As a loyal companion of human beings, the health and happiness of dogs are the things we care about the most. However, because dogs cannot express their feelings in words, we often need to observe their daily behavior to find out whether they are sick. This article will reveal 7 signals that your dog is sick to help you take care of your pet better.
1. Loss of appetite
The appetite of a dog is an important indicator that reflects its health status. If your dog suddenly becomes less keen on food, or loses interest in its usual favorite food, this can be a sign of getting sick. Loss of appetite may be caused by digestive problems, oral diseases, respiratory diseases, urinary tract problems, etc.
2. Increased or decreased water drinking can also reflect their health status. If your dog suddenly becomes very thirsty, or does not drink water at all, this can be a sign of illness. Increased water consumption may be caused by diabetes, urinary stones, kidney problems, etc.; decreased water consumption may be related to oral diseases, digestive tract problems, etc.
3. Breathing abnormal
The normal breathing of a dog should be stable and regular. If your dog experiences symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or coughing, this can be a sign of illness. Respiratory abnormalities may be related to respiratory diseases, heart diseases, lung diseases, etc., and medical treatment is needed as soon as possible.
4. Excretion abnormalities
The excretion status of dogs can also reflect their health. If your dog experiences symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloody stools, this may be a sign of illness. Abnormal excretion may be related to digestive problems, intestinal diseases, urinary tract problems, etc., and medical treatment is needed as soon as possible.
5. Behavior change
The behavioral changes in dogs are also one of the signals of illness. If your dog becomes quieter, withdrawn or irritable than usual, or experiences abnormal behaviors such as excessive licking of a certain area, aimless wandering, this may be a sign that they are uncomfortable. These behavioral changes may be related to psychological problems, neurological diseases, etc., and medical treatment is required as soon as possible.
VI. Skin and Hair Changes
The skin and hair condition of dogs can also reflect their health. If your dog experiences symptoms such as hair loss, redness and swelling of the skin, and increased dander, this may be a sign of illness. Skin and hair problems may be related to skin diseases, endocrine problems, allergies, etc., and you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
7. Loss of spirit
Loss of spirit is one of the common signals of dogs getting sick and is also the easiest to be ignored. If your dog becomes quieter, tired, or unwilling to exercise than usual, this can be a sign of illness. Depression of mind may be related to physical pain, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, etc., and you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
It should be noted that the signals mentioned above do not necessarily mean that your dog is sick. Some behavioral changes may be normal physiological reactions caused by dogs' age, seasonal changes, and environmental changes. Therefore, as owners, we need to always pay attention to the health of our dogs. Once abnormal behaviors or symptoms are found, we will take them to the veterinarian in time to ensure their health and happiness.
In the process of raising dogs, we need to be patient and careful to feel and understand our pets. Only in this way can we take better care of them and let them live a healthy and happy life. I hope this article can provide you with useful reference and help in the process of raising a dog.