Sick Dog Symptoms

Even after making all efforts to keep your dog healthy, you have to deal with a sick dog at times. It is true that having a sick dog can be quite frustrating for a pet owner, especially after following all the advice given by the veterinarian regarding proper dog care. However, it is quite normal for your dog to get sick now and then. But, pet owners are often troubled by this situation, as they find it quite hard to find out, whether the symptoms exhibited by their dogs are associated with a minor illness or a serious dog health problem. In such a situation, it is quite normal for them to think and wonder 'is my dog sick?', or 'is it just a minor discomfort'. Given below are some common sick dog symptoms, along with certain common dog illnesses, which can help you to find out if your dog is really ill. Find out more information from the article is your dog sick.

Common Dog Illnesses

Your dog can suffer from a number of illnesses, out of which the most common dog health problems are, bacterial or viral infections, digestive problems, urinary tract infection, kidney stones, kidney problems, diabetes, ear infection, worm infestation, periodontal diseases, intestinal blockage, dog allergies and immune system disorders. In addition to these common diseases, your dog can suffer from pancreatitis, arthritis, injury, food allergy, obesity, respiratory infections and dog cancer. All these conditions can produce a number of sick dog symptoms and signs, which are explained below.

Symptoms of a Sick Dog

The usual signs of dog sickness is a change in the dog's behavior and habits. Such changes in dog behavior and habits can be discerned, only with careful observation. This is the reason why many subtle dog sickness symptoms go unnoticed at times. The sick dog symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. As for example, bad breath in dogs is usually a symptom of mild illness, which can be eliminated with proper oral hygiene. On the other hand, symptoms like, itching, cough and hair loss can be considered as some of the moderate symptoms associated with dog sickness. Usually, a visit to a veterinarian helps to ascertain and address the underlying causes associated with such symptoms. However, symptoms like, excessive vomiting, high fever and seizures are some of the serious symptoms of dog sickness, which call for immediate medical attention.

In general, the most common symptoms of dog illness are

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Bad breath
• Weakness and lethargy
• Unproductive retching
• Presence of blood in urine
• Bleeding gums
• Straining to urinate
• Arching of the back
• Incontinence
• Discharge from ear, nose and eyes
• Fever
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Bloody stool
• Frequent head shaking
• Restlessness
• Breathing difficulty
• Fainting
• Pale mucous membrane
• Persistent cough
• Pale gums and tongue
• Disorientation
• Paralysis
• Seizures and convulsions
• Foaming at the mouth
• Staggering
• Dilated pupils

Out of these sick dog symptoms, presence of blood and mucus in stool, as well as smelly stool are the signs of digestive problems, intestinal blockage, infectious diseases and intestinal parasites. Diarrhea in dogs is often associated with dog flu, a change in diet, intestinal parasites and intestinal obstruction. Similarly, vomiting can be a sign of dog worms, flu and poisoning. If your dog is making unsuccessful efforts to vomit (unproductive retching), then it may be suffering from bloating.

On the other hand, presence of blood in urine can be an indicator of internal injury, kidney problems and infection of the urinary tract. If your dog is drinking too much water and is also urinating frequently, then it can be a sign of urinary tract infection, kidney failure or canine diabetes. Ear infection and ear mites are two very common ailments in dogs, which can cause the brown colored discharge from the ears. Dogs suffering from these conditions will often shake their heads. Thus, the above mentioned sick dog symptoms can be associated with a number of dog illnesses, which can be properly evaluated by a veterinarian with the appropriate diagnostic tests and examinations. As far as treatment is concerned, strictly follow the veterinarians suggestions. Read more on symptoms of a sick dog and how to treat a sick dog.

How to Tell If Your Dog is Sick?

You can tell whether a dog is sick by looking at the dog's general appearance and carefully observing the change in its habits and behavior. To know if your dog is really sick, first of all, check his or her body temperature. Body temperature of dogs can be measured rectally. The normal range of their body temperature is 100.5º to 102.5º Fahrenheit. Next to body temperature, you can check the eyes, ears and nose of the animal for any unusual discharge. Check the ears to see if they are swollen, red or smelly. Also observe if the size of its pupils are same. The condition and color of the gums of your dogs can also help you to find out if it is sick. Pale and discolored gums can be associated with conditions like, anemia, internal bleeding and problems with blood circulation. If possible, try to measure the heart rate of your dog. The normal heart rate for a dog is 60 to 160 beats per minute, while for puppies the, normal heart rate is 180 beats per minutes.

All these checks can help you to find out whether your dog is really ill. However, you should better visit a veterinarian for a confirmed diagnosis of dog illnesses. There can be numerous sick dog symptoms, which can be properly evaluated only by an expert veterinarian. To help the veterinarian in this process, you can carefully observe the symptoms and examine its various body parts like, nose, ears, gums and eyes and note down the details in a notebook. This can help the veterinarian to properly diagnose the condition and determine the underlying cause of dog sickness.