How to Diagnose Dog Illnesses
Our dogs are loyal, four-legged companions who look to us to help guard their health. Suspected illness in our pets sparks alarm and requires prompt treatment. The ability to help diagnose what is wrong with our pets can be invaluable in getting them correct medical attention. Learn to recognize and spot the signs of a sick dog and what these symptoms could mean.
Instructions
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Verify that your dog has bright, clean and clear eyes as an indication of good health. Also look at your dog's ears to confirm they are discharge-free and have no "bad" odor about them. If you notice changes, report these to your veterinarian.
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Document any instance of bleeding, including blood in urine and bleeding from the mouth, nose, genitals or rectum. Blood in the urine can indicate kidney disease, while rectal bleeding may be indicative of constipation. Bleeding can also be the result of trauma. If your dog is no longer bleeding when you reach the veterinarian, be sure to give her the details.
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Look for behavior changes in your pet that can suggest illness. Note lethargy in a usually active dog and signs of anxiety or irritability in a calm dog. Though there may be a relatively simple problem, such as an ear infection, that causes altered behavior, there may be an extremely critical issue, such as canine parvovirus.
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Keep an eye out for changes in your pet's weight, especially if he is losing pounds. Weight loss is often associated with heartworms, hookworms, roundworms or whipworms. Look to for an ill dog to drink excessively, eat little and experience episodes of vomiting, which can signal many serious health problems such as worms, distemper, hepatitis or diabetes. Be particularly alert to projectile vomiting, as this can be serious.
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Take respiratory problems such as coughing and breathing difficulties seriously. Respiratory symptoms can possibly be caused by heart disease, parvo, allergies, ruptured diaphragm, heatstroke, bronchitis or pneumonia. Don't delay in seeking medical treatment.
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Go over your dog's coat thoroughly. Look for hair loss, which can be evidence of parasites or mange, scabies, allergies or untreated wounds.
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Watch for bathroom issues such as urination problems, which might mean kidney disease, and persistent constipation or diarrhea, which suggest any of a multitude of health issues, including intestinal obstruction or inflammation.
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Stay alert to physical indications that something is wrong, such as shaking, stumbling, falling or unnatural or affected walking. Be particularly attentive if any instance of fainting or seizure occurs, as these could indicate epilepsy, heart disease or another serious illness.
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Give a detailed report of your observations and suspicions of illness directly to your veterinarian. He will need to physically examine the dog and possibly run urine, fecal and/or blood tests to confirm a diagnosis. Follow his directives in the course of treatment.
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Tips & Warnings
Be proactive regarding your dog's health by scheduling routine veterinarian visits, and keep your animal updated on vaccinations and flea and heartworm treatments.
Never try to treat your dog's illness by yourself, as your diagnosis and/or treatment plan may be not be correct. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your animal any medication.
