Pet owners are lucky to have lovely canines as their constant companions. They share a strong bond with the pups and develop a great sense of affection towards the cute little ones. But, seeing your dog act ill is a scary situation. There are many warning signs to look out for gauging your doggie’s health and well-being. Let’s discuss the major signs how to tell if your dog is sick and how to prevent that and when to visit a vet!
How to Tell If Your Dog is Sick?
Dogs display several noticeable signs when they fall sick. The different dog sick symptoms you cannot afford to ignore and that are clear indicators of illness in your lovely pet include:
#1 Pale / Discoloured Gums
It is easy to check symptoms of illness in your doggie. A dog’s gums are bubble gum pink or somewhat close to that colour under normal conditions. Look at the dog’s gums when they are healthy to have a decent reference point. Pale gums indicate many complications, including dehydration, bloating and as deadly as cancer. Any discolouration is a cause of concern.
#2 Laboured Breathing
A difficulty in breathing is a bad sign in both dogs and humans alike. A healthy dog takes about twenty to twenty-four breaths per minute. Breathing should seem effortless. Laboured breathing includes different indicators such as noisy breathing, flaring nostrils, unusual movement of the chest and stomach, breathing with an open mouth. Strained breathing can indicate the risk of pneumonia or foreign objects in the breathing pathways.
#3 Lethargy
Lethargy should not be confused with fatigue. Your pet will display less enthusiasm and energy towards work or tasks that usually excites it. If your dog showcases lethargic behaviour for more than twenty-four hours, it is advisable to contact your VET. However, lethargic dog bahaviour is essential to ensure that the doggie is lazy rather than being stressed out due to a long day.
#4 Increased Body Temperature
You know how to tell if your dog has a fever ? If the body temperature is less than 99 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, it is a cause of concern. It can be troublesome to gauge the unusual increase in body temperature because dogs are naturally warmer than humans. Infections and inflammations cause fever in dogs.
#5 Poor Appetite
It is the most easily noticeable indicator of sickness. Many complications aggravate the loss of appetite in your pet. Therefore, observe the change in eating patterns for twenty-four hours before reporting it to the VET. Sometimes, your lovely friends can be picky and bratty and willingly skip the meals to get their favorite treats.
#6 Excessive Drooling/ Salivation
Some dogs drool more than others. Depending upon the rate of salivation, you can figure out that something is odd. Excessive drooling can indicate heat stroke or dental diseases that require immediate attention. Therefore, note the regular rate of salivation in your dogs to observe any surprising changes in this rate.
#7 Frequent Urination
If your dog constantly wakes up at night to go out for urination or peeing inside the house unexpectedly, something is wrong. If these two instances happen over a twenty-four to forty-eight-hour time span, consult your VET at the earliest. The other factors to notice include discoloured urine, discomfort while peeing or an increased urgency.
How to Take Care of a Sick Canine?
You need to consider certain things to provide the best care for your sick pet. It is essential to ensure the following things:
#1 Withhold Food if your Dog Throwing up and Diarrhea
It is advisable to avoid giving food if found your dog vomiting and diarrhea and to contact the VET at the earliest. You must avoid giving food exclusively in cases of vomiting for not more than twenty-four hours.
#2 Ensure that the dog has access to clean drinking water at all times
Never withhold water from a sick dog unless he vomits it out. Also, make sure that the pet can easily reach the pet water fountain station and drink water without discomfort.
#3 Introduce a Bland Diet for 1-2 Days
You must provide a bland diet to the pet when it displays some signs of normalcy. A bland diet in dogs shall include one part easy to digest protein and two parts easy to digest starch.
#4 Limit your Pet’s Exercise and Play-Time
Your pet needs to take adequate rest and recover from the illness. Therefore, it is necessary to limit leisure time and focus on proper recovery.
#5 Monitor your Pet’s Stool and Urine Regularly
If you notice blood in dog stool but acting normal, Pay close attention to the amount of defecation and urination your lovely friend engages in during the sickness period. Stay in contact with the VET to report any visible changes.
#6 Provide Moral and Emotional Support to Your Pet
You cannot let your pet leave on its own and if circumstances demand so, ensure that someone looks after your doggie every two hours. You should be there for your lovely companion to provide constant support and care so that he recovers quickly.
When to Take Sick Dog to Vet?
Even though you may want to avoid the trip to the clinic because of the pet’s fragile condition, it is advisable to take your dog to the VET as soon as you notice unusual symptoms such as vomiting, discoloration of gums or stools etc. The diagnosis and effective treatment of infections are possible if they are detected at their earlier stages.
Moreover, the overall impact of the disease can be countered, thereby working towards the betterment of your pet. If you let things take their course, the sickness may become more complex, and the treatment will eventually become more expensive and risky. You must make this decision wisely.
How to Prevent illnesses in Dogs?
Taking the proper care of your dog is easier said than done. Following these tips will keep your pet healthy and active:
- Frequent VET visits will be beneficial for your dog’s well being and overall health because the VET will be able to provide accurate solutions to any complications within no time. The adversity of any disease is controllable effectively if diagnosed within the early stages.
- Scheduled Vaccination: Make sure that your pet gets the vaccines against major diseases. The vaccines boost the immune system in dogs and render the central infections ineffective or weak. Therefore, the quality of life improves, and you can enjoy quality time with these cute creatures.
- A well-balanced diet for the pets. Ever wondered what to feed a sick dog with no appetite? A diet should include the essential nutrients that trigger the immune system to fight against many infections. The robust immunity will ensure comfortable living both for you and your pet.
Conclusion
One cannot imagine the discomfort and stress caused when our lovely pets fall sick. It is a scary situation that should be avoided at all possible costs. We have to ensure that the best possible care and comfort is available to our pets. After all, it is the least we can do for the unconditional love and support they provide us from the beginning.