Pampered pets: My dog has suddenly gone very lazy
OUR vet david grant works his animal magic.
Should you be worried if your labrador has suddenly become very lazy?
Q. My 12-year-old labrador has suddenly become very lazy.
He prefers staying inside in the warmth to going on a nice brisk walk.
What could have caused this change in behaviour?
Amanda Holden floored by excited labrador
A. This change in behaviour could simply be down to the drop in temperature.
However, I would also recommend a general examination by your vet.
I very much advise regular check-ups for older dogs.
This is because if problems caused by ageing are picked up early enough, they stand a better chance of being treated successfully.
The current drop in temperature could be the reason behind the change in behaviour
I would ask your vet to check his heart, as one of the first signs of heart failure is reduced exercise tolerance.
I would ask your vet to check his heart, as one of the first signs of heart failure is reduced exercise tolerance
Other symptoms may include a persistent cough.
Dogs with heart failure can reach their normal life span in some cases with modern drug treatment.
There are also a few hormonal problems that may reduce a dog’s desire to exercise including hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) and Cushing’s disease (overactive adrenal glands).
Certain hormonal differences could be responsible for the laziness
Hypothyroidism in particular is often associated with dogs that seek heat – lying next to radiators, for example. Another common possibility is arthritis.
He will be more comfortable lying down and lose interest in going out if he is in pain.
All the diseases I have mentioned can be treated quite effectively.