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Some illnesses in dogs and cat can cause weakness which could be seen as reduction in exercise, so they're not willing to exercise for as long as they normally would, they might not be using their legs normally, or they might be holding their head lower than they normally do. If you see these signs you want to take note of what's going on, how often it's happening and also other vital signs and behavioral changes and get your pet to a veterinarian for evaluation and let them know what you're seeing at home. Now there are a few instances where the chances of a pet developing weakness might be higher, such as in pregnant animals. Pregnant dogs and cats have a higher need for some electrolytes like calcium and so it's really important to ensure that they're on an appropriate diet for these situations or getting some supplementation. You'll want to discuss this with your veterinarian in advance before there are any problems. Another situation where weakness could occur is in puppies and kittens, especially in small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahuas. If they're not eating regularly they're at risk for developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. If you have reason to suspect your pet has low blood sugar, you can try offering her some food or rubbing some maple syrup or corn syrup on her gums. You're going to want to take your pet to the veterinarian after but take note of how she responded after you gave her the food or the syrup. If she improved, there's a really good chance that this was caused by low blood sugar. Now for diabetic animals you want to remember that even though normally we're worried about high blood sugar because if they're being treated with insulin there is a risk of that dropping and so you always want to be wary of weakness in diabetic pets. Other causes of weakness in dogs and cats could be from a muscle or neurologic disorder. Now these tend to have a slower, more insidious onset and then become progressive. If you see these signs, again take note of what changes you're seeing, note your pet's vital signs and have them seen by veterinarian. One of the more concerning causes for weakness and dogs and cats is an underlying heart disorder. Now this can be caused by any number of things but when you take your pet's vitals you may notice that her heart rate is either much faster or much slower than normal and her gum color may be pale pink to white. Again, these could be a sign that there's an underlying heart condition. You're going to want to keep your pet calm in this situation and transport her to a veterinarian. Now sudden collapse is a severe form of weakness and while it can be very scary it's important if your pet collapses to try to determine if she's lost consciousness. If your pet has lost consciousness you want to feel for a pulse. If you can't feel a pulse you're going to want to start CPR efforts. If you can feel a pulse or if your pet is still conscious or regains consciousness, you're going to want to take note of the heart rate and respiratory rate and four other things to observe. Those would be what was she doing before the collapse event, what did the collapse event look like, how long did it last and what was my pet doing after she regained consciousness, if that's the case. Take note of this information, transport your pet to veterinarian as soon as possible and relay that information to them.
In this lesson, we're going to cover weakness in your pets, including four conditions or situations that can trigger weakness. We'll also cover sudden collapse – a severe form of weakness – and what you should do if your pet suddenly collapses.
There are some illnesses in dogs and cats that can cause weakness. Signs and symptoms of weakness include when your pet is:
If you notice any of these signs and symptom of weakness, take note of what's going on with your pet so you can tell your vet. Specifically, you'll want to note:
Sudden collapse is a sever form of weakness. While it can be scary to have a pet that suddenly collapses, it's important to stay focused and calm and determine if your pet has lost consciousness.
If she has lost consciousness, immediately check for a pulse. If you cannot feel a pulse, begin CPR. (Which you will learn how to perform in a subsequent lesson.)
If you can feel a pulse or your pet is still conscious, or regains consciousness, take note of a few things so you can tell your vet, including:
Pro Tip #3: Don't discount the importance of telling your vet as much information as possible. The more you can provide, the better he or she will be able to help your pet.