My 6 year old cavy has become very lethargic over the last week, just had his annual check and booster - every thing ok.  His body function's are all normal, although his appitite is poor .  He his drinking more water than normal.  Right from birth he has always had to clear his throat after drinking - some sort of issue with a flap of skin apparently but since he has been off colour he has never had to clear is throat after drinking.

Has your Vet done any blood/urine tests on your dog?

Presume his heart is ok if the vet has done a general check, that could cause lethargy. Otherwise I'd go down the blood / urine test route, specially as he is drinking more than usual.

My vet offers a cheaper blood test for over 7 year olds when they go for boosters and annual check.  I have it done on all mine as they approach middle age.  It's surprising how it throws up problems that are only just starting, and haven't been noticed.  Usually kidney or liver problems at this age.  I think it may be worth having the tests done, even though your boy is only 6, because it does sound as if some tests are in order.

Did your vet do a proper exam of the heart or just a waft over the general area?

I would ask that they have a good listen in the light of the dog now being letharigic. Im sorry to say but many GP vets miss murmurs especially when just boostering.
A flap of skin obstructing eating and drinking shouldnt affect appetite, just frustrate the dog.

Do you mean that he has been lethargic SINCE his booster and check up?  If so you need to take your dog back so that your Vet knows.

Sam became lethargic two days after his booster. His weight is good and general seemed fine

Please check his gums are not pale and check his mouth carefully for ulcers.

Then you really need to get his back to your Vet.

West coast is right take him back to the vet and make sure he thinks about a possible link good luck hope he is fine

Usually kidney or liver problems at this age.

Why should it be generally acceptable or expected even..... that a relatively young dog is likely to have liver or kidney problems around the age of 7...??

Every living creature is born perfect and Nature has given them all the perfect detoxifying and waste elimination system.... via their liver and kidneys. All the toxins from yearly (unneccessary!) vaccinations....spot on flea treatments...chemical wormers...e-numbers...preservatives...colourings....environmental toxins...household chemicals...all of it has to be processed through the liver and kidneys...

The liver has remarkable powers of rejuvination and regeneration...but...there is a limit .......to what it can take before things start to go amiss..!

If it were me...I would ask my vet to report a "Suspect Adverse Reaction" form to the vaccine company. (The vaccine company are legally obliged to look into it)  If your vet doesn't know what it is...or refuses to believe there is a link..... then you can do it yourself by downloading the form from here...

http://www.alternativevet.org/sarss.htm

Then I would seek referral to a Homeopathic Vet....tell him/her that I am concerned about vaccinosis...and seek a natural way to detoxify the body.

I hope he feels better soon x

>Every living creature is born perfect

If only that was true. A look around any neonatal ward will prove otherwise.

Er quite........................................

> Every living creature is born perfect

Sadly I don't think I am living in the same world as you :-(

>Every living creature is born perfect - If only that was true. A look around any neonatal ward will prove otherwise.

Maybe I should rephrase that... "Every living creature has a right to be born perfect"

It is debatable though how much man's interference on the natural balance of the planet has contributed to the sadness of this...one only has to think of the likes of DDT..nuclear disaster...asbestos....the list is endless....

Nothing in nature is perfect and if you study genetics you will see just how unlikely 'perfect' is.

I think everything should have a right to as good a chance as possible.

Sam is now firing on all cylinders again - managed to rip up a couple of xmas cards today.  The fact that he was shivering a lot made us think perhaps it was just a chill although not really sure how that could have happened . As regards to him drinking a lot, he drank 300 mills in 24 hours, ( dry food) he weights around 8.5 kgs. Hard to discount the fact that it came on 2 days after his booster and wormer though.

Haha my Cav puppy has been opening the cards for us too! Glad to hear he is back to normal. :-)

Probably had a raised temperature, not unknown following a jab, glad to hear he is back to normal.

> Every living creature is born perfect

That statement has to be 100% wrong, nothing in nature is perfect and what does perfect mean anyway?

I don't wish to detract from the discussion by debating the semantics of the word "perfect"

It is actually of little consequence to me what an animal looks like on the outside long legs...short legs...big small medium....I have the deepest respect for ALL living creatures (and I confess to only watching Crufts for the "Collie bits" :) )

The important issue for me is nurturing and safe-guarding wellness within the parts of an animal that no-one ever even sees...its immune system.