Top Signs that Show Your Dog is Sick
As a pet owner, you have an important role in assisting your dog to stay healthy and fight any health complications. While your dog can’t describe what they are feeling, they can easily show you symptoms of diseases. The awareness of these symptoms is an easy way of helping lower your dog’s risk of getting affected. Research shows that up to 10% of dogs that seem healthy during their annual checkups may have some underlying health conditions.
Here are the top symptoms that show your dog might be sick:
∙ Too much drinking and urination
∙ Drooling or bad breath
∙ Change in appetite related to either weight gain or loss
∙ Reduced activity level where they no longer show interest in doing activities that once excited them
∙ Excessive sleeping and other changes in attitude or behavior
∙ Difficulty in climbing stairs, rising and also being stiff
∙ Sneezing, coughing, labored breathing or excessive panting
∙ Itchy or dry skin, lumps, sores and constant head shaking
∙ Regular digestive upsets
∙ Red, cloudy or dry eyes
If you notice that your treasured friend has these symptoms listed above, immediately consult your veterinarian. Ensure you stay alert about your dog’s health as it is easy to miss some of these symptoms. Many dog owners often attribute the subtle symptoms of illness to aging.
Getting Diagnosis and Treatment for your Dog
Since the symptoms of sickness may rarely be obvious or easily identifiable, your vet will probably recommend some preventive care tests during your pet’s annual exam. These tests include:
∙ Tests to determine if your dog may have tick-borne, heartworm or any other infections conditions
∙ Electrolyte and chemistry tests to check the status of internal organs and guarantee that your pet is not dehydrated or experiencing electrolyte imbalances
∙ Urine tests for screening for UTIs and other conditions and also testing that the kidneys are functioning correctly
∙ A full blood count test to easily rule-out any conditions associated with the blood
∙ A thyroid examination to figure out the levels of the thyroid hormone
∙ ECG tests to check for underlying heart complications, like abnormal heart rhythms
The veterinarian may prescribe other tests based on the initial evaluation of your dog.
How to Prevent These Symptoms
Preventive care tests help to detect sickness in the early stages where treatment is most successful. It helps you to avoid huge medical costs and endangering your pet’s health. Regular screening every year at your veterinarian is one of the best ways to keep your dog healthy.
References: Pet Health Network, The spruce pets, WebMD