Your dog does not speak! This seems harmless but he will not be able to tell you if he is in pain, and even less where the pain is located, if it is recent,if it is an illness or simply a trauma due to a shock. So it’s up to you to be vigilant, to observe his attitudes, his changes in behavior… all the signs that can alert you and guide the veterinarian’s diagnosis if your dog suffers from an illness.
Ifsome signs of illness are clearly visible, such as diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, lameness, etc., and you can easily think of bringing them to your veterinarian, other symptoms are sometimes more discreet, less known, and they are not linked. not necessarily to an illness.
This is because dogs hide thesigns of illnessmuch more than humans do, and even if you think you know your dog well, you maynot realize that he is sick. When the animal starts to weaken, it is sometimes already too late!
Finally, you have to be much morevigilant and reactive with an adult or senior dog than with a puppy, observe him well, and not wait too long, even if the symptoms are subtle!
Your dog drinks and urinates a lot
This is a major symptom in our dogs. Indeed, our animals drink little, especially if they eat wet food.
And even if dogs are fed kibble, they normally drink a maximum of50ml per kilo per day.
If they exceed this amount, it can be asign of many diseases, whereas many people think: “If my pet drinks well and urinates a lot, then everything is fine”.
It is a sign of Renal Insufficiency, Hepatic Insufficiency, Diabetes, Hypercalcemia, Urinary Tract Infection, Metritis, Hypercorticism (Cushing’s Disease…).
It is therefore an important signal to observe and to mention to your veterinarian if it lasts a few days.
Your dog appears healthy but vomits often and his stools are often loose
If the animal is in good shape and is properly dewormed, then it is a maldigestion, probably linked to intolerance or a food allergy.
The goal of good food is not to have vomiting (1 to 2 times a month maximum), very hard and well-molded stools, and little or no smelly gas.
As long as this goal is not reached, you have to tell yourself that the food is not suitable and ask your veterinarian for feeding advice.
Your dog is always hungry
While this sometimes happens after sterilization, it is often a sign ofhormonal diseaseor maldigestion.
If at the same time, the animal grows, we will think of a disease of the type: Sweet Diabetes in dogs, Hypothyroidism, Hypercorticism (Cushing’s disease).
If, on the contrary, the animal becomes thinner, we will think: Hyperthyroidism, Digestive parasitism (tapeworm or another parasite which will require deworming the dog ), Chronic Maldigestion.
It is therefore an important sign to report during a consultation.
What a disease if … my dog has very bad breath
Bad breath in dogs is sometimes a discreet symptom, it can be a sign of infection of the gums, of a tooth, and often even of alveolar pyorrhea with the involvement of the mandibular bone.
This is often the case, for example, in small dogs who are not descaled often enough. The dog will then eat normally by swallowing his food, the only symptom you will notice is the smell.
There is only one preventive solution: brushing teeth from an early age. And as soon as you smell an abnormal odor, tell the vet, the faster he will act, the better your dog will be treated.
What a disease if … my dog is fine but he is losing weight
Unless he is on a voluntary diet, it is never a good thing when his animal loses weight, especially if he is no longer very young.
This requires, as soon as you notice it, a visit to your veterinarian for a complete clinical examination, as well as a blood test. In fact, the animal can continue to eat for a very long time, even when a tumor or renal or hepatic insufficiency evolves. Better to act first!
What a disease if … my dog coughs at night
The cough is often a sign of pure respiratory disease (tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia), but a nocturnal cough or cough on exertion (running, long walks, games, etc.) can sometimes be a sign of cardiac decompensation, which should therefore be mentioned. so that the veterinarian can direct his research.
What a disease if … my dog licks his paws and rubs his muzzle on the carpet
Itching of the legs and face is a major sign of atopy (allergy to pneumallergens: dust mites, pollen, etc.) or food allergy or a sign of anxiety.
Sometimes this is the only visible sign you will notice, without another itch. If this symptom is very frequent, talk to the veterinarian because the allergy may worsen, while there are treatments for the cause (desensitization, hypoallergenic diet).
What a disease if … my dog does not jump anymore
He’s a dog with a bad back. He may have bumped into a piece of furniture, or made a wrong move while playing or jumping. It is also sometimes due to age (with age dogs can develop spinal osteoarthritis ).
Whatever the cause, there are good treatments, anti-inflammatory or not, to relieve the animal, even old.
What a disease if … my puppy runs like a rabbit
That is to say by bringing the 2 hind legs at the same time. He will also lie on his stomach by stretching the 2 legs back.
Here again, these are the usual signs of a hereditary disease common in large breeds: coxofemoral (hip) dysplasia.
These signs should be reported immediately to the veterinarian, even if the dog is not limping because the treatments are all the more effective the earlier they are.
