Our dog’s health is something we all worry about — we want them to be well and, above all, to look after them and know what they need at every moment. While it’s true that each illness produces different symptoms, there are a number of signs that can help us tell when our dog may be feeling unwell, so we can take them to the vet as soon as possible.
How do we know our dog is ill?
As we said, there is a set of symptoms that appear in most illnesses. If you’d rather money weren’t an added worry in these situations, the best thing is to have insurance with broad cover for your dog.
The first clear sign that something is wrong is loss of appetite. When our dog doesn’t want to eat, we need to pay attention. This may also come with mouth pain, vomiting or stomach discomfort accompanied by shaking of the head. You should never try to fix this with home remedies, whether it’s an infection or some kind of foreign body — always turn to the vet.
Persistent eye discharge and redness are signs that you should visit a clinic, provided the dog’s daily hygiene is good; if not, discharge is a sign of neglect by the owner. With the eyes, excessive blinking can also be a symptom of an illness or eye infection.
Vomiting is unmistakably an indicator that something isn’t right. It’s a reflex action telling us that something isn’t working as it should in the stomach. If this is joined by fever, lethargy or diarrhoea, you must see the vet immediately.
On the other hand, if the dog seems happy, give it water in several small amounts through the day and withhold food for 24 hours. If, after that period, you offer food and it vomits again, see the professional.
A runny nose is common with exercise or in winter. However, if it stops being clear and comes with sneezing and lethargy, a vet visit is also needed.
There are other symptoms — such as constant scratching, coughing, diarrhoea, changes when urinating, or vaginal discharge outside the heat period — that may be a reason to see the vet.
To care for our dog we need to recognise the signs that tell us something is wrong. If any of them appears and you’re unsure, the best thing is to go to the vet so your friend’s health can recover.
