When it comes to puppies, sometimes it can be hard to tell whether they’re sick or whether they’re just tired. Puppies are growing dogs and can use up a lot of energy on play, exploring the world around them, and learning new things. But tiredness is also a symptom of illness, so it’s essential for pet owners to know how to tell the difference between the two so they can properly care for their puppies.
Keep an Eye on Your Puppy
If your puppy is just tired, then they should recover after some rest. This may just be a nap or it might be a good night’s sleep. Tiredness alone isn’t typically a sign that you should worry. However, if your puppy seems tired for a few days straight, then that may be cause for concern. It’s possible for a high temperature to cause tiredness and sore muscles, after all.
You should also make sure that your puppy is interested in things like play and eating whenever they’re not sleeping. If the only thing they do is sleep, then that’s a sign you should take your puppy to the vet to get checked out.
Look for Other Symptoms of Illness
If your puppy is sick, tiredness may not be the only symptom they have. Look for some of these other symptoms your puppy may be sick:
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Eating odd things
- Excessive thirst
- Lack of enthusiasm
- Lethargy
- Bad smell
- Scratching or itching
- Head shaking
- Excessive sneezing
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Losing weight
- Changes in behavior
- Dry or rough coat
- Unusual stools
- Cloudy eyes
- Red eyes
- Scooting
Your puppy doesn’t have to have all of the above symptoms together in order to be considered ill. Tiredness combined with even a few of the symptoms, which are of a variety of different possible conditions, could be a sign of illness.
Take Your Puppy to the Vet
As the puppy’s parent, you know your pet best. If your puppy isn’t acting like they usually do and you’re worried, then you should follow your instincts and contact your vet. It’s better to hear from your vet that it’s nothing than to ignore your gut feeling that your puppy really was sick and find out later that you were right.
If you have questions about symptoms, you may be able to call or email your vet to ask without having to take your puppy in. Your vet may be able to tell you more about when tiredness is something you should worry about, especially if they’re already familiar with your puppy.
Stay Current on Vaccinations and Preventative Treatments
Some regular diseases and conditions can be prevented just by staying current on vaccinations and treatments such as flea and tick preventatives. Making sure that you’re current on everything your puppy needs will help to reduce the risk of your puppy getting sick at all, which will increase the chances of your puppy just being tired.
