Today’s research will show exactly how to know if your dog is sick. Many pet lovers often ask me “how to tell if my dog is sick” and when to face a doctor? Let’s start from the beginning.
Your best buddy, the pet dog, is not wagging his tail or running towards you when you are back from work? There is something wrong, maybe a health issue.
It is difficult to identify as they cannot express themselves by words but show through changes in their behavioral pattern. An early step can lessen your budget for a pet’s annual treatment fee.
Pet dogs intend to face problems with the change of owner’s mental condition, new habitation, or a new person entering the family; causing them to behave differently than before or sometimes become sick.
# Let’s see the 13 Symptoms to tell if your dog is sick
01. Unusual Temperament
A sudden change in your pet’s behavior may indicate his discomfort. You want to adore your friend, which used to be a very special time between you two only, but all of a sudden, he becomes defensive and starts growling at you.
This unexpected behavior may hurt you, but it is time to take precautions and notes such as finding if there is any specific spot on the body that the dog facing irritation or does not want to be touched, continuously throwing temperament without any reason, acting aggressively when in general, he is a very passive animal and so on. Then it is time to see a vet because abnormal nature is one of the early signs of a dog’s sickness. You may like our recent publication on why do dogs have anal glands?
02. Sleepiness
Aging slows us down, but it is not natural for an active dog to always want to sleep or become lazy. Less interest in getting up, going for a routine walk, or participating in any activity, specifically running, chasing a ball, or other animal is considered to be signs of your buddy’s illness.
03. Inappetence
According to Sandra Sawchuk, DMV, clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, “A dog may be a picky little snit and does not eat his dinner because he is waiting for human food.”
But you can notice very easily when your four-legged friend has lost interest in his food because dogs tend to eat less or stop eating as the symptom of fever, pain, or stress. According to John Randolph, DVM, diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and professor of medicine, if you notice your dog is unwilling to eat or is not eating for more than 24 hours, you need to take him to the vet as soon as possible.
04. Vomiting
It is a common sign of gastric leading to ulcer when your pet is puking not the way it vomits after eating leaves or grass and becomes playful again. When your dog has blood coming out with vomit or digested blood mixed with it, please consider it as a serious problem and visit a doctor.
Most of the survey states that intake of any sharp piece of a bone, broken toy, or a small part of the blade can cause them to vomit blood. You should consider blood with vomit as a serious issue and consult your vet as soon as possible.
05. Irregular pooping and peeing
Unusual constipation or diarrhea lasting for more than 48 hours in your pet’s routine is a reason to become worried. In general, large breed dogs facing dry heaves, bloody potty problems, and bloating are signs of an emergency visit to a vet. You may love our recent post why do dogs have whiskers?
A well-trained dog does not pee here and there. If your dog has started to look in an irregular place or is losing control of it, having trouble passing urine then it is a matter of concern. Sometimes, excessive thirst and increased urination may reflect kidney or liver disorders. On the other hand, urinary tract problems or bladder stones can result in less urine than usual or stress while urinating.
06. Biting and scratching
Continuous attempts to bite specific parts of one’s own body is a very common sign of flea attacks in dogs. So if your dog is trying to bite his own body or scratching himself here and there all the time, it sure needs attention.
Pink or black colored skin with smoothness is the normal skin color of your pet dog. If you notice tireless itching, redness, and inflammation, these are primary indications of skin allergy as well as parasites bite.
07. Nasal discharge and coughing
Can you hear honking noise while hugging your buddy followed by a runny nose sometimes coughing? His body is a bit warmer than before referring to fever? These are serious symptoms of tracheal disturbance which is a common respiratory issue in some breeds of dogs.
Other than these, coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge are basic signs of disorder in the respiratory system. If your pet friend is having problems breathing then he needs immediate care because it is a sign of a serious cold.
08. Different gum color
In general, dogs are born with pink gum, some are with black. But if gum starts to change color and turn into red, white, blue, or purple, then it is a matter of worry. Purple is the main warning gum color for sick dogs. Disorder in gum followed by bad breath is a serious symptom of an unwell dog.
09. Body temperature
103 F or 39.44 C is normal body temperature for dogs. If your pet has a dry and warm nose, you need to measure the body temperature. If it is over the normal scale and your dog is acting sick, it is time to call a vet.
10. Red eyes
Normally, a healthy dog has bright and clear eyes. Change in eye color, most of the time red, and when it looks cloudy or dull refers to sickness. Sometimes, you may notice secretion of liquid from the eyes of your pet, however, it has dull, red eyes or not, consider it as a serious problem and contact the doctor as soon as possible.
11. Changes in body weight
Suddenly your healthy dog has started to become overweight? Or is it becoming skinny?
Usually, people take their dogs for a daily walk, plan a routine exercise and arrange a good diet to make sure of keeping their pet healthy. You also did the same but still, your four-legged friend is losing his weight for two to four weeks. Or, it is gaining weight. These are common symptoms in dogs that are facing health issues.
Losing weight may also reflect excessive exercise and development may be the result of an unplanned diet. So, first of all, make sure that you are well aware of your dog’s daily routine.
12. Difficulty with rising
When your active dog has started to show stiffness or inability to carry its own body weight on any specific leg, be careful. Trouble rising from the ground or being unable to carry weight can be signs of arthritis. It can also refer to disc disease, ruptured ligaments, or hip dysplasia. Some other diseases such as Lyme disease can also cause arthritis.
“The larger dogs tend to have more problems with inherited joint problems, like hip dysplasia and shoulder and elbow dysplasia that can result in them developing arthritis as they age,” Sawchuk says.
This expert also happens to mention that, little dogs can also get arthritis because their owners tend to carry them around and shower a little more pamper and avoid asking to do the same things that larger dogs are asked to perform. To make sure your pet is healthy, pay attention to its weight and movements.
13. Nervous system trouble
Other than the symptoms mentioned above, if you notice seizures, repetitive twitches, repetitive circling, weakness, or loss of consciousness in the house dog, please consult a veterinarian as soon as possible These are preliminary signs noted in pet dogs who have trouble in their nervous system.
Please, note that dogs of different ages and breeds have variant reactions to their food, change in daily routine, weather, and surroundings. So, instead of being worried if any symptom stated matches your pet dog’s condition, observe and consult with a veterinarian properly.
How to know if your dog is sick in the initial 03 stages?
The following three stages can help you find if your dog is unhealthy.
01. Unusual Nature
The friendly dog suddenly becomes aggressive when it touches a specific spot on its body as a sign of pain. Change in bathroom behavior is also noticed in sick dogs.
02. Diarrhea
Dogs can have diarrhea from simple changes in their diet. Abnormally lubricated stool for more than 24 hours and lack of appetite refers to diarrhea.
03. Vomiting
To throw any poisonous or undigested food, dogs puke. When vomiting for more than a day and continuing for several days, consult a vet, specifically if vomit contains blood or substances that look like ground coffee.
How to tell if my dog is sick and need a doctor
Generally, unhealthy dogs tend to skip food. Some may also start drinking lots of water and still feel thirsty as they may be developing diabetes or kidney diseases. Also, mark their bathroom behavior to notify the vet.
Rough and dull fur is abnormal for a healthy dog. These could be symptoms of skin disease or the wrong kind of food intake.
When an active dog becomes sleepy and unwilling to participate in any kind of activity for more than 48 hours, then it is not normal fatigue or sore muscles. You should see a vet for treatment.
First 05 symptoms on How to know if dog is sick
Five symptoms stated below can help you know if a dog is sick.
01. Acting different
A well-behaved active dog starts acting in an aggressive way, does not like the normal routine exercise, or becomes very stiff and sleepy when it is not feeling well.
02. Toilet issue
Watery or loose stool for more than 24 hours followed by bloating is a symptom of gastric and digestive problems. Lessor excessive peeing can be a sign of diabetes or liver disorder.
03. Vomiting
Abnormal vomiting more than once a day, containing blood and (or) other substitutes refer to sickness in dogs.
04. Rough fur and skin
Rough and dull fur, redness on the skin can be caused by allergies. Uninterrupted scratching is also noticed in dogs when attacked by parasites.
05. Change is weight
Sudden change in weight, losing or gaining, when food habits and daily exercise is well maintained, refers to unhealthiness.
How do I know if my dog is sick?
Changing a dog’s behavior is the best way to find out if it is sick.
Sick dogs show less interest in daily activities. It makes me lazy and sleepier. Most of the time it wants to stay low or reflect pain when being asked to move.
Most of the sick dog faces change in their body mass can be unexpected weight gain or weight loss. Appetite change is the main reason for this variant. Rapid upsetness in digestion can be the main reason for it which can cause potty issues.
Bad breath, coughing, sneezing followed by a red or cloudy eyes are also symptoms of sick dogs. Some may also be eager to drink a lot or urinate if their kidney and liver are affected.
Dry or itchy skin associated with harsh body hair is unnatural in healthy dogs.
The 05 behaviors on how to tell if your dog is sick?
- Different behavior is the first sign if your dog is sick. When this animal is in any physical disturbance, it starts behaving abnormally. Such as growling, hawking or getting irritated without any reason.
- Diseased dog starts losing weight even in his normal routine. Some diseases may cause them to gain weight too. But it may take weeks to reveal the change.
- If your dog is panting excessively, getting tired very often or having problem breathing, it may be facing respiratory issues. This may also cause frequent coughing and sneezing.
- Another change you may notice about their elimination pattern. Blood with the waste or arched body refers to their abnormal indigestion. Puking more than once a day, sometimes containing blood and other elements, may be warning something very unpleasant.
- Physically unfit or ill dogs show less interest in eating. Repeated dry heaves, restlessness and bulky belly resulting in appetite may sign bloating.
How to keep my dog disease free?
Maintaining a few steps can keep your dog disease-free.
- Keep your pup neat and clean. Grooming is the best way to keep your friend away from different types of skin diseases, indigestion, infections and so on.
- Train and track the bathroom pattern of your pet. In general, a trained dog uses the toilet a certain number of times in a day. Early notice of any change in this pattern for more than 24 hours and consulting the vet will benefit you economically.
- Having a healthy routine for both eating and activities helps to maintain good health. Restrain your dog from excessive eating, exercising or playing. A well planned routine is the main key to keep your dog fit.
- Moreover, make sure you are consulting the vet and taking necessary measures. It helps in a great way to assure good health for a pet dog.