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Pets, as opposed to human beings, cannot communicate clearly when they are feeling sick or not very well. Thus the owner of a pet must be able to read the signs and symptoms that show that something is wrong. If medical care is not provided at the right time, a pet’s condition may worsen to an extent whereby a full-fledged treatment could be needed.

While you struggle to understand if your dog is happy, it is also important to be aware of its health condition all the time. As often identified by Assignmentgeek assignment help veterinary experts, if your dog is in a rare mood most of the time lately, seems to be withdrawing from expressing to you, or has some abnormal lumps on the skin, it is probably time to take it to a vet to get it checked.

To be more specific, here are 7 not-so-obvious signs it’s time to take your dog to a vet.

1. Changes in Poop Color

If the frequency, timing, texture or color of your dog’s poop has changed significantly, it has probably eaten unhealthy food or other items that have caused disturbance in its digestive system. For instance, if your dog’s poop has a green pigment in it, it is possible that it has ingested dangerous toxins. “A very precarious pigment that can pass through a dog’s intestines is the chemical used in making rodenticides,” Dr. Jensen explains. Rodenticide in layman’s language is rat poison, and can be life threatening if not removed from the dog’s body entirely and quickly. Another reason for dog poop to come out green could be the first symptom of a disease called colitis, which refers to inflammation of the colon or in the intestinal tract. 

2. Signs of Dehydration

If your dog seems to be drinking too much water and still appear thirsty, it could be suffering from diabetes or kidney problems. Kidney disease in dogs is scary because its symptoms take too long to become obvious. If by that time, the kidney loses its functionality entirely, the dog might end up with a kidney failure, which would be life threatening. If you notice your dog constantly needing more water than usual, it should be taken for immediate screening. Medical treatment nowadays can cure diabetes and kidney disease in dogs as effectively as it can for humans, as long as the disease is diagnosed at an earlier stage.

3. Frequent Vomiting

A dog may vomit due to minor upsets in the stomach or even after gobbling up its favorite food too fast. But sometimes, dog vomiting may indicate a serious health condition. Your dog might have consumed a toxic substance, or could be suffering from gastrointestinal disorders that could be diagnosed by a vet. “The most cause of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs is ingestion of garbage,” Dr. Philip claims, who has been offering dissertation service to medical students and postgrads specializing in health and disease. If you suspect your dig has eaten up items from the dustbin in your house or outdoor, and vomits more than once on the same day, you should immediately take it for a scan to detect what’s wrong.

4. Loss of Appetite

If your dog seems to be avoiding food for over a week, even when you give it its favorite, it might be going through a rough health patch. You should keep a regular watch on your dog’s eating habits, and if you observe a significant loss of appetite, get an appointment with a vet straight away. The cause could be something as simple as a mouth injury, or even a symptom of a risky illness. Prolonged loss of appetite in dogs can indicate a serious liver or heart disease. It is definitely a cause for concern if your dog has been displaying loss of appetite in one or more of the following ways for days.

  • Consuming less than usual
  • Not eating anything at all
  • Not getting excited on getting treats
  • Repeatedly failing to finish its meals
  • Losing too much weight
  • Feeling lethargic most of the time
  • Vomiting frequently

5. Frequent Loss of Breath

Continuous panting or loss of breath could be a sign of breathing issues, especially if you notice your dog breathing heavily with a partially open mouth. As Maria Roy mentioned in one of her Essaymama papers, “Problems in the respiratory system of dogs are more common in the flat-faced breeds that have elongated palates and narrow nostrils.” Reason why this is the most not-so-obvious symptom is that a dog may even breathe heavily when it’s excited or super happy, or pant when it’s stressed or feeling hot. But if you observe closely, and your dog seems to be choking, snorting or reverse sneezing while it pants, it is recommended to take it for a check-up to be safe.

6. Changes in Eye Expressions

Paul Rickson, a medical science researcher and contributor to aus assignment help, suggests, “Any evident change in your dog’s eyes would typically require medical attention.” Changes in the eyes include, but are not limited to the following.

  • Confined or dilated pupils
  • One pupil dilated while the other confined
  • Discharge from the eyes
  • Droopy eyes
  • Appearance of a third eyelid

If any of the above changes in your dog’s eyes persists for a whole day or more than a day, you should consider fixing an appointment with a vet.

7. Hyper Activeness

As surprising as it may sounds, prolonged hyperactivity could also be a sign of an illness in dogs, as it indicates your dog is unable to get comfortable. The discomfort might arise from bodily pain, itchiness, fever or a minor disease. In any case, it is better to get it checked by a vet.

Pet dogs are very precious. Since signs for illnesses in dogs are usually not so obvious, following the above tips could be great help in providing it proper medical care. After all, prevention is always better than regret and cure!

Author’s Bio:

Scott Mathews is an academic researcher and copywriting specialist, with a passion to learn about the habits of animals, particularly pets. His hobbies include reading about the different breeds of pets, enjoying wildlife photography, and watching animal documentaries. He has worked for Best Essay and Edugeeksclub paper writing for over 3 years, and has been remotely contributing to My assignment help Australia and Australian assignment help since 2017.

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