How to Determine if Your Dog Needs Medical Care

Since your dog can't talk, you'll need to watch her carefully for signs of illness. Spotting the symptoms early not only reduces the suffering she endures but may also dramatically affect the outcome of her treatment, while reducing your veterinary bill.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Rectal Thermometers (for Animals)
• Dog Beds
• Dog Bones
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Food
• Veterinarian

1. Learn your dog's daily routine. Observe her activities'such as her eating and drinking habits and her patterns of urination and defecation'closely, so you can quickly detect variations from her normal behavior.

2. Learn to do simple things like monitoring her heart and respiratory rates and taking her temperature (see related eHow 'Take Your Pet's Temperature'). Normal temperature for a dog is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F.

3. Watch for symptoms such as persistent vomiting, retching or gagging; diarrhea; or straining to defecate or urinate. These can signify serious medical problems. Call your veterinarian immediately.

4. Notice lethargy or weakness, a reluctance to eat or drink, or persistent coughing or sneezing, coupled with a change of behavior. These are sure signs that your dog needs medical attention.

5. Be aware that excessive drooling and shaking or generalized tremors, convulsions, seizures or labored respiration can indicate poisoning. Call your veterinarian immediately.

6. Try not to confuse normal behavioral changes and mood swings, which can be caused by alterations in your daily routine or variations in household activities, with true signs of illness.

Tips & Warnings

• Listlessness and refusal to eat or drink are usually the first symptoms of illness. Hot weather causes dogs to become inactive and eat less, but they will also drink more.

• Ask any children in your household if they think the dog is sick. They often see things that busy adults overlook.

• Take action as soon as you notice a problem. Delays in calling your veterinarian will often result in prolonged treatment, increased stress on you and your dog, increased expense and possibly the loss of your pet.