My dog is walking slow with head down – reasons and solutions

Pets Can Smile – 29 April 2024

Oh no, my dog is walking slow with head down!

What’s going on? 

Is it dangerous to my dog? 

The short answer is: Your dog is walking with head down because of: 

• Pain (or discomfort)
• Arthritis
• Neurological disease
• Spinal injury 
• Submission 
• Anxiety 
• Infection

But there is more you need to know!

This is why this article will tell everything you need to know about: 

• All the main reasons for a dog walking slowly with its head down 
• Is it really dangerous to your dog? 
• What should you do to stop this behavior?

Yes, some of the reasons may surprise you. 

And some issues may need your immediate attention.

Let’s do this. 

Let’s ensure your dog walks properly and loves walking with you – every time!

Main reasons why your dog is walking slow with its head down

It can be worrying to see your dog walking slowly with its head down. 

What’s going on? 

Is it dangerous to your dog? 

Here are the main reasons why your dog is walking slowly with its head close to the ground. 

Pain (or physical discomfort)

If your dog is walking slowly with its head down, the poor thing may be in pain. 

The pain may be coming from your dog’s neck, back, legs, paw pads, and more. 

Pain in the neck is often responsible for issues with walking and walking posture in dogs. 

There are a few ways your poor doggy can get neck pain: 

• Injury
• Arthritis (inflammation & degeneration of the joints)
• Degenerative disc disease (more on this later)
• Cancerous tumors (they press on the spinal cord or nerves)

Some types of neck pain can be resolved with rest and medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other medications designed for dogs.

But in more serious cases, your dog may need surgery. 

In addition to walking slowly with the head down, there are other signs that may indicate your dog is in pain. 

The signs of pain may include: 

• Lethargy
• Changes in behavior 
• Loss of interest in walks and playing
• Changes in appetite
• Excessive barking 
• Aggression 

Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of slow walking (with a head down) in dogs. 

Arthritis involves inflammation and degeneration of the dog’s joints. 

Arthritis can affect dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Arthritis causes: 

• Pain in the joints
• Stiffness
• Inflammation in the joints
• Slow walk with the head down

Arthritis can cause problems with: 

• Walking 
• Climbing stairs 
• Getting up from lying down

A dog with arthritis may also: 

• Be less active
• Sleep more

Unfortunately, arthritis is a progressive disease – and currently, there is no cure.

Sadly, I have extensive personal experience with a dog suffering from arthritis. My brother’s Cocker Spaniel has arthritis. 

The good news is, that you can greatly ease the discomfort of your dog if it suffers from arthritis. 

This is how we help our poor Cocker Spaniel:

• Special exercise (to keep joints flexible and prevent stiffness) 
• Supplements containing glucosamine (to reduce inflammation)
• Soft bed or cushion (for optimal comfort)

If you notice any changes in your dog’s movement (e.g. slow movement), contact your vet. 

Neurological disease

Slow walking with the head down can also be a sign of a neurological disease. 

A neurological disease is a disorder of the dog’s nervous system. 

The nervous system in dogs includes: 

• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Nerves 

Neurological diseases can affect any part of your dog’s nervous system. 

Neurological disease can cause problems with: 

• Movement
• Sensation
• Thinking

A neurological disease can cause:

• Weakness
• Paralysis (legs)
• Pressure on the brain (can affect mood and behavior) 

Here are some of the most common neurological diseases in dogs: 

• Canine cognitive dysfunction: Similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Causes changes in mental function and behavior in dogs. Symptoms can include disorientation, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and changes in social interactions.
• Epilepsy: Can cause loss of consciousness and muscle convulsions. Epilepsy can be genetic or caused by factors such as liver disease or head trauma. 
• Canine degenerative myelopathy: A progressive disease that affects the spinal cord. Causes weakness and paralysis in the hind legs.
• Intervertebral disc disease: Deterioration of the discs located between vertebrae. Leads to pain, weakness, and even paralysis.

Spinal injury 

A slow walk and lowered head can also be the result of a spinal injury. 

A spinal injury is always an emergency – contact your vet immediately.  

If you suspect a spinal injury, make sure your dog is not moving too much. It’s best to place your dog in a crate. 

The symptoms of a spinal injury in dogs may include:  

• Aversion to walking
• Lowered head 
• Lack of coordination 
• Can’t perform full body shake 
• Shivers
• Can’t bend down to eat or drink
• May yelp when petted 

Dog breeds with delicate and elongated backs are more susceptible to back injuries than other dogs.  

Here are the most prone to a spinal injury dog breeds: 

• Basset Hounds 
• Corgis 
• Beagles
• Dachshunds 
• Lhasa Apso

Injury

A recent injury can also be causing your dog to walk slowly with its head down. 

If your pup has recently experienced any kind of trauma, such as a fall or a car accident, the poor thing may be moving slowly and keeping its head down due to discomfort or pain from the injury.

But if you’re unaware of any recent injuries in your dog, check your dog’s body. You never know. Look for signs of injury such as bruises, cuts, swelling, or limping. 

Bad leash experience

When my sister went for a holiday, she let someone else walk her Poodle for 3 weeks. 

After returning from the holiday, my sister noticed that her dog was walking slower and more cautiously on walks. The dog was also keeping its head slightly lower during walks. 

So my sister had a chat with that holiday dog walker. 

It turned out that the dog walker was pulling too hard and too fast on the leash during walks (yes, my sister’s Poodle needs more leash training). 

Luckily, the dog suffered no injury to its throat or neck (we checked it with our vet). 

Still, the dog was now walking a bit slower, with its head slightly down. It seems that the dog was trying to counter any sudden pulling on the leash, due to the recent bad leash experience. 

It took some time for my sister’s dog to recover from the bad experience. 

I helped my sister’s dog to regain its walking confidence – and yes, I also helped with the much-needed leash training. 

I’m delighted to report that my sister’s Poodle is now a happy and proper walker!

Poor balance

Yes, if your dog is walking slowly with its head down, your pup may have problems with balance. 

Here are the most common reasons for a dog losing its balance: 

• Inner ear infection
• Vestibular disease
• Getting older

If you think your dog has poor balance, consult your vet for advice. 

Medication side effects

Some dog medications can cause lethargy, which can slow down your dog’s walking pace. A lethargic dog may also walk with its head down. 

Here are some of the dog medications that can cause dogs to walk with their head down: 

• Painkillers
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Antibiotics
• Heart medications

One of my dogs was recently on anti-inflammatory drugs. 

And yes, the medication affected my dog’s walking speed and posture. 

Luckily, like most dogs, my dog quickly adjusted to the prescribed medication and returned to its normal activity, including a proper walking pace and posture. 

Avoiding punishment

Your dog can read your mood. 

If you’re angry or upset, your dog may adopt a submissive posture to avoid punishment.

Your dog will also avoid eye contact when in a submissive mode. 

Submissive postures are most often seen in puppies, especially when they’re still learning the rules of the house. 

But submissive behavior can also be seen in older dogs, especially if they’ve been punished in the past for something. 

A dog may also walk in a submissive posture if the poor thing has been previously mistreated, including during walks (perhaps by its previous owner). 

My dog (Doberman) used to behave submissively after doing something forbidden, such as chewing on my new shoes. 

Yes, a dog will often know when it has done something it shouldn’t have. And it will know that punishment may be in order. 

And yes, a submissive posture is all your pup can do to try to convince you that this won’t happen again. Ever. 

By the way, it’s never a good idea to punish a dog by yelling at it or punishing it physically.  

Submission 

A dog walking with its head down may be showing submission. 

Keeping its head down is a way of avoiding eye contact.

On the other hand, a dog that confidently looks you (or other dogs) in the eye is showing that it’s in charge. 

Your dog has a cold

Your dog may have just come down with a cold. 

And a dog with a cold may have a low energy – hence the lowered head.

A dog with a cold may also get chills and hold its body close to the ground. 

Anxiety 

Anxiety can be another reason for a slow walk in dogs (when holding their heads down). 

The most common reasons for anxiety in dogs are: 

• Losing a family member (pet or human)
• Arrival of a new family member (pet or human)
• Moving house 

But a dog can also get anxious on walks if it wasn’t properly socialized during puppyhood. 

Such a dog may become nervous during walks, especially in new locations or when meeting other dogs. An anxious dog will often lower its head and walk with its nose close to the ground.

Emotional distress

Dogs are emotional creatures, just like humans. 

And just like humans, dogs will sometimes show their distress using their body language. 

So yes, if your doggy is walking with its head down, you should consider cheering up your pup. 

Your dog is afraid

If your dog is scared or hesitant, it may walk slower than usual and keep its head closer to the ground. 

Common reasons for feeling afraid are:

• New surroundings (sounds, smells, visuals)
• New animals 
• New people

To help your dog adjust to new people, animals, or environments, try taking your dog to less crowded areas. Let your dog adjust. 

The good news is that most dogs adjust to new situations quite quickly. 

For example, my dog was scared to death of our vacuum cleaner. No idea why – I never asked my pup to vacuum the house or something. 

But after a while, my dog got used to the evil machine. Today, my doggy no longer tries to squeeze into impossibly small places whenever I even touch the vacuum. 

Not socialized properly

A dog that is not properly socialized can become withdrawn and fearful. 

This can lead to behavioral problems. 

And yes, an under-socialized dog will often walk slowly with its head down. 

This way of walking is often observed in rescue dogs that had little contact with humans in the early stages of their lives.

A dog that is not properly socialized will often be afraid of people and other dogs. Keeping its head down helps with avoiding eye contact. 

Scraped neck

Yes, your dog may have scraped its neck. 

But how? 

Dogs often move at high speeds. 

Running into things or brushing under something hard can scrape your dog’s neck. This can be quite painful. 

As mentioned earlier in this article, pain can cause your dog to slow down its walking pace and keep its head down. 

Parasites

A dog may also walk slowly with its head down due to parasites. 

That’s right, ticks, fleas, and other parasites can cause serious problems for your dog. 

Here are the most common symptoms of parasitic infection in dogs: 

• Anemia
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Walking slowly with the head down
• Death (in severe cases)

There are various types of parasites that can infest a dog, including: 

• Fleas
• Ticks
• Heartworms
• Gastrointestinal worms

Just sniffing

Yes, your dog may simply be exploring… with its nose. 

This is why your pup is walking slowly with its head close to the ground. 

Asking your dog not to sniff is like asking you not to look. 

Your dog’s sense of smell is up to 100,000 times stronger than yours.

Your dog can literally see with its nose – well, almost.

By the way, my dog is a big sniffer. 

Everything and everyone gets a full sniffing service on our walks. 

• My dog sniffs at most dogs – from top to bottom 
• And at most people – shoes, legs, crotch, buttocks   

Yes, it can get quite embarrassing.  

But all my dog is doing is simply collecting information. 

All that sniffing can tell my pup where the other dog has been, what it has recently eaten, its health status, and how friendly it is.  

Sniffing humans reveals similar information to my dog. Who are we to judge, right? 

Just tired

Yes, your pup may simply be tired, especially if you’re returning with your dog from an energetic training session or playtime.

Give your dog a break, and it’ll soon resume its energy and correct walking posture. 

Getting old

As your dog gets older, so does its body (including its joints). 

This is why many older dogs experience decreased mobility and general slowing down.

And this is why it’s more common to see older dogs walking slowly, compared to younger ones.  

Your dog loves the walk

If your dog usually slows down and lowers its head near the end of the walk, your dog may simply be letting you know that it loves the walk. And it doesn’t want it to end!

My dog sometimes behaves like that. 

My pup loves walking so much, that it often doesn’t want to go home. Not yet. 

So my dog slows down near the end of the walk. In fact, my dog will sometimes just stop and won’t move. 

Solution? 

Make coming back home more exciting! 

For example, my dog knows that its favorite toy is always waiting at home. But as you can see, this doesn’t always work. I must try harder. Or buy my dog more toys.   

Infection 

Any kind of infection may cause lethargy in dogs. 

And as mentioned earlier, lethargy will often slow down your dog during walks. 

Serious health issues?

Yes, a serious health issue may be the reason for your dog walking slowly and keeping its head down. 

Luckily, serious health issues are not that common. 

Still, every dog owner should be aware of the potential health problems. 

Here are the most common health problems that may cause slow walking in dogs (with a head down): 

Intervertebral Disc Disease

A dog’s back contains soft discs located within the spinal cord. 

These squishy discs keep the vertebrae well-cushioned during movement. 

If one of these discs dislodges or moves, it can cause problems for the nerves located in your dog’s vertebrae. 

This can cause pain and discomfort. 

This can also change your dog’s gait during walks. 

If Intervertebral Disc Disease (IDD) is severe and untreated, it can cause serious nerve damage and even paralysis. 

There are some dogs that are more prone to IDD than others. 

For example, dachshunds are very vulnerable to IDD due to their elongated backs. 

Pinched nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when there is too much pressure applied on a nerve by muscles, cartilage, bones, or tendons. 

This excessive pressure can lead to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

And yes, this can also negatively affect your dog’s walking speed and posture. 

Sprained muscle

A sprained muscle is another condition that can slow your dog during walks and affect its walking posture. 

In addition to slow walking with the head down, a sprained muscle can also cause limping. 

Damage to the trachea

If you pull too strongly (or too quickly) on a leash, you may damage your dog’s trachea. 

This can also happen if your dog pulls too much during walks. 

So if your dog suddenly starts walking slowly and lowers its head, check your pup for a collapsed trachea. 

It’s worth noting that a collapsed trachea is much more common in smaller dog breeds like Pomeranians and Yorkshire Terriers. This is because smaller dogs have more fragile structures. 

Degenerative Joint Disease

As your dog is getting older, so is the cartilage surrounding the dog’s joints. 

The aging cartilage can deteriorate and cause inflammation in the joints. This can affect your dog’s back, neck, and legs. 

So if your dog starts walking with its head down, the poor thing may be affected by Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). 

I have a friend whose dog suffers from DJD. 

To improve the quality of life of his furry companion, my friend takes his doggy for physical therapy sessions. These sessions help increase joint movement and muscle strength. 

My friend’s vet said that if the condition gets worse, they may need to consider surgery (reconstruction or removal of joints). 

Cardiac disease & congestive heart failure

A lowered head in a dog can also be a symptom of blood circulation issues, including cardiac disease. 

A cardiac disease can cause lethargy, exhaustion, coughing, difficulty breathing, and even fainting. 

And yes, a lethargic dog may struggle to walk properly. 

If you think your doggy may have a cardiac disease, contact your vet immediately. You want to diagnose your dog before its condition develops into congestive heart failure. 

Your vet may recommend treatments to treat cardiac diseases. This may include medication, dietary changes, and special exercise. 

Please note that cardiac illness is more common in some dog breeds than others. Dog breeds that are more prone to heart problems include Great Danes, Boston Terriers, and Poodles. 

Heat intolerance & heat stroke 

A dog suffering from heat intolerance (or heat stroke) may walk slower than usual and hold its head low. 

Here are the common symptoms of heat stroke:

• Excessive panting
• Vomiting
• Pale gums
• Thick saliva or drooling
• Lethargy 

If you suspect your dog is affected by heat stroke, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. 

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

This condition is very serious. 

A dog with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) develops a “sticky” build-up of plaque in the frontal lobe of its brain (CDS typically occurs in dogs older than 12 years). 

CDS often leads to: 

• Disorientation
• Lack of spatial awareness
• Extreme changes in vision and sometimes hearing 

CDS can also cause discomfort, which may manifest as: 

• Pacing
• Irritability
• Walking with a head down

Treating CDS mostly involves managing the symptoms. 

What to do if your dog walks slow with head down?

As you can see above, there are many reasons for a dog to walk slowly with its head down. 

Luckily, many of those reasons are benign. 

But some reasons can be serious… and even dangerous to your dog. 

So it’s critical that you know what to do if your dog suddenly slows down during walks. 

Your first job is to stop and assess the situation. 

Once you know what’s going on, you can address the problem. 

Here is what to do if your dog walks slowly with its head down. 

Don’t punish your dog

If you occasionally punish your dog (especially physically), your poor doggy is probably scared of you. 

To be sure, your dog still loves you (most likely). 

But the poor thing is never sure when it’s going to upset you and get punished. 

This is why your dog may often assume a submissive posture, including a lowered head. 

Check for Injury

If your dog suddenly slows down and lowers its head, the dog may be injured. 

So stop the walk and check for any obvious injuries. 

Look for any scrapes, cuts, and bruises on your dog’s body. 

I actually had such an experience very recently. 

My dog suddenly started to walk slowly with its head close to the ground. 

I stopped, checked, and could see that the poor thing injured its paw pad. 

Luckily, it was only a minor issue – a thorn stuck in the dog’s paw

Although it was minor, I could see it was painful for my dog. 

Luckily (again), I always carry with me a canine first-aid kit for our walks. Using the kit, I removed the thorn and cleaned the affected area with antibacterial spray. 

The area wasn’t swollen – phew!

Also, there were no complications later – phew again. 

Note that more serious injuries during walks can include an open wound or a foreign object stuck in one of your dog’s limbs. In such cases, take your dog to a veterinary hospital. 

Let your dog sniff but…

My German Shepherd used to stop every few steps to sniff at things.

Every few steps! 

I of course tried to discourage the behavior… but my dog was addicted to sniffing everything. 

Just like some humans are addicted to checking their social media every few seconds, my dog was addicted to checking the local smells every few steps. 

So I took my dog to my vet, who is also a dog trainer. 

And we fixed the issue… sort of. 

What we did was to let my dog continue sniffing everything, but only in a designated “sniffing area”. 

My dog agreed – after some training. 

And now we can have normal walks, with a 5-minute stop at the sniffing hub. 

Socialize your dog

If you think your dog is afraid of things (or anxious) during walks, you may need to consider properly socializing your dog. 

Let’s see how to socialize a puppy, after which we do the same for an adult dog. 

HOW TO SOCIALIZE A PUPPY 

Start young. A younger dog is more capable of absorbing new information and experiences, compared to an older dog. The best puppy socialization period is between 3 and 16 weeks of age.

Acclimate your puppy to new sights, smells, and sounds. Create a positive association with as many new things as possible. Make sure your puppy hears common loud noises such as vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, motorcycles, and car horns. But avoid walking outside before your puppy gets vaccinated. You can still let your puppy experience new things from the safety of your car. And if you’re stuck at home, you can play different sounds available in YouTube videos.  

Introduce your puppy to new people (gradually). Slowly let your puppy meet new people. Start with individual people. Move to larger groups once your puppy seems comfortable. I recommend that you begin with family members, especially if they see your puppy frequently. Make sure your puppy meets all types of people (children, adults, tall, short, bearded, holding an umbrella, etc.)

Reward your puppy with praise and treats. Give your puppy plenty of verbal praise and treats during the socialization. This will help develop a positive association with new experiences.

Visit larger public places. Once your puppy is comfortable in its regular surroundings and small groups of people, it’s time to experience new environments with more people and dogs. I recommend dog parks. I also recommend that you take your puppy to larger public places 10 days after your puppy has completed its vaccinations. 

HOW TO SOCIALIZE AN ADULT DOG

If you’ve adopted an older dog who seems anxious around other dogs and people, there’s a chance it wasn’t properly socialized as a puppy. 

It’s worth noting that socializing an older dog usually takes some time and patience. 

But you can definitely do it – and it’ll be so worth it!

Arrange dog playdates. Invite a family member (or a friend) who has a dog to your house. This will allow your dog to interact with another dog (and a human) in an environment that is already familiar to your doggy. Once the dogs are comfortable with each other, take those two dogs for a walk outside. You can also schedule the next playdate at your family member’s or a friend’s house.

Meet other people and dogs on your daily walks. Look for friendly dogs (and people) on your daily walks. This will allow for regular social interactions.

Visit a dog park. Once your doggy seems more relaxed around new dogs and people, go to a dog park. But don’t enter the park yet. First, walk around the perimeter fence. This will let your dog see and get used to the park visitors from a safe distance. Once your dog seems relaxed, walk inside the dog park. Keep your dog on a leash, until it seems totally comfortable.

Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog with treats, verbal praise, and encouragement during the whole process. 

Contact your vet

If you tried the above methods and your dog is still walking slowly with its head down, it’s time to visit your vet. 

Regular check-ups

Regular vet check-ups are essential for your dog’s health and happiness. 

In fact, if you take your dog to a vet regularly, you’ll hopefully never have to deal with walking issues affecting your dog. 

During the check-ups, your vet will assess your dog’s overall health and recommend the necessary routines to keep your pup healthy. 

And if the vet identifies a problem, early identification of issues should ensure a speedy recovery.   

Vet intervention

If your dog is walking slowly with its head down, it can be a sign of some health issues. 

Based on the assessment, your vet may recommend: 

Pain management: To eliminate (or reduce) pain or discomfort. 

Physical therapy & exercise: To strengthen the muscles around your dog’s neck and spine. This can reduce pain and improve posture. 

Proper nutrition: Your vet may recommend a better quality diet. A quality, balanced diet is important for any dog, but it’s especially important for dogs with walking posture issues. My vet recommended that I feed my dog a diet rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

Lifestyle adjustments: Your vet may also suggest lifestyle changes for your dog. This may include a new diet, joint supplements, or special exercise routines. 

Nutritional supplements: The vet may also recommend certain nutritional supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, or chondroitin. These supplements can help reduce inflammation and improve joint health.   

Behavioral training: If your dog’s walking issues are caused by anxiety or fear, your vet may suggest that you consult a dog behaviorist or trainer. These professionals will address any behavioral or emotional issues in your dog. 

Calming collars: My sister’s Poodle suffered from anxiety during walks, especially in dog parks. So we took her dog to a dog behaviorist. After a thorough assessment, the dog behaviorist recommended a calming collar. These collars are infused with soothing scents such as chamomile or lavender. The collar worked! My sister’s Poodle is now the calmest dog in any dog park, even during a thunderstorm!

Surgery: Sometimes surgery may be necessary to correct the underlying cause responsible for your dog’s walking speed and posture. Surgery is usually considered after all other approaches have been tried and exhausted.

What can cause lethargy? Is it dangerous?

Lethargy can slow your dog’s walking pace. 

A lethargic dog may also walk with its head down. 

So let’s quickly see what can cause lethargy in your dog.  

• Anemia: This condition can be caused by a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin. Anemia can cause weakness, fatigue, and lethargy.
• Infections: Lethargy can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.  
• Diabetes: Diabetes causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels. It also makes it impossible to utilize glucose properly. All this can lead to lethargy. 
• Parasites: Lethargy can also be caused by internal parasites (worms) or external parasites (fleas and ticks). 
• Pain and discomfort: A dog experiencing pain or discomfort may quickly become lethargic. 
• Kidney and liver disease: These diseases can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body and cause lethargy. 
• Heart disease: This can reduce blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues. This can cause lethargy and exercise intolerance.
• Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland can cause a reduction in metabolism and lack of energy (low energy levels). This can lead to lethargy and weight gain. 
• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances: Dehydration or an imbalance in electrolytes can lead to lethargy and weakness. 
• Emotional distress: Emotional factors can also lead to lethargy – but also to anxiety, stress, and even depression. 
• Cancer: Tumors can cause a large number of problems, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. 
• Vaccination reaction: A dog may also experience lethargy after getting vaccinated. This is usually temporary. 
• Medication side effects: Some medications come with side effects, including lethargy.
• Poor nutrition: A poor diet can cause low energy levels and lead to lethargy. 
• Old age: As a dog ages, its energy levels decline, which often leads to lethargy.

When is lethargy a concern?

Lethargy can be a concern in the following cases. 

• Persistent lethargy: If your dog is lethargic for more than 2 days
• Sudden lethargy: If your dog becomes lethargic suddenly
• Additional symptoms: If your dog’s lethargy comes with diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, limping, weakness, difficulty breathing, or changes in behavior
• Severe lethargy: If the lethargy is so severe that your dog can’t get up and move around (or is unresponsive)
• Inability to drink or eat: If your dog is too lethargic to even eat or drink
• History of medical conditions: If your dog has pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease

Differences between lethargic & tired dogs

The main difference between a lethargic dog and a tired dog is based on:

• What causes the low energy level 
• How long it lasts
• How severe it is

TIRED DOG

Cause: Low energy due to activities (physical or mental)

Duration: Low energy is temporary (resolves with rest or sleep within a few hours or overnight)

Severity: Tired but still shows interest in the surroundings and engages in activities, although with less enthusiasm than usual

LETHARGIC DOG

Cause: Low energy due to pain, emotional distress, disease, or medication side effects

Duration: Low energy persists for an extended period (often more than 2 days)

Severity: Low energy impacts daily activities (eating, drinking, playtime, walks). A dog shows little to no interest in the surroundings, is unresponsive, and has difficulty getting up and moving around.

My dog is walking slow with head down CONCLUSION

Oh no, my dog is walking slow with head down!

This is a common concern for many dog owners. 

So you want to know: 

• What’s going on? 
• Is it dangerous to your dog? 

The short answer is: Your dog is walking with head down because of: 

• Pain (or discomfort)
• Arthritis
• Neurological disease
• Spinal injury 
• Submission 
• Anxiety 
• Infection

But there is more!

This is why this article also told you everything about: 

• All the main reasons for a dog walking slowly with its head down 
• Is it dangerous to your dog? 
• What should you do to stop this behavior?

I’m sure, some of the reasons surprised you. 

And maybe you found out that your dog needs immediate veterinary attention.

Our team wishes you and your dog all the best.

And we hope that you and your doggy will soon become the best walking buddies ever!