Learning the symptoms of a sick dog can help you to identify that something is wrong with your pet. It is important to understand that the symptoms can vary by dog as well as how severely they are affected by them. The most common change that people notice is a change in appetite. Dogs that are healthy tend to consume about the same amount of food each day. They may eat more during the winter than in the hotter summer months though.
Their level of physical activity is about the same each day as well. A dog that loves to run around and play or enjoys the evening walk may suddenly seem like these activities are too much. Excessive sleeping or being lethargic are all symptoms of a sick dog. If they are walking differently or seem to be in pain during movement then they could be sick.
Symptoms of a sick dog often develop in the mouth so make sure you are looking there as well. Many pet owners fail to make this type of connection. Bad breath can be a sign that your dog has some type of illness. Gums that bleed or that are inflamed should also be looked at. Keep in mind that when the mouth isn’t healthy that could be why your dog isn’t eating like normal.
Evaluate the urine and the stools from your dog because they will give you lots of information. Plenty of symptoms of a sick dog stem from these common activities. If your dog is constipated there won’t be any bowel movements. Diarrhea is another common illness indicator. Look for blood in the stools or the urine as that can be a sign of various infections.
Watch your dog when it urinates because if he or she appears to be having trouble it could be hurting them to do so. Likewise, if they aren’t urinating at all then there could be some type of blockage due to an inflammation and infection that needs to be closely looked at. Weight loss, hair loss, and changes in temperament are reasons for you to assume that your dog is sick.
Don’t forget to check the ears for symptoms of a sick dog too. Look inside of them to see if they are yellow or crusted. There could be some discharge that represents an infection. Never place anything inside of your dog’s ear though to clean them. If there is a foul odor from the ears then you definitely want to call the vet.
You will be able to identify the symptoms of a sick dog easily though when you are observing your own. For example your dog may never be very active to laying around really isn’t a sign to you that he or she isn’t doing well. Yet when you start to notice that they are drinking twice as much water as normal it should be an indicator to you. Drinking excessive water can mean there is a kidney problem or other medical situation that needs to be evaluated by your veterinarian.
