When it comes to the health of our dogs, we want to keep them at peak health as much as we can. Dog illness can be a serious problem and may sometimes go unnoticed until it’s too late. We often miss the symptoms for dog illness because they can be as simple as oversleeping and eating less. As responsible dog owners who love our pets, we need to look after our dogs for signs that they might be getting sick.
Here are ten dog illness symptoms you need to look out for in your pet.
Bad breathing or drooling
Dogs may naturally have bad breath, or at least it’s not like humans. But an unusually bad breath and drooling may be an indication that there is something wrong going inside of your pet. It could be a rotting tooth that needs to be extracted or something in his diet.
Excessive drinking or urination
Active dogs drink quite a lot. In hot seasons, they are more prone to dehydration so you would want to provide them as much water as possible. But look out for excessive drinking and urinating because there might be something wrong with their health if they do this.
Appetite change associated with weight loss or gain
This is one of the most obvious dog illness symptoms. If there is a drastic change in your dog’s appetite, resulting in weight loss or gain, have him checked at your vet. You might want to check his stool as well and if he vomits.
Change in activity level
If your dog suddenly doesn’t want to play at all when he used to be very active, there might be something wrong. He may be feeling excessively tired all the time, and this could be a symptom of more serious illness than just fatigue.
Stiffness or difficulty in rising or climbing stairs
Your dog might be developing arthritis or some other physical illness that makes it difficult for him to move. This difficulty makes them get tired easily as well.
Sleeping more than normal
You might think your dog is just lazy, but sleeping more than normal is actually a symptom of infectious diseases such as parvovirus, Lyme disease, or even rabies. Hypothyroidism can also cause sleepiness and lethargy.
Coughing, sneezing, excessive panting, or labored breathing
These are quite obvious dog symptoms for illness. The question is how serious is the illness your dog has? Take him to your vet once you see these symptoms.
Dry or itchy skin, sores, lumps, or shaking of the head
Skin problems are also considered illnesses and you should be taken seriously as well. If not treated, these conditions can develop into something worse, more painful, and much more difficult to treat.
Frequent digestive upsets or change in bowel movements
This can be a symptom of infectious diseases as well. Also, if this is not treated, it will cause your dog to lose a lot of weight and become malnourished.
Dry, red, or cloudy eyes
Although cloudy eyes can be normal for old dogs, this can also be a symptom of nuclear sclerosis. Check with your vet to see what you can do.