All you need to know if your pet someday gets sick.
The first step that we must do before knowing if your dog is sick or not, is to observe it precisely to know if it has possible symptoms of disease. To do this, it is very simple. Normally, you spend daily time with your dog which allows you to know if he is having strange seasons or abnormal physical appearance. To help you, have a notebook at hand (of these little ones so that it is not tedious) and write down how many times your dog does his needs, so that the moment you show symptoms of being sick, you recognize a great variability in the times you eat and drink. This helps you keep track and can be very useful if you visit the veterinarian so that he can ensure his illness more quickly.
Sometimes no need to go to the vet To detect the disease, observe that your dog does not eat very well for a day or two, is restless, vomits or has diarrhea, you can call the vet to tell you what to do.
Most common symptoms
As for general symptoms are the lack of appetite, as I commented in the first paragraph. Dogs tend to have a big appetite and it is uncommon for them not to be hungry for a whole day. If you find that in a couple of days your plate is not empty, consult with the veterinarian either by calling him or by going to his office. If you are not very sure, you can try to give your com>
Observe if the dog has diarrhea or if it eats and after a while vomits it, it means that may have a parasite (especially if you vomit) and that is why it is important to observe it well since the symptoms are not very difficult to perceive at this point. Why could it get bad? You have to keep in mind that dogs nibble many things when you go for a walk and some of them may not feel good. Sometimes you may have diarrhea one day or vomit one day but then recover, the problem comes when you see that it takes two days in a row in the same way, and can be a symptom of illness.
Another symptom that your dog may be sick is apathy. Dogs tend to want to play (unless he has been angry with you) but if suddenly the dog is low on energy or spends a lot of time sleeping, he may have a case of canine depression. Like humans, dogs are not so far from us and can present diseases to humans. In such a case, it is important Take the dog so that the veterinarian can know what it is.
Another aspect to consider is fever, again, just like humans. Normally they are linked to infections so if your animal has a temperature along with low energy and little desire to eat it is possible that it suffers from fever. This symptom always usually has an origin and that is why we must take it to the veterinarian so that it can detect the problem and Administer the right medication.
Another aspect that betrays if your dog is sick is if he drinks a lot of water in situations where he has not exercised much or is hot. He drinking water in large quantities can signal diabetes. So, as in other cases, it never hurts for the veterinarian to observe him to know if he can have it. Urine with blood can be a clear sign of urine infection or kidney problems.
There is another important aspect and if you notice that the dog especially licks, touches or is attentive to a specific area of its body (always the same area) Something may not be right. In this case, it is very important to observe our dog with attention to know if the dog is always attentive with the same area. If it is accompanied by restlessness, crying or howling, then to the veterinarian.
More symptoms but this time with a much more physiological basis. Dogs have certain characteristics that define their health. The fur of our dogs should be shiny and not have a matt appearance. Along with this aspect, the skin should be soft and not rough. Make sure it is clean and flexible. To find out if this is correct, you can gently pull the skin over the dog's shoulder so that it acquires a tent shape. If releasing it does not recover its original appearance, it means that the dog does not drink enough water.
With respect to the ears, they must be clean and smell clean. For this there are several products that we can consult in any pet store and they will tell you how often they should clean their ears. The teeth should have a whitish color and be clean since, as with humans, it is a area through which many diseases can enter If you don't take care. In the case of the gums, they should have a uniform pink color and if we press them a little, they should return to that same pink color in less than two seconds. If not, they may have it damaged. Like us, when the gum appears red, it is a symptom of infection or a possible cut by having bitten something.
The dog's breath should be fresh and your breathing should be normal, neither too run over nor too relaxed. And ending with the last two parts of the dog, the snout and the eyes. This first must be moist and fresh, with a dark pigmentation and without any secretion. In the case of the latter, they must be shiny and clean, without secretions too and very carefully, you have to clean the litters that if they do not withdraw can harm the dog.
I hope this article completes a bit the vision you have of your dogs and helps you to be more trained with the possible symptoms and when it comes to observing your canines, In addition to staying calm if any of the symptoms occur.
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Our pet is undoubtedly part of our family. That's why when our dog looks apathetic, with little energy and off we usually worry, always fearing something important will happen to him. However, in the absence of verbal language, it is often difficult for us to detect if the animal is in poor health, so it may take some time until we notice specific alarm signals. Here are some:
One of the most common signs that indicate that your dog is sick or that something important happens to him, is the sudden loss of appetite. We all know that dogs are greedy by nature and that they are always willing to eat whatever you put in, so if after a couple of days your plate does not empty and your dog does not want to eat, not even your favorite cookies or other food Different from the feed, it's time to go to the vet.
It is always important to be attentive to the evacuations of our dog, becausepersistent diarrhea is an unequivocal sign that your dog is sick, possibly of a parasite, especially if this symptom is accompanied by vomiting.
Animals eat many things that they find in their path, and sometimes it happens that sometimes they feel bad.If your dog has vomited only once or twice, or has a mild diarrhea but in a couple of days he recovers, there is no need to worry. But if the symptoms persist for more than two days, they should go to the veterinarian.
As in the case of humans, fever is also a sign that your dog is sick, usually due to some infection. If your animal has a high temperature, it is turned off, with no desire to play too much and with little appetite, it is possible that it is feverish. Because this condition always has an origin, it is important to detect it to properly treat the dog, so the help of a veterinarian will be necessary.
Excess water intake outside the days when you do a lot of physical activityor it's too hot. A sudden increase in water consumption could signal a chronic illness, such as diabetes.
Urine with blood or very cloudyThis may be a sign of an infection or kidney problems.
That your animal touches a specific part of the body too much, for example the ears, which indicates that something is wrong in that area.
My dog is sad and does not get up
Remember this saying: ‘a healthy dog is a happy dog’. The first symptom that your dog may have a disease or psychological problem is a change in his character. Rabies, parvovirus, intestinal parasites and many other diseases of greater or lesser severity begin with a change in mood for the worse.
In addition, a discouraged dog is a dog with a weakened immune system. Do you know what they say that sad people spend more sick time than happy people? Well, it's true. Happiness helps us fight against colds, viruses and opportunistic bacteria. For your dog to be happy you have to play a lot with him, deplete his energy reserves daily and show him that you want him.
How to know if my dog is sick to the stomach
A common question we are asked is how to know if the triplet hurts. You already know the first symptom: he will be sad. The second is another very common in a sick dog: that he will lose his appetite and stop eating. Remember that to avoid stomach problems it is crucial to monitor your diet very well. Half of the hairy gastric problems are due to eating super quality food.
We recommend that you leave a consultation with our online veterinarians so they can recommend which one is best for him. If you are a puppy and have a hard belly, you may have parasites. A symptom that will reinforce this fact is that their remains will appear in their stool.
My dog does not want to eat and is down, what do I do?
The combination of these two symptoms may indicate a serious illness. If both things happen to you and you also have diarrhea, vomiting or both, be really worried. All this happening at the same time can mean a parvovirus, It is a life-threatening disease in dogs and lethal in puppies under two months.
It is important that you learn to distinguish what happens to you based on the color of your stool. The perfect poop is brown, solid and non-sticky, and can be picked up without any complications. In case your stools are white, orange, yellowish or mustard, green or slightly liquid, You will have mild problems related to your digestive system.
The thing changes if the stools are black or Coca-Cola colored and have mucus. That dark color is dried blood, and that it has reached its poops is not a good sign. If this happens, go urgently to a veterinarian and stop reading this article, because you have a potentially serious problem.
How to know if my dog has a fever
If you have a hairy at home it is essential that you buy a specific rectal thermometer for them. First-time PetLovers get very nervous when they touch their colleagues, because they think they have a fever when in fact they don't. The hairy have a somewhat higher body temperature than normal. To find out what is yours and detect when it rises, get used to caressing it under your skin daily. In this way, when the temperature rises, you will know that he has a fever.
My dog is down and trembles
Tremors are also another sign of a problem that can range from severe otitis that has damaged the inner ear to a neurological problem. It is important that you learn to clean your colleague's ears well, always from the inside out. Greenish or yellowish legumes in the eyes can be a sign of infection, so also learn to perform proper eye hygiene.
We know it can be overwhelming to be aware of all these symptoms to know if your dog is sick or not. Luckily for you, you can always count on our veterinarians online, who will tell you if what is happening to you is a reason to go urgently to a specialist.
Have you been left with doubts? Ask our veterinarians:
How to know if my dog is sick?
Throughout the following sections we will explain the symptoms of a sick dog in the most common pathologies according to the different organs that are affected. We will see what is known as "nonspecific symptoms", that is, those that are common in several diseases. Hence the importance of going to the veterinarian to arrive at the diagnosis.
The detection of these symptoms goes through look at the behavior of the dog to appreciate any change. We have to see if he eats and drinks normally, if his bowel movements are more or less abundant, if he plays or if he has any visible damage or any change in the hue of his mucous membranes.
How to know if my dog is sick with the kidneys?
Another of the relatively common conditions that, above all, will affect older dogs, are those that damage the renal system. Some symptoms of a kidney sick dog They will be the following:
- Slimming
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Bad looking hair
- Dehydration
- Mouth injuries
- Breath smelling of ammonia
- Fever
- Pain
- Leg edemas
- Edema in the abdomen
- Chest edema
- Anorexy
Renal insufficiency has different causes and its presentation can be acute, in which the symptoms will happen suddenly, or chronically, with mild signs that get worse over time. The first case is a veterinary emergency and may occur due to a kidney infection but, also, to urinary problems that get worse and affect them.
Some cases of acute kidney disease are very painful and we may notice that the dog can't lie down Or move normally and walk with stiff legs. But movement difficulties are a sign of pain that can also be seen in joint or bone problems, cases in which we can see lameness, stiffness, etc.
How to know if my dog is sick of the heart?
The heart is an organ that is usually affected in older dogs. The main problem is that it can be compensated for a long time, so that symptoms of a heart sick dog They are appreciable when the damage is already considerable. These will be the following:
- Exercise intolerance
- Fluid retention
- Slimming
- Lethargy
- Accelerated breathing
- Weakness
- Fainting
It is also possible that the dog experiences a cough, especially after exercising, at night or when the dog is lying down. Discover more symptoms of heart disease in dogs.
How to know if my dog is sick with the liver?
The symptoms of a dog with liver disease, as we will see, they are very nonspecific in the early stages of liver failure. The following stand out:
But also, with advanced disease, we can meet ascites, that is, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, encephalopathy, hemorrhages and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the mucous membranes.
How to know if my dog is sick with parasites?
External parasites and internal parasites can lead to symptoms, depending on the parasite in question. So, the symptoms of a dog sick with ticks, more than due to the mechanical action of these arthropods, they are related to the pathologies they can transmit, some potentially fatal.
The clinical picture in these cases includes:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Anorexy
- Pale mucous membranes
- Anemia
As for fleas, they can also transmit diseases, parasites such as tapeworms or even cause anemia, but the most characteristic disorder associated with them is allergic flea bite dermatitis (DAPP). Saliva-sensitive animals of this parasite will have a dermatological reaction characterized by alopecia and injuries, especially in the lumbosacral area.
How to know if my dog has cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Finally, older dogs may suffer from a human Alzheimer's-like syndrome. The symptoms of a dog suffering from cognitive dysfunction can go unnoticed if we think they are simply due to age. We can observe that the dog is down and sleeps a lot, especially during the day, while at night, however, we can observe that the dog is restless and cries, looking out of place.
It is also common for them to evacuate at home, stop interacting with the family, do not respond to stimuli or repeat stereotyped behaviors as they circle.
To diagnose this syndrome, the veterinarian must rule out physical causes. For example, as we have seen, kidney disorders usually cause increased urination, so urinating at home could have several causes. That is why we insist on the importance of take the dog to the vet If we notice any of the symptoms described in this article.
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Symptoms of a sick dog, we recommend that you enter our Prevention section.
How to know when your dog is sick
How to know when your dog is sick
As is the case with us, our pets tend to have health problems as they age, although, unfortunately, they age much faster than we do. Here we leave you some of the symptoms or signs to be able to detect if your pet is sick.
Common symptoms that tell us that a dog is sick
Regardless of your dog's age, you play a key role to help him fight his disease and keep him as healthy as possible. Remember that your dog cannot describe the symptoms but it can show signs of illness.
The first 10 signs that your dog may be sick:
- Bad breath or drooling.
- Drink or urinate excessively.
- Change in appetite associated with weight loss or gain.
- Change in activity level (for example, lack of interest in doing things you once did).
- Rigidity or difficulty climbing or descending stairs.
- Sleep more than normal and other changes in your behavior or attitude.
- Cough, sneezing, excessive panting or difficulty breathing.
- Dry skin, itching, sores, bumps or shaking of the head.
- Frequent digestive disorders or changes in bowel movements.
- Dry, red or cloudy eyes.
If your dog shows symptoms of being sick, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
Unfortunately, you may not always recognize if your pet is sick. Often, many of the dog owners attribute the signs of disease to aging.
Diagnosis and treatment
Because the signs of illness are not always obvious, your veterinarian may recommend preventive care tests as part of your dog's annual exam.
Preventive care tests include the following:
- Chemical and electrolyte tests to assess the state of internal organs and ensure that your dog is not desh>
Additional tests may be added on an individual basis. Your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate tests for your dog, in addition to the treatment to follow.
Prevention
Preventive detection not only helps detect the disease in its earliest stages, when it is more likely to respond to treatment, but can also help you avoid significant medical expenses and health risks in your dog in case a disease goes unnoticed. In addition, by establishing the normal laboratory values of your pet when it is healthy, the veterinarian and you can see more easily when something goes wrong. The annual review is the best preventive medicine.
For more information on preventive tests, contact your veterinarian who is your best resource for information on the health and welfare of your pet.
