A 'one stop source' featuring a wealth of animal health information and advice to help owners and potential owners to make decisions about their pets' healthcare.
The UK is a nation of dog lovers and every dog owner wants the best for their pet and so should at least have a basic knowledge of dog health and be able to spot if their dog is sick.
Change in behaviour
An unexplained change in behaviour is one of the most prominent indicators of dog health. Most dogs love their food and therefore loss of appetite can mean that your dog is sick. If your dog is lethargic or less friendly than normal then again this should not be ignored. On the other hand if your dog becomes suddenly hyperactive for no real reason then this may be a problem as well.
Also, any changes to your dog’s feeding and drinking patterns can indicate a possible problem.
Any change in your pet’s behaviour should be noted and checked more closely – and any concerns, check with your vet.
Stools and urine
Dogs are natural scavengers and do have a habit of eating what they shouldn’t! Of course, try to prevent this, but sometimes your dog can bring a digestive problem on themselves. Often a bout of diarrhoea and /or sickness will pass, as the dog’s body effectively rids itself of the problem. But if it is violent, or goes on, or if you are concerned with your dog’s vomiting or diarrhoea, then contact your vet who will be able to check things out.
A sign that should not be ignored is blood in stools or in urine as this could mean that your dog could be bleeding internally, could have an infection, or could be suffering from inflammation of the bladder.
Coat and fur
Dog health is often obvious from the appearance of a dog’s coat. An unhealthy dog may be losing patches of hair or itching and licking an area of its body excessively. This may be a sign of a flea allergy, or some other problem. When you check your dogs coat you should be on the lookout for ticks, parasites, rashes or unexplained lumps. Talk to your vet or pet care specialist about preventing fleas and ticks, and consult your vet if you have any concerns.
Eyes and nose
You can often tell if something is wrong by checking a dog’s face. The nose is often one of the best indicators, if a dog’s nose has a discharge or if it is running excessively your dog may be unwell. Another one of the signs of illness is if the area around your dog’s eyes is puffy or swollen, the eyes themselves may become red and start weeping.
If your dog displays any of these symptoms then don’t panic! These do not always indicate illness and any problems can usually be treated or managed to allow your dog’s health to return to normal. However it is much better to be safe than to be sorry and you should consult a vet or pet care specialist to ensure your dog is fit and healthy or gets the medication it needs to prevent problems or treat them if it is sick. Online sites like Pet Health Information can give you further advice on dog health and what to keep an eye out for.