I have a 2 1/2 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback. The past 2 weeks she has been very lethargic. I ended up taking her into the vet and she has had various blood tests, thyroid tests, electrolite test and nothing is showing up. A breeder suggested running a more complete Lyme disease test called the Western Blot. After that I'm out of ideas. I was hoping that someone out there may have some suggestions - they would be greatly appreciated. If nothing shows up today then the vet wants to run and MRI and much more expensive tests.
2006-08-11 07:20:27 · 8 answers · asked by Karen 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
She is spayed. She is eating and drinking normally. The only thing is that it is taking her longer to eat. Normally she would finish in 30 seconds now it is taking her 30 minutes but she is eating it all.
I was told a full blood panel was run and that everything came back normal. She had an ultrasound, chest xrays, and a neuro consult - everything was fine. Her organs are not swollen. There is no vomiting or diarrhea.
She does not seem to be in pain everywhere - she is just moving very slow.
2006-08-13 12:32:05 · update #1
Oh Wow..I don't want to scare you, but my 5 year old Jack Russel Terrier "Rose" started acting lethargic during most activities. It was very sow progressing. I was pregnant and on bedrest when I noticed her decline. I took her into into the vet to get her teeth cleaned. The Vet did various blood tests and nothing was off. A few months later she stopped eating. Everyone told me that it was because she was depressed or anxious with the baby on the way. I knew in my gut something was wrong. All of her blood tests were normal at that point too. I changed Vets because I felt they were barking up the wrong tree. The new vet did extensive liver testing and found pretty bad results. Later, a biopsy revealed that she was in the late stages of liver failure and gave her 2 weeks max to live. She lived two months until we had to put her down. The Vet suggested that she was poisened, or that she got into something toxic to dogs livers (peanuts witht the shell, certain plants, or certain wild mushrooms). We will still NEVER know what or who killed poor Rose. The saddest part is that if we would have known her liver was in trouble early on (remember blood work showed normal liver enzymes a few months before her death) we could have put her on a diet and medications to help heal her liver. I URGE you to get extensive liver testing. A Vet hospital or training school should have more extensive services and knowledge of complex liver issues and the latest technology to deal with such issues. Good Luck. I hope that your poor doggy get better and that he/she is just hot or depressed like others have suggested.
2006-08-18 11:28:24 · answer #1 · answered by Kimberly K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has there been some recent instance that may have distressed her-did someone leave the family or did another animal leave esp on she was close to. Animals also have emotions and just like in humans when sad,depressed and so on the activity slows down--since I'd think if something physical there would have been something to alert the vet esp after all the tests. Did something change with you-perhaps you changed your routine and so on. Also check her food -if she's been eating the same food -chk the contents for By-Products-usually in the forms of meal but all it is is ground up waste parts of the animal so ev though it says chicken or whatever meat-not much there and the essential part of a dog's diet is the protein from meat. If so-switch to quality dog food that has NO by products-can buy Petsmart,Peco and various pet supply stores but most Food stores carry the cheaper foods that have byproducts- if there is nothing and she already eats appropriate food then I'd have the MRI done for could be something just beginning in her that is not yet showing up on tests. Good Luck
2006-08-19 07:06:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems like I've answered this question for someone else.
But, okay, to save the world from devastation, to protect ridgebacks of all nations....contact a 2nd vet and also contact
your local animal shelter for more info.
If all else fails, get your ridgeback to any vet to have those tests
run. You love your pet, do the right thing!
2006-08-17 17:37:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
she could be depressed... dogs DO get that way. how does she do when you give her attention? does she perk up and play? how about grooming her... that might reveal any tenderness or sensitive areas while giving her some loving attention too.
she also is coming out of puppyhood. i don't know the breed characteristics, but some dogs show a rather quick and extreme transformation when they hit full adulthood.
2006-08-18 02:43:32 · answer #4 · answered by velvt_wi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
has it been really hot where you are? I know here in Georgia, my dogs, even though they stay mostly inside, just seem more moapy since it's close to 100 degrees outside
2006-08-11 07:33:13 · answer #5 · answered by buggsnme2 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
check her for ticks. They can cause a type of paralysis in humans and animals. Other then that maybe it is just the heat
2006-08-11 07:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Could she be depressed? There is such a thing a doggie prozac.
2006-08-19 05:48:35 · answer #7 · answered by kathy r 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i am sorry i cant help you i just want points
2006-08-18 07:40:34 · answer #8 · answered by zac d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋