Critical Symptoms You Should Never overlook in Your Dog

We all know that our dogs depend on us for their wellbeing and it is our responsibility as dog owners to take care of our dogs and to understand when they are feeling bad. Our pets can’t tell us how they feel, so the best thing we can do is to know exactly how they feel when they are not sick. Knowing this, and knowing it well, you will be able to tell the difference when your dog is really sick without anyone else having to tell you otherwise.

A symptom is often defined as "a physical sign of that an illness or a disease is present”. Knowing exactly what kind of symptoms your dog has usually guided your veterinarian towards diagnosing your pet's illness. Here are some of the most common symptoms that your dog may display if he is injured or feels "under the weather", including vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, seizing, limping and going off its food.

The ability to recognize your dog's symptoms and know when it needs to be treated efficiently is very important. This skill can make a difference between life and death in many instances. The best I can say is to observe carefully. If your dog exhibits anything out of ordinary, and if the symptom continues or gets worse over time, then it can become a problem.

There are all kinds of serious symptoms that should not be overlooked in your dog. Any of these symptoms can easily indicate an underlying disease, and might even be the first sign of the existence of a life-threatening conditioning in your dog. Therefore, here are some symptoms that should not be overlooked if you see them in your dog!

Losing Weight. There are several reasons for this, if you are not really trying to help your dog lose extra pounds - some of them can be very serious. This should be evaluated immediately by a veterinarian.

Collapse or Fainting. Any reasons for collapse or fainting should always be considered serious and should not be ignored. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Bloated or Distended Abdomen. Abdominal distension is an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal cavity and can often be the symptoms of the potentially life-threatening disease. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Pacing and Restlessness. Pacing or restlessness can usually be a sign of pain in dogs, discomfort or distress in your dog. In many cases, an indication of a serious problem. This should be evaluated immediately by a veterinarian.

Breathing Problems. Respiratory distress, labored or difficult breathing or even shortness of breath are all very serious symptoms and should be treated immediately.

Urinating and Drinking Excessively. Both of these are often the early signs of several diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes, thyroid problems, uterine infections, etc. if you think your dog is drinking excessively; make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.

Unproductive Vomiting. Dogs that try to vomit again and again and are not able to bring anything up is very serious. You should call your veterinarian immediately.

Fever. The normal temperature in dogs is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dog’s temperature is higher than normal, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Excessive coughing.  Do not think that this is not a big problem. Coughing is a common protective reflex to clear the throat, etc. It can also affect the respiratory system if the coughing is excessive. Common causes of an excessive cough can be very serious, such as an obstruction of the windpipe, bronchitis, pneumonia, heartworm disease, lung tumors, kennel cough or even heart failure. This should be evaluated immediately by a veterinarian.

Seizure. A seizure is often a symptom of some type of neurological disorders. They can be caused by several factors including epilepsy, toxins or tumors. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
Not Eating or loss of Appetite. This is often the first indication of disease in your dog. This should be evaluated immediately by a veterinarian.

Bloody Diarrhea - Bloody urine - Bloody vomit. Any of this should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Some may be the result of minor illnesses, while others may be serious or even life-threatening. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

As the list of dogs symptoms above is not all-inclusive, it is meant to be merely a resource of symptoms of which you should always always be aware of as a dog owner. Keep an eye on your dog’s health in much the same way you would do so for your own child and you will be well on your way to a long and lasting relationship with your own dog. Your dog's health is important to watch for any symptoms your dog may exhibit closely and be ready to act on them as necessary.