How to know when a dog is sick? Many guardians are not aware that their animals are suffering from a disease until it's late For this reason, it is very important to learn to differentiate the signs that will indicate that the dog is going through a pathological process.
In this article on our site we will talk about the symptoms of a sick dog, essential information for all caregivers. This way we can go to the vet early. Remember that the rapidity of the diagnosis implies starting the treatment, which prevents some of the pathologies that we will talk about from worsening and becoming irreversible.
How do I know if my dog is sick?
Throughout the following sections we will explain the symptoms of a sick dog in the most common pathologies according to the different organs that are affected. We will see what is known as " non-specific symptoms", that is, those that are common in various diseases. Hence the importance of going to the vet to reach the diagnosis.
The detection of these symptoms involves look at the behavior of the dog to appreciate any change. We have to see if he eats and drinks normally, if his stools are more or less abundant, if he plays or if he shows any visible damage or any change in the color of his mucous membranes.
How do I know if my dog has a sick stomach?
The Symptoms of a dog with a sick stomach are very common, as it is easy for these animals to suffer from a digestive disorder due to different causes such as garbage ingestion, drugs, infections, food allergies, a simple change in diet, intestinal parasites or just a scare.
The most frequent symptoms that we can find are the following:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Frequent bowel movements
- Bloody stools
- Anorexy
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Hard abdomen
- Pain in the abdomen
- Dehydration
- Gases
Finally, to add that it is not always easy to detect nausea symptoms in dogs, since we can confuse them with cough. In this line, we must also pay attention to whether the dog vomits, which involves a succession of abdominal movements, or only regurgitates.
How do I know if my dog has kidney disease?
Another of the relatively common conditions that, above all, will affect older dogs, are those that damage the renal system. Some symptoms of a dog with kidney disease will be the following:
- Slimming
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Bad-looking hair
- Dehydration
- Mouth Lesions
- Breath smells like ammonia
- Fever
- Pain
- Leg edema
- Abdominal edema
- Chest edema
- Anorexy
Kidney failure has different causes and its presentation can be acute, in which the symptoms occur suddenly, or chronic, with mild signs that worsen over time. The first case is a veterinary emergency and can occur due to a kidney infection but also to urinary problems that worsen and affect them.
For example, untreated cystitis or stones that block the urinary tract end up damaging the kidneys.
Some cases of acute kidney disease are very painful and we may notice that the dog cannot lie down or move normally and walks with stiff legs. But movement difficulties are a sign of pain that can also be observed in joint or bone problems, cases in which we can see lameness, stiffness, etc.
How do I know if my dog has heart disease?
The heart is an organ that is often affected in older dogs. The main problem is that it can be compensated for a long time, so that the symptoms of a dog with heart disease are noticeable when the damage is already considerable. These will be the following:
- Exercise intolerance
- Fluid retention
- Slimming
- Lethargy
- Accelerated breathing
- Weakness
- Fainting
It is also possible that the dog experiences cough, especially after exercise, at night or when the dog is lying down. Discover more symptoms of heart disease in dogs.
How do I know if my dog has liver disease?
The symptoms of a dog with liver disease, as we will see, are very non-specific in the early stages of liver failure. The following stand out:
- Vomiting
- Anorexy
- Diarrhea
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
But in addition, with advanced disease, we can find ascites, that is, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, encephalopathy, hemorrhages and jaundice , which is the yellowish discoloration of the mucous membranes.
How do I know if my dog is sick with parasites?
External parasites and internal parasites can cause symptoms, depending on the parasite. Thus, the symptoms of a dog sick by ticks, rather than being due to the mechanical action of these arthropods, are related to the pathologies they can transmit, some of them potentially fatal.
The clinical picture in these cases includes:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Anorexy
- Pale mucous membranes
- Anemia
As for fleas, they can also transmit diseases, parasites such as tapeworms or even cause anemia, but the most characteristic disorder they are associated with is flea bite allergy dermatitis (DAPP). Animals sensitive to the saliva of this parasite will present a dermatological reaction characterized by alopecia and lesions, especially in the lumbosacral area.
How do I know if my dog has cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Finally, older dogs can suffer from a syndrome similar to human Alzheimer's. The symptoms of a dog suffering from cognitive dysfunction can go unnoticed if we think that they are simply due to age. We can see that the dog is listless and sleeps a lot, especially during the day, while at night, on the other hand, we can see thatthe dog is restless and crying , seeming disoriented.
It is also common for them to evacuate at home, stop interacting with the family, do not respond to stimuli or repeat stereotyped behaviors such as going around in a circle.
To diagnose this syndrome, the veterinarian must rule out physical causes. For example, as we have seen, kidney disorders often cause increased urination, so urinating at home could have several causes. That is why we insist on the importance of take the dog to the vet if we notice any of the symptoms described in this article.
