Insurance

Clear Signs of Illness in Dogs

Taking care of your dog means recognising when they are sick and need medical attention. It can be hard to tell when a dog is sick or in pain, they tend to be good at hiding it. There is nothing worse than discovering your pet is ill and needs medical care, particularly if they’ve been a bit sick but you didn’t suspect it was that serious. So, how can you tell your dog needs to visit the local veterinarian?

Loss of Appetite

If your dog has a healthy appetite, you should be aware if they suddenly change the way they eat. If your hound starts to turn their nose up at dinner, it may be a sign they are a little under the weather. If this behaviour continues and it is accompanied by vomiting, lethargy or weight loss, you should consider visiting the vet. A dog can lose its appetite for a number of reasons, these are some of the most common ones:

  • Infections
  • Cancer
  • Kidney or Liver Disease
  • Dental Pain
  • Motion Sickness

There is nothing worse than arriving at the vet to find out your dog is seriously ill and needs immediate medical attention. To plan for the unexpected, a pet owner should have Australian pet insurance. Having cover means you can concentrate on nursing your pet back to health without having to worry about the cost of treatment.

Excessive Thirst & Urination

If your dog is active and drinks a lot of water, you’ll find they will urinate a lot, this is normal. A physically active dog or a dog who lives in a hot climate will drink a lot more water than a dog who doesn’t exercise or isn’t exposed to heat. But if they are doing it for no apparent reason, there could be something wrong. If your dog is urinating too much or constantly drinking water, they could have a serious condition such as kidney stones, diabetes, Addison’s disease or electrolyte disorders.

Lethargic Dogs

There is a difference between a laidback dog and a lethargic dog, as an owner, you should know if your dog is relaxed or lethargic. If resting is out of the ordinary for your dog, you should bring them to a vet to have them examined.

Behavioural Changes

As a pet owner, this one should be easy to spot. You know your hound better than anyone, so if something isn’t right, you should pick up on it. Dogs are creatures of habit and their behaviour only changes when they are sent for training or something is wrong with them. Aside from behavioural changes, look out for other common symptoms, such as:

  • Poor Skin
  • Digestive Problems
  • Pain
  • Breathing Problems

Nobody knows your dog better than you, so if you notice something out of the ordinary, don’t hesitate to bring them to the local vet and explain your problem. Dogs tend to hide their pain more than humans, which makes it difficult to notice. So, if you see even a subtle sign something is amiss, have them checked out immediately.