Why Is My Dog So Tired?
Lethargy in Dogs

First, rule out the things that need a vet

Lethargy is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and it is one of the first signs of almost any illness. A quiet day after a long hike, a vaccine or a stressful event is usually nothing. But if the tiredness came on suddenly, has lasted more than a day or two, or is travelling with any of the signs below, call your vet today rather than reading further.¹

• Vomiting, diarrhoea or not eating
• Pale, white or yellowish gums
• Laboured or fast breathing
• A swollen or hard belly
• Weakness, collapse or trouble standing
• Drinking or urinating much more than usual

If the vet finds nothing, or finds a dog who is simply "getting older", keep reading. This is the dog we hear about most.

Where energy actually comes from

Much of what needs correcting begins in the microscopic cells of the body. Imagine each cell as a miniature power plant. It receives fuel in the form of oxygen, carried in by the bloodstream, and burns that fuel to release energy for everything the body does. And as a real power plant gives off toxic smoke when it burns fossil fuel, the cells give off toxic by-products when they burn oxygen. Those by-products are free radicals: oxygen molecules missing an electron. To balance themselves they steal electrons from whatever is nearby, setting off a chain reaction. As free radicals build up, cell function falls off, and the result is low energy output. It is the same chemistry that rusts metal and browns a cut apple: oxidation, happening slowly inside the body.

To keep this under control the body produces antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and its cousins, as nature's way of reversing the damage. But making those enzymes depends largely on a daily intake of live food. Heat destroys the live element of food, and every bag and can of pet food has been heated, cooked and processed. Without a daily source of live nutrition, the body does not have the resource to make enough of the enzymes that keep its cells running well. Our All About Enzymes guide goes deeper.

Why it shows with age

Look at it from the people side for a moment. These antioxidant enzymes are what our own bodies produce in abundance when we are young; you might call them the essence of life. Through our prime years the body makes them at a very high rate, which keeps us healthy and full of vitality. Past a certain point, around 25 for a person, output falls a little every year, and toxins and free-radical damage are no longer dealt with the way they once were. That decline is a large part of what we call aging. The physiology is much the same in a dog, on a shorter clock.

What we recommend for a dog who has slowed down

Give the body back the live element the food left out. Sprouted Granules in the bowl are the economical choice; Antioxidant Treats by hand are the convenient one, and most families use both. Both are made from live sprouted soybean meal, which gives the body the raw material to produce its own antioxidant enzymes while supplying a small amount with each daily dose.

The Core FoundationSee the Core Foundation →Sprouted Granules in the bowl and Antioxidant Treats by hand: live-food enzymes and antioxidants, made from live sprouted soybean meal. Where every dog starts.

Changes are gradual and real; some families see them in days, most within a few weeks. Not sure where to begin? Book a free consultation.