Like most animals, dogs often try to hide it when they are feeling sick. In fact, most owners rarely notice their pet is sick until it becomes an emergency. There are, however, some subtle signs of illness in dogs. All of the staff at The Perfect Pup have been working with canines for thirty-plus years. We train dogs and also run a dog and puppy day camp. We watch the dogs under our care very closely and have noticed the subtle signs of illness in dogs.
Subtle Signs of Illness in Dogs
Your dog is lethargic
Sudden lethargy is usually a red flag that your dog isn’t feeling well. Whether it is sleeping a lot more or hiding during play time, lethargy usually spells trouble. Make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Remind the rest of the family that your pet isn’t feeling well. Dogs that are feeling lethargic may become nippy and may bite a younger child that doesn’t understand why their friend does not want to play.
Your dog is suddenly going to the bathroom in the house
Like people, dogs having changes in urinary and bowel habits often mean something is wrong. If your perfectly house trained pup suddenly starts urinating all over the house, they may have a urinary tract infection or other problem. Leaking urine can also be a sign of a urinary tract problem. Sudden diarrhea can mean something is amiss in the digestive track. There are several reasons why a dog may suddenly have bouts of diarrhea. They can be anything from stress to parasites. When you bring your dog to the vet, try to bring along a stool sample if at all possible.
Your dog isn’t eating or drinking
Loss of appetite is often an indicator of illness in many species not just dogs. Sick animals often refuse water as well. Loss of appetite and water refusal can indicate many things so it is best to take your ailing pup to your vet as soon as possible to rule out the cause. If the loss of appetite is accompanied by a sudden loss in weight, or vomiting, make an urgent appointment.
Your dog is suddenly scratching a lot
Excessive licking, scratching, and chewing may indicate your dog has developed an allergy to something. Alternatively, they may have contracted fleas or another parasite. You can prevent fleas and ticks by giving your dog a monthly flea and tick control regimen. If you don’t see fleas or other parasites, you will want to bring the dog to the vet for skin scrapping to see what the issue is. Environmental factors and food can often cause issues with allergies in dogs.
Your dog is in noticeable pain
If your normally energetic pup looks like he is having trouble walking, it might be a sign of illness of injury. Sprains and breaks can cause lameness but so can tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease. If you notice your dog is in very visible pain it is time to go to the vet to rule out the problem. In the meantime, keep your dog quiet and comfortable to avoid exacerbating the issue.