My 5-year-old Cavalier dog is sleeping more than usual. What's wrong?

An eleven year old Cavelier is fairly old for that breed. They are prone to heart disease which could cause him to sleep a lot and not walk fast. He could be missing his sister but I'm concerned about a heart or medical problem. I would take him him for a senior exam and blood work. If he's just starting with a medical problem and it's treated he may gain back some energy and interest in life. Heart disease can be treated with good results with medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Buster.

Best to have her checked over as falling over could be due to her heart condition. In the meantime try to keep her calm and confined to an aerea, just in case it is something related to her heart condition, we don' t want her to overdo it by following you around the house.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since he is a Cavalier I worry about heart disease. Unfortunately heart murmurs and heart failure are genetic in this breed and almost all Cavaliers develop murmurs. Since his breathing has changed even when he is awake I would have him examined by your Vet and have chest X-rays done. If a heart murmur is heard I would definitely take X-rays. If the X-rays show heart enlargement I would start him on medications and have an echocardiogram done by a Veterinary cardiologist. I wish you and Simon the very best!

Cavaliers are prone to some heritable diseases such as syringomelia and heart disease. Syringomelia is a condition that causes pain and scratching in the neck area, which could be aggravated by turning her on her back. Of course, her problem could have other causes, but the signs are to general to be able to pin point a cause. If she does not improve by tomorrow , or if she deteriorates you need to take her to a veterinarian for an exam.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lack of energy can be the sign of many things that go from just being tired to actually representing a problem like due to pain for example. If he is otherwise fine, I recommend you keep a close eye on him for now. If there is no improvement within the next 2-3 days, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

It is normal for dogs energy to levels to decrease slightly as they age. You should consider if Calhoun is still interested in the same activities, or if he no longer plays or gets excited for walks, for example. You know Calhoun best, so if you are concerned that he seems "off" I recommend having him seen by a vet who can perform the appropriate diagnostic tests. I'm happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

The increased appetite and lethargy is a concern and may indicate a hormonal condition such as cushings which can often create skin signs also. A full health check plus blood or urine screen would be recommended to determine exactly what is going on and what treatment is required