What our sick pets can’t say in words, they’ll demonstrate by means of physical signs and symptoms and behavior changes.
Monty's behavior mystified his owner, Karen Mitchell. The 7-year-old dog -- a mix of pit bull, boxer, and pointer -- was extended housebroken and rarely had indoor accidents.
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| Bring a kennel with you in |
So when Monty began urinating in odd spots, Mitchell, 43, at first attributed the dog's behavior for the tension of massive life alterations. Mitchell and her husband had not too long ago welcomed a brand new infant daughter and had moved into a brand new residence in Alameda, Calif.
But when the urinating didn't cease, a worried Mitchell finally took Monty to the veterinarian immediately after he wet himself for the duration of sleep. "He actually slept in his pee," she says. "He wasn't acting out by peeing in the corner since he's mad that we moved. This was absolutely a sickness."
Monty's vet delivered a prompt diagnosis: diabetes.
Pet Wellness: Pay Focus for your Pet’s Symptoms
What our sick pets can't say in words, they'll demonstrate via physical signs and symptoms and behavior adjustments.
"Dogs and cats can't inform us when anything hurts or does not really feel superior. But the owners that see them each day will understand when they are not just becoming their ordinary selves," says Mark Stickney, DVM, director of basic surgery services at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "Any change within your pet's behavior from what it normally does is a reason to see your veterinarian."
Pay special attention to cat wellbeing, says Julie Meadows, DVM, assistant professor for clinical medicine in community practice at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Cats are less likely to show owners that they're sick, and owners may be less attentive to them for the reason that they are more independent.
To help you know what to look for, WebMD asked several experts to provide six "red flags" that should prompt a call or visit towards the veterinarian about your pet's wellbeing. And as always, if you are concerned about anything at all, reach out to your vet
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| Symptoms: 6 Signs of Illness in your Dog or Cat |
Vomiting or Diarrhea
Cats and dogs vomit on occasion, often without getting seriously ill. "A puppy who's eating and playful and has been outside eating leaves and junk and vomits and then goes back about his life" doesn’t worry Meadows much, she says.
But a pet that vomits, especially several times in one day, acts lethargic, and lacks appetite needs a veterinarian's focus, according to experts.
Another serious pet symptom: blood in the vomit or throwing up digested blood that looks like coffee grounds. Gastric ulcers can cause bloody vomit, and so can swallowing a foreign object that irritates the stomach. Veterinarians inform WebMD that they have treated dogs and cats that have gulped down sharp bones, socks, underwear, mittens, towels, string, tinsel, corn cobs, fish hooks, and toy soldiers.
"I had a dog swallow a steak knife right off the table, like a sword swallow," says Sandra Sawchuk, DVM, clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
Vomiting or diarrhea can stem from many other causes, too, including gastrointestinal illnesses or parasite infections that include hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, or giardia, Stickney says.
Blood inside the stool is also a warning sign that a pet needs to see the vet.
To prevent human exposure to parasites, such as hookworms and roundworms, Meadows suggests typical de-worming of pets. That's especially important if anyone in the household has a weakened immune system, such as from cancer or AIDS, or if small children play in areas where pets defecate.
Lack of Appetite or Decreased Activity
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| Healthful Pets Symptoms |
These two pet symptoms are vague, but if they persist, a veterinarian should check for causes. Dogs and cats cease eating for a host of reasons, including fever, pain, or strain. "A reduced or absent appetite, especially if it lasts for more than 24 hours, is a reason to bring your animal towards the veterinarian," says John Randolph, DVM, diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and professor of medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Typically, cats suffer more dire consequences when they cease eating, according to Sawchuk. "A dog may be a picky little snit and does not eat his dinner simply because he's waiting for human food," she says. "With cats, you've got to be real careful since if they just even go a couple of days without eating, especially an overweight cat, they can develop fatty liver." In this potentially fatal disease, excessive accumulation of fat in the liver can cause liver failure. A cat that stops eating should see a vet promptly mainly because fatty liver needs to be treated immediately.
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| Healthy pets |
What about this pet symptom: the cat or dog whose energy level drops? "It's just one of those very vague things that inform us that anything is not right," Sawchuk says. Many things can cause lethargy, including major problems, such as heart disease.
A pet whose lethargy can't be pinned on an obvious reason, such as from an extra-long run at the dog park, may need to visit the vet, especially if other signs and symptoms arise, such as change in exercise tolerance, weakness, collapse, or loss of consciousness
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