3 Things to Look for if You Think Your Dog May Be Sick

It’s scary when your best friend seems like he might be sick. He can’t actually tell you how he feels, so as a pet owner, you worry about doing the right thing by him. And it can be difficult to decide when it’s time to go to the vet or if you’re just overreacting. Here are three things to look for in these situations.

One of the biggest telltale signs is that your dog isn’t acting normally. This could mean sleeping a lot more than normal, even when he hasn’t been really active. Or it might mean not being interested in things that he normally loves to do. Any kinds of attitude or behavior changes may be indications that there’s something wrong. Do pay attention to see if these changes are associated with anything in particular. For example, if he always growls when you touch a certain spot on him.

Changes in what’s going in and what’s going out of his system can also be a clue. For example, if he’s eating more or less than usual, particularly if it comes along with a change in weight, either losing or gaining. Talking about digestion, vomiting or diarrhea is also something to pay attention to. If it just happens once, it may not be something to worry about. If it keeps happening, and persists for more than a day, it should be checked out. If your dog is drinking a lot more than usual or peeing a lot, this is also something to make note of.

Changes in respiration can also be a symptom of illness. Consistent coughing, raspy breath, and difficulty in breathing are all signs that something. An occasional cough is not necessarily anything to worry about but if it doesn’t stop, you’ll want to get that checked out. As you are paying attention to the breathing, you can also monitor the smell. Bad breath is a signal that all is not well.

Of course, multiple symptoms at once are always going to be of more concern. In those cases, you’ll want to contact seek professional help right away. When it comes down to the wellbeing of your pet, however, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. If you have any concerns at all, visit the website for the veterinary clinic in Morgan Hill right away. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.