Once you stare deeply into the eyes of your beloved pet, it might seem almost as if she or he could talk. Of course, your dog can’t talk, yet his or her body language might be eloquent. The better you know your dogs, the more apparent such signs will be. Through acting promptly at the illness’ first signs, this can help prevent suffering, save your precious investment or even save your dog’s life.
Below are some of the most important signs that you should know if you dog is sick:
Sign #1: Behavior Change
You know your best friend dog so well and if he behaves strangely, he’s probably telling you something that you should be aware of. If your dog is sick, he might show indications including withdrawal, agitation, irritability, lethargy, and clingy or needy behavior.
Sign #2: Breathing Issues
The signs of the respiratory illness range from the most obvious to subtle. Contact your vet if you notice labored breathing, persistent gagging, noisy breathing or wheezing, a honking cough, persistent nasal discharge, and persistent cough, which disrupts sleep.
Sign #3: Tummy Problems
Dogs vomit and suffer from diarrhea every now and then, regardless if it is from a lot of table treats or some things they’ve eaten on the sidewalk. If your dog has symptoms, especially in combination with poor appetite and lethargy, make sure to call your vet. Some of the symptoms that may show that your dog is sick are repeated vomiting that lasts for a day, profuse diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, swelling or abdominal pain, and appetite loss.
Sign #4: Elimination Concerns
Changes in the bathroom habits of your dog can indicate an issue. Consult your vet if you notice trouble passing urine, increased frequency or volume of urine, trouble defecating, fecal accidents in a housetrained dog, and urinary accidents in a housetrained dog.
Sign #5: External Appearance
The physical changes are frequently the most noticeable. If it is enough to make you worry, then it really makes sense to contact your vet. Some of the external appearances that could show that your dog is sick are rash, persistent itch, hair loss, sudden weight loss, weight gain, new bumps and lumps, persistent shaking of the head, and many more.
Sign #6: Fever
Oftentimes, fever accompanies illness. The conventional wisdom states that healthy dogs must have a wet, cold nose and that a dry, warm nose means trouble. It’s basically a common misconception. The feel or appearance of the dog’s ear is actually indicator of body temperature and health. Taking the dog’s temperature with thermometer is the real way to diagnose fever.
Sign #7: Pain
Dogs may yelp in pain once you touch their injured paws or sore back, yet it is even more likely that they’ll choose to suffer in silence. Majority of the dogs in pain do not vocalize at all. Do not provide medicine for pain relief unless it is prescribed by your vet for your dog. There are times that some OTC human pain killers can be toxic to a dog.
If your dog’s appearance or behavior worries you, always contact your veterinarian.
