My dog sleeps all the time. Is this normal or a sign of illness?

Hello. It certainly is possible that this is normal for Chi. If her eating/drinking habits have not changed, she seems well, no coughing or problems eliminating, then I would not be too concerned. But at your next veterinary visit, point out your concerns & your vet may want to do some bloodwork, including thyroid levels. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Puppies do sleep a lot. As long as Sky has periods of activity & is eating well, at least 3 times a day, & has regular eliminations, no diarrhea, then he is not probably overtly ill. But if he is suddenly acting sleepy when he was a more active pup, then this is not normal & he probably needs to be evaluated by your veterinarian. I do hope Sky is well & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. This is a very difficult situation to answer in this type forum. There are many questions that need to be answered as well as a good physical exam to determine if something is indeed wrong with Anna. I would say that if she is reluctant to interact & engage with you or your family when there is a fair amount of activity in the house, then yes, this would be quite abnormal for a relatively young dog. So, if you think her sleeping is abnormal, it is very important to have her examined by your veterinarian to rule out disease, infection, anemia, low thyroid function, neurologic dysfunction or anything else that may be responsible for her low energy & excessive sleeping. Hopefully, she is fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

At 3years of age he would generally expected to be more active but every dogs character is different and some are very placid. If his behavior has changed over the last 3 months I strongly recommend a full health check by your vet to rule out medical or painful conditions which may be reducing his mobility

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!

When a pet has some kind of change in behvaior that last for more than a day or two, followed by decreased appetite or some other symptoms, then it could very well be a sign of an underlying illness and you should get her checked by your vet soon. However, if she is just displaying odd behavior and still eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating normally, she likely is just bored. Try socializing her more if that is the case, and see if this makes any difference in her mood. Best wishes with your pet Satsuki, and I hope she starts to feel like her normal self soon! Take care.

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!