Diarrhea or vomiting – Diarrhea or vomiting is the most common reason to take your dog to a veterinarian. It is most often the initial sign of a dog’s illness. At times, the problem turns out to be mild too and, sometimes, life-threatening. Vomiting or diarrhea is caused by bacterial or viral infections, diet changes, parvovirus in puppies, or motion sickness. At times, dogs vomit when they ingest a foreign object. When your pet gets one episode of diarrhea or vomiting due to an upset stomach but is acting normally, you must see if these symptoms are progressing. In this situation, you must make bland wet food, like that created from hamburger or boiled chicken combined with rice, and feed your dog in little amounts for one or a couple of days until these symptoms are no longer seen. But if these symptoms happen several times in a day and your dog feels lethargic, weak, or loss of appetite, you must call your veterinarian. Just search “pet veterinarian near me” on Google and you will get plenty of options.
Decreased or increased urination – A dog that is properly house-trained will never begin to urinate around the home when there is no reason. In this regard, you must be watchful of the signs mentioned below:
- Alterations in the volume of urine.
- Straining to urinate.
- Blood is seen in the urine.
You must observe these signs, particularly when you have got a senior dog. Too much urination might show an issue that is connected with diabetes mellitus or kidneys. Bloody urine might symbolize bladder stones, blood problems, urinary tract infections, and even cancer!
Loss of craving for food – Every dog has its eating habits as some eat more food than others. Loss of appetite is a sign of several problems, including mild and serious. If your dog has bad breath, then conditions such as anorexia might specify dental disease. In this condition, you can offer your pet its favorite treats, like hamburgers or cooked chicken. If this issue lasts for more than 24 hours and your pet shows other symptoms, such as vomiting, weakness, or lethargy, then you must take it to the vet.
Huge changes in your dog’s drinking habits – When your dog drinks less or more water than it commonly drinks, then it might indicate that it is ill. If your pet drinks too little, it might indicate that it is not feeling fine, and drinking lots of water might indicate that it is suffering from hormonal issues, kidney disease, fever, or diabetes. Hence, it is important to keep an eye on the water intake of your pet. When your pet is drinking less water, you can flavor the water by adding chicken broth or keeping many water bowls scattered around the house.
The drooping of your dog’s ears – Dogs’ ears droop when they feel sad or suffer from an ear infection. A dog can form three kinds of ear infections; inner, middle, and outer. Some symptoms of your dog’s outer ear problems, like redness, drooping ears, a bad odor, and discharge, call for a visit to the vet. When you ignore these issues, outer infections might become middle as well as inner ear infections. It can give rise to hearing loss too.
Cloudy eyes – Although it is not conclusive, cloudy eyes mean cataracts. When the cloudiness covers more than half of your dog’s eye lens, then its vision becomes obstructed, and in this condition, it can become blind too. At times, cataracts also turn into signs of diabetes. But your dog must show other symptoms, such as drinking as well as urinating more or showing other usual pet behavior problems.
Dry or rough coat – The coat of a dog must be soft, shiny, and thick, but if its coat becomes rough, dry, dull, and gets bald patches, then it might indicate that everything’s not well with your pet. An allergy, the wrong type of food, or skin disease can turn into the culprit.
Abnormal stool – The stool of your dog is a nice indicator of its overall health. When your dog is healthy, it will have moist, firm, and small stools because hard and dry stools might indicate that your pet is suffering from dehydration, dietary issues, or health maladies. You must take your dog to the veterinarian when your furry friend suffers from any of these issues:
- Straining.
- Worms in the stool.
- Mucus or blood in the stool.
- Diarrhea that lasts for more than a day.
Your dog is chasing its tail – When your pet runs in circles more often, then you can assume that it is suffering from labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection. This infection affects the balance, coordination, and posture of your dog. When your dog is older, then it could be suffering from an idiopathic vestibular syndrome that commonly appears suddenly and causes dizziness. It hasn’t any known cause and needs hospitalization.
Breathing problems – Similar to human beings, dogs too can suffer from sinus and respiratory problems. Sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge, though they seem like a simple infection, can warrant a trip to a vet. A few breeds of dogs having shorter snouts remain prone to loud breathing sounds, but they must not suffer from a nasal discharge.
Taking good care of your dog
To take very good care of your dog, you can opt for veterinary care at home and must do the following:
Provide your pet a clean and protected living environment – You must give your pet shelter from hazards and good hygiene.
Always feed your dog fresh water – When you maintain optimal hydration, your dog will live healthily.
Prevent obesity and feed your dog a quality diet – Similar to humans, overweight animals can affect health in several ways. Hence, you must follow every dietary recommendation of your vet and observe your pet’s nutritional needs very well. You must provide your healthy pet treats in place of table scraps in the form of rewards.
Take your pet to the vet regularly – Your vet will provide you with every piece of information on your dog’s vaccination schedules, external parasite control, and deworming. You must contact your vet when you feel that your pet might be injured, ill, or something isn’t working well.
Provide your pet sufficient opportunities to exercise – You need to ensure that your pet has been getting the regular exercise that it requires to stay fit. When your pet remains in shape, it will take part in activities that it enjoys the most.
Train your pet so that it follows all the commands – Your pet must go through dog training classes. When your dog follows all the necessary and basic commands, it will live a long and safe life.
Dental care is hugely important – Several breeds of dogs remain susceptible to gum disease, and it can leave serious implications. Infection that results from this condition results in premature tooth loss, and it can cause infections in some major organs, including heart valves.
