either very ill, poisoned, in extreme pain or having an adverse reaction to a drug or medication. Non-specific but important…

by Jana Rade

Dog Arthritis Acting Up? If You Catch Yourself Using These Words, Consider an Abdominal Ultrasound

What the heck am I talking about? What does arthritis have to do with the abdomen? Just had another friend, whose dog’s arthritis started acting up, facing a diagnosis of a splenic tumor. Yes, arthritis can get more painful on some days, particularly if your dog overdoes it, or is a weekend warrior. For some dogs, weather can play a role…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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