My Dog Won't Jump Up On The Bed, And Has A Hard Time Even Getting Her Butt Into A Chair. She Is Very Lethargic And Sleeps All The Time. What's Wrong With Her?

My dog won't jump up any more and is very lethargic. What is wrong with her?

Lethargy is normally a very clear indication that your dog is unwell. If this continues, then I would advise you to take your dog to a veterinary practice and get her checked out.

The vet will be able to perform a thorough examination of your pet and can hopefully establish exactly what is causing her to sleep all the time and have no energy.

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin almost straight away.

Although you do need to take your dog to the vet, here are some common causes for lethargy in dogs:

• Parvovirus: Often simply known as "parvo", this virus is spread through feces - and, if it isn't diagnosed early, it can be serious.
• Distemper: This condition can cause your dog to develop a fever.
• Kennel cough: A contagious respiratory disease that should be cured relatively easily by a vet.
• Heart-worm: Heart-worms infiltrate your dog through mosquito bites, and can cause these symptoms in a dog. This condition can be very serious if it isn't swiftly diagnosed and treated by a vet.