10 Signs Your Dog Needs to See a Vet
Darlene M • September 11, 2020
Telltale signs that your dogs is not healthy
Trying to determine if the dog symptoms you are seeing is worth a trip to the vet or not? Know how to read the signs by being aware of what is and isn’t normal for your dog. Check out these 10 signs your pet needs to see a vet.
It is usually pretty easy to tell when you are not feeling well or coming down with something, a tickle in your throat, aches and pains throughout the body, a stuffy nose… A dog, however, can’t tell you directly if she isn’t feeling well, that’s when you need to be able to identify the dog sick symptoms by reading her signs.
Lack of Appetite
One of the most obvious signs of dog sickness is when your dog stops eating. If it lasts only a day, chances are, things are fine and whatever your dog was going through was likely temporary. But if it lasts for more than a day, take your dog to get checked out.
She’s Playing Hide and Seek…
…but you don’t remember starting a game. Usually, she loves to greet you when you come home, or snuggle up with you on the couch while you watch your favorite shows, but lately she’s been hiding under your bed. A sure sick dog symptom is when your dog is wanting a little too much alone time.
Before you consider all the dog diseases that your furry friend might be going through, first consider your lifestyle and ask yourself, has anything changed recently? A move, a new person in your home, are you bringing stress home with you from work?
Dogs are very intuitive and can sense what is going on in your life and will mimic it themselves. If everything is pretty much the same as it always was, then pack up your four-legged friend and get her to see her doctor for an in-depth diagnosis.
Too Much Water
One distinct sign of a dog illness is when your little Fido starts drinking more water than usual. If you haven’t changed food brands or styles, that is, less wet food and more dry food, then there is a chance she may be suffering from diabetes or a kidney disease.
A dog, on average, drinks anywhere from 20-70 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day. If you suspect something is off, talk to a professional.
Her Eyes
They say the eyes are the window to the soul and they can be a sure-fire dog symptom that something is wrong if they just don’t look right. If her eyes are red, cloudy or have developed a secretion of fluids, whether clear or discolored, these are likely serious signs of dog illness; go see her vet.
Bathroom Issues
This can be a variety of symptoms, from repetitive attempts to urinate or defecate without results to scooting her bum across the floor. Whatever the dog symptom you notice with regards to her routine bathroom habits, get her to a vet to make sure there isn’t something serious going on.
Aggressive Behavior
When your dog, who is normally passive, suddenly turns aggressive towards you, stop to consider why you are seeing this symptom from your dog. Has she been favoring a spot on her body, such as her paw, and you touched her paw and she reacted in defense? Pay close attention to why she may be behaving the way she is and get her checked out if the behavior persists.
Excessive Licking
This dog symptom, in particular, may mean something different depending on where your furry friend is focusing her attention. Repetitive licking between her claws, her hips, or near her tail could be a sign of an allergy. If she licks the floor or her own mouth repetitively, she could have a gastrointestinal disorder; have a visit to your vet to be sure.
Lethargy
An aging dog will slow down and want to sleep more, without a doubt. But when a relatively young dog starts sleeping more and isn’t interested in getting up and going on her daily walk with you, consider this a sign of a dog illness
or that something isn’t quite right with your four-legged friend.
Her Gums Are a Different Color
Gums in dogs are typically pink, although some are born with black gums. If you notice that the gums have turned a different color, such as red, white, blue or purple this is likely a serious sick dog symptom and you need to get her to the vet right away.
Other Significant Dog Symptoms
There are a few other dog symptoms that may require that you and she visit your vet promptly. These could range from vomiting, difficulty breathing, staring at a wall, an unhealthy-looking fur coat, excessive whimpering, or anything else that appears out of behavior for her.
Having a pet dog can mean a lot of worries and stress if she frequently requires a lot of visits to the vet. This can also mean a lot of money on your part, to ensure you don’t incur even more in pet costs
, make sure you have your dog visit the vet as soon as symptoms shows up so you don’t have to pay a fortune in medical fees.
Author’s Bio:
Danielle thrives on researching and writing on all aspects of life. Further to writing for Zumper blog and personal finance, she is an advocate of self-improvement and living a life that is both financially responsible and knowledgeable. When she is not on her computer, she can be found spending time with her husband and two sons.