Is Your Dog Sick? Telltale Signs of Dog Illness

You love your dog so much that you’d do anything just to keep him healthy all the time, right? The problem, however, is that the dog’s natural tendency to hide the symptoms of their illnesses makes it hard for you to tell if your dog is not feeling well. You need to be a good observant so that you can diagnose dog illness symptoms early on.

To see if there’s anything wrong with your dog’s health, start by checking how your pet eats, drinks, looks, and behaves. If you notice anything unusual with your dog, it’s best to have him checked by your veterinarian.

The following are dog illness symptoms that you should be aware of as a dog owner.

1. Vomiting. Rare and mild vomiting should not alarm you because sometimes, dogs vomit on purpose to remove any unwanted food or substance. However, your dog is likely to be sick if he frequently throws up. Check your dog’s nose whether it’s wet or dry to see if he has a fever. Touch your dog’s nose gently—if it’s dry, then he has a dog illness. Look at his vomit and check its color. If it’s yellowish or has blood in it, then consult your vet immediately.

2. Increased water intake and urination. Is your dog starting to develop a fixation with drinking from his water bowl? Chances are your pet has a kidney disorder or diabetes. Treating diabetes for dogs involve controlling his insulin levels and giving him special diet prescribed by your vet.

3. Loss of appetite. You don’t need to panic if your dog ignores his feeding bowl once in a while. But if your dog has not eaten for two days or more, then there’s something wrong with his health. Loss of appetite is a symptom of one or two of the following problems: constipation, stomach problems, kidney disease, heart disease, depression, and cancer. This dog illness symptom can be treated simply by providing your pet with a variety of fresh foods everyday. If your dog still refuses to eat, then take him to the vet right away.

4. Sudden change in weight. If there’s a significant rise or drop in the weight of your dog, it’s a sign that he’s not feeling well. To treat an overweight dog, give him a low-calorie diet and have him do regular exercises. If your dog is underweight, then give him more food.

5. Dull coat and too much scratching. If your dog’s coat has turned from thick and shiny into an unsightly one with rough and dry patches, chances are he has a skin problem or is infested with fleas and ticks. This could also mean that your dog’s diet should be changed.

6. Unusual stool appearance. Your dog’s poop can give you a clue on your dog’s health. Healthy dogs have small, solid, and damp stools. Loose stool is a symptom of diarrhea, while dry, hard stool means your dog is constipated. Small, squiggly particles in the dog’s stool may be a symptom of worm infestation, which can be a serious threat to any dog’s health.

Dog illness is something that you should always watch out for to maintain your dog’s good health.