My dog is lethargic a week after being hit by a car. What's wrong?

He could simply be tired, but if it goes on for more than 24 hours, I'd recommend a check up with his vet to make sure nothing is going on. He could have pulled a muscle or eaten something more than you realized during the visit. If he's not eating, extremely lethargic, or vomiting, I'd go to the vet ASAP.

I am sorry to hear about Leia! If you feel she is really lethargic then I would recommend bringing her in to the vet for an exam. Lethargy is a very vague symptom so there are many different possible causes, but your vet can do a physical examination to try to narrow down the possiblities for her lethargy. This in combination with a good history and sometimes labwork will help pinpoint the cause of her lethargy and how best to treat the condition.

The lethargy is the most worrying sign in my opinion and should be ideally checked as soon as possible as could be secondary to the presence of head trauma. Neurological and physical examinations are necessary to confirm or rule out this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I would be concerned that Bell hasn't returned to normal after 12-24 hours. While heat injury is possible usually dogs have issues sooner than now such as seizures, diarrhea, bruising and/or collapse. She could have a problem with her GI tract, something stuck in her esophagus or even a respiratory issues causing her changes. If she continues to cough, seems lethargic/lack of energy, or has any vomiting, diarrhea or continues to have a decreased appetite today she needs to be seen by a veterinarian. I would try calling your veterinarian today as they sometimes have an oncall service or an emergency veterinarian on call to answer questions as well.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is concerning that his lethargy has been persisting for so long. It is difficult to say what this could be, but some dogs are hardy enough that the only symptom they may show of being ill is lethargy. I would certainly recommend having him checked out by a vet to be sure we are not missing a medical issue. They can perform a full physical exam to check for any areas of pain or infection, and may recommend additional blood tests or x-rays depending on what is found on the physical exam. For example, some problems I commonly see after grooming visits are skin or ear infections. If this is detected by the vet, they can recommend medications to help clear the issue. If he physically checks out fine, it is possible this may be a purely behavioural issue, in which case the vet can also provide advice on how to help as well. I hope this helps, and that Chewy is feeling better soon!

Poor Charlie! There are several things that can cause him to be lethargic and not eat like kidney or liver disease, an infection, a tumor/cancer, general GI upset, parasites, and much more. Since he has an extensive medical history and he isn't eating well and lethargic, I would strongly recommend to have your vet take a look at him asap. Your vet will be able to do a fecal, blood work and even x-rays if needed. They will be able to recommend the best treatment plan for him to help him feel better! I hope this helps!

Great question! Unfortunately, I don't have a great answer. If your dog is eating and drinking normally and the issues that necessitated her hospitalization have resolved, I would be far less concerned. Until she has completed the courses of medication, it is ultimately impossible to determine if her lethargy is secondary to medication or due to illness. Consider calling your vet to discuss if any of the medications can be discontinued or if any doses can be reduced to limit potential lethargy. I hope that all goes well!