Common Dog Health Symptoms and how to identify signs of ill health in your dog
Dogs are prone to many diseases with purebred dogs the most vulnerable due to the prevalence of inherited disorders.
The problem when trying to diagnose canine disease is that the dog can’t tell you where it hurts. In fact, dogs often try to hide their symptoms, carrying on through the pain in order to please their human companion. And dogs have a high pain threshold.
Fortunately, if you are alert for them, many dog health symptoms are easy to pick out.
But you need to keep a close eye on your dog, noticing any changes to his routine. Have his eating habits changed? Is he slow to stand up or lie down? Is he reluctant to walk or play? Has his frequency of bowel and bladder movements changed?
All of these could be indicative of a health problem, and should be referred to a vet, as soon as possible. Catching a problem early often makes a huge difference and, without wanting to sound too dramatic about it, may even be the difference between life and death.
The list below provides some of the common dog health symptoms that may indicate a problem;
- Drop in food and/or water consumption
- Sudden increase in water consumption
- Significantly lower energy levels
- Whining, whimpering, limping or other signs of pain
- Personality change
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Dull and brittle coat
- Skin rashes, lesions, hot spots or irritations
- Cloudiness in the eyes
- Excessive discharge from the nose and/or eyes
- Bloody discharge in urine or stool
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
While any of the dog health symptoms above must be reported to your vet as soon as possible, those below may be more serious and require immediate action. They include;
- Complete refusal to eat or drink
- Difficulty urinating
- Dramatic drop in weight
- Indications of severe pain
- Bloated stomach
- Seizures
- Localized swelling
- Withdrawal from surroundings / signs of depression
- Body temperature over 102 degrees Fahrenheit
Bear in mind that these are not the only symptoms your dog may display. Speak to your vet about any dog health symptoms that concern you.
