Dog Illness Symptoms

If you are concerned about your dog’s health, or if you think that your dog isn’t well, you may be unsure of what to do. Veterinarian’s bills can be expensive, even just for a consultation, so maybe you want to be sure there is something wrong before you go rushing your dog to the veterinary clinic. The following are a few of the dog illness symptoms and the related ailments that your dog may suffer from at some point in its life.

Itchy skin:

If your dog is scratching a lot, it could be a sign of lice or mites. Other causes of itches are bacterial or yeast infections and allergic reactions. If you have recently changed one of the products you use with your dog such as the brand of dog shampoo, or the doggie treats you give him, you could try changing back to the old one and see if this helps. If not, you will need to get your dog to a vet. If the cause isn’t an allergy, the chances are you will need treatment for your dog, possibly long-term.

The Eyes:

One way you can see if your dog isn’t at its best is by looking at the eyes. Usually, a dog will have lively and cheerful eyes when it is feeling healthy, and when ill they can become dull and soulful. Then of course there are ailments which affect the eyes specifically such as cataracts and these are relatively easy to spot. If the eyes are quite red and watery, this can be a sign of fever or viral infection.

The Nose:

Dogs usually have quite a cold and wet nose. If your dog’s nose dries up, it is probably a sign that something is wrong and this is one of the easiest dog illness symptoms to spot. Unusual discharge from the nose can also be a sign that your dog is coming down with something, and this too can be a sign of an infection or virus.

Breathing:

If your dog is coughing a lot, suffering from excessive drooling or having problems with its breathing, then your dog may have a problem in the cardiac or respiratory system and this can be quite serious. You should definitely get these symptoms checked out.

Smell:

The problems that can cause dogs to produce a bad smell are usually related to the digestive system or caused by internal parasites such as worms. Some of the ailments that can lead to intestinal problems are allergies, food or chemical poisoning, old age, or even cancer.

Erratic Behaviour:

The last of our dog illness symptoms is related to its behaviour. If your dog starts doing weird things this too can be a sign of something wrong. Behaviour problems can be very hard to diagnose as there are so many things that could be causing it, so in most cases you will need veterinary expertise to help you unravel the mystery and trace the cause of your dog’s strange behaviour.