It’s a truism that our dogs can’t talk to us. They can’t tell us how they feel or if there is something ailing them. In fact, most dogs tend to hide ailments. Your dog may have an injury or be in pain and you might not know it for several days unless you are paying close attention to any departure from his normal behavior.
You can learn to tell if your dog has a health problem by doing the following:
1. Pay attention to your dog’s daily routine. Did he finish his food? Did he follow his usual bathroom habits? Is he drinking his normal amount of water? More? Less? All of these things can tell you important information about your dog’s health. They are often first indicators that something may be wrong with your dog.
2. How is your dog’s overall condition? Has he lost weight? Gained weight? Is his coat shiny or is it looking bad? Again, these are important indicators that your dog may be experiencing a change in his health. Watch them closely. It can be easy to miss your dog gaining or losing weight since it may happen gradually, but if your dog begins losing hair or having other skin problems, these are usually very noticeable and they can be an indication of thyroid problems, allergies or other conditions.
3. How is your dog’s energy level? Is he as active as he usually is or does he lie around more? Is he lethargic? Is he hyperactive? A change in your dog’s energy level can indicate a change for the worse in his health. Lethargy could be an indication of anything from hypothyroidism to heart failure.
4. Is your dog sensitive about his ears? Ear problems are very common with dogs, especially long-eared breeds and breeds with long hair. Ear problems can take the form of yeast and bacterial infections. If left untreated they can even lead to hearing lost or require surgery.
These are some of the things that are easily observable. You can also check your dog’s gums to see if they are healthy and pink. If they are too pale that could be an indication that your dog is not processing oxygen as well as he should — perhaps a sign of hemolytic anemia or a cardiovascular problem.
If your dog is limping for more than a few hours you may need to take him to the vet to see what the problem is. Dogs can twist or sprain a limb the same way people can, but if your dog limps for more than just a short period of time he could have a bony growth or be feeling some form of arthritis. Your vet would need to make the diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.
With dogs, as with humans, there are so many possible health conditions that it’s hard to say what might be wrong with your dog just by looking at him. However, you can usually tell by looking at a dog if something is wrong, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.
You know your dog better than anyone. If you sense that something is “off” or just not right with your dog you should trust your instincts and take your dog to the vet. Better safe than sorry where the health of your dog is concerned.
How to Identify Canine Health Problems courtesy of Dog Articles.
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