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.

Monthly Veterinary Visits for Senior Pets

 

When you dog or cat reaches his late golden years, you can feel proud for keeping him healthy and happy. Now that he is an older senior, there are changes happening in his body that you’ll want to be aware of. Scheduling a monthly checkup with your veterinarian is a great way to stay on top of these changes. Here are a few things your vet might want to pay attention to.

1. Weight gain or loss.

Is your older pet maintaining a healthy weight? Some pets put on a dangerous amount of weight in their senior years due to overfeeding or changes in their metabolism. Some older pets with chronic illness lose excessive weight. Ask your vet for weight maintenance suggestions.

2. Healthy joints.

Arthritis is a common condition in older pets. Your vet may be able to determine the cause and prescribe lifestyle changes or medication that will ease your pet’s discomfort.

3. Dental Problems.

Dogs and cats often experience tooth loss as they age. Monthly checkups can determine if your pet’s teeth need to be cleaned or extracted. A change in diet may be in order as well.

Learn Common Signs of Reptile Illness

Many folks assume that reptiles are easier to care for than furry pets, but reptiles are sensitive and can get sick. Reptile owners need to find a veterinarian who is skilled at caring for them. Knowing when to take your reptile to the vet is very important. Here are some signs to watch for.

1. Is the skin normal?

A healthy reptile will have skin that looks full and well hydrated. Sick reptiles may have dry skin with extra creases, and the color will appear dull or different than normal.

2. Is it eating more or less than usual?

Reptiles may change their eating habits seasonally, but if you notice a sudden change in their food intake they could be unwell. Change in food preferences can signal a nutrient deficiency.

3. Is it behaving as usual?

If your reptile’s energy level is abnormal, or it is acting strangely, he could be unwell. Watch for behaviors such as excessive digging or scratching, spending more time in the warmest or coolest part of his enclosure and the onset of aggressive behavior in a normally passive animal.

Dogs Will Swallow the Strangest Things

 

Some dogs make a habit of swallowing indigestible items. You’d think they would be satisfied with food, water and the occasional dead animal, but, no, they have to venture into the impossible and swallow things like stinky socks, valuable coins and your child’s favorite stuffed animal. If your dog swallows something strange and is showing signs of distress, take him to the vet right away. How do you know if your dog swallowed the wrong thing?

1. Look for evidence around his mouth.

String or thread hanging from his teeth could be from a sock. Bright colors on his lips or chin may be from a marking pen or paint.

2. Are you missing something around your house?

If your dog is known for swallowing weird stuff, he may be the culprit. If you’ve looked everywhere to no avail, it’s possible the dog swallowed it.

3. Is he foaming around his mouth or writhing in agony?

He may have swallowed poison or another toxic substance. Let the vet know you have an emergency and rush him to the clinic.

If you know your dog has a penchant for swallowing the impossible, try to prevent future incidents by keeping foreign objects out of his reach. Visit this website for more information about vet clinic for dogs in San Jose.

The Many Aspects of Feline Health Care

Pets bring so much into our lives. But when your cat gets sick, it can’t tell you how it feels or if something hurts. Veterinarians have the knowledge and abilities to take care of your pet and diagnose what is going on so they can move forward with treatment as soon as possible. Here are some of the methods a vet can use to find an illness in your cat.

Cats need full physicals just like people. Checking its temperature and listening to its heart and lungs could alert to an infection or other respiratory or cardiac issues. In the physical, the veterinarian will also look into your cat’s eyes, ears, nose and throat to look for any abnormalities. Also, they will feel for any type of lumps under the skin that could be cause for concern.

Another type of method a vet can use would be to take a sample of blood and run some tests. These can indicate what is going on chemically within your feline friend’s body, and detect diseases or other issues with their internal organs. Many times, a urine sample will also be taken to make sure their urinary tract isn’t the cause of the sickness.

X-rays can be a very useful tool for diagnosing problems. Not only is it essential for traumatic injuries to determine if there are any broken bones, but this method can also be used to identify blockages in the intestinal tract, among other needs.

In addition, a test can be done to check for parasites in your cat’s intestinal tract too. If you have an indoor cat, you can bring a sample from the litter box as long as it is not too old. Your cat will thank you for performing that task too.

Cats are wonderful additions to the family. When they get sick, veterinarians have many methods at their disposal to ascertain what is going on, and start your kitty on the way to recovery. Once the problem is identified, your cat may need medicine or other help to start to feel better. Yearly appointments at your vet can also pick up small problems before they turn into something more serious. It is important to take your cat on a regular basis for preventative medicine to keep it thriving in your family home for many years.

If you are in need of a veterinarian in Santa Cruz, visit this website for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Savvy Pet Owners Spay Their Dogs

 

With the amount of puppies and dogs out there that do not have homes, it is important to make sure your dog is protected. Dogs can have really large litters of up to ten or more puppies, and require a lot of money and care to feed and keep healthy. It is important to know the ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in your dog.

1. Get Your Female Dog Spayed

The best option is to get her reproductive organs removed to eliminate any possibility that she may get pregnant.

2. Ensure Your Fence Is Intact

Male dogs can be very persistent when your dog is in heat and can dig holes or squeeze through vulnerabilities in a fence very quickly.

3. Keep Her Inside When She Is in Heat

This is certainly not optimal and can create a lot of extra cleaning. If she is used to being outside a lot too, she could be destructive in the house as well.

The best way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in your dog is to take her to your veterinarian and get her spayed.This is optimally done at around six months of age before her first heat. Visit this website for a great spay and neuter clinic in Santa Cruz.