Subtle Signs Your Dog May Be Ill or Injured
Posted on: 9 February 2016
Unless it is very obvious that your dog is ill, you might not know when a dog should go to the vet. However, there are some more subtle signs that the dog is uncomfortable, in pain, or suffering from an illness. Here are some behaviors you should not ignore.
Being More Vocal
One of the more subtle actions your dog might be doing that tell you something is wrong is simply being more vocal. This is not necessarily a crying or whining sound, but talking more, barking more, or whimpering quietly when eating or sleeping. If your dog makes a low whimpering noise when eating their food, they might have intestinal distress or a toothache that makes it hard to eat. Hearing wheezing while your dog is sleeping might not be from snoring, but from a respiratory infection.
Not Sleeping or Eating
You should always pay attention to your dog's eating and sleeping habits. These are two behaviors that can tell you a lot about their overall health. If your dog, who usually speeds through eating with great vigor, has suddenly shown disinterest in food, it is likely due to an illness or stomach virus. This is a good reason to bring them to the vet. The same goes for its sleeping habits, whether the dog isn't sleeping much at all or sleeping much more than it used to.
Having Accidents in the House
The occasional potty accident on the floor is not completely uncommon, but if your dog starts to do it often, it could be a reason to bring it to the vet. This is especially true if the dog keeps going potty on your bed or the sofa. This is generally a sign of distress as your dog is trying to alert you to something. Frequent accidents inside the house might also be because the dog is injured and doesn't want to go outside or go for a walk.
Limping or Walking Slowly
When you take your dog for a walk, let it go ahead of you and watch how it walks. It might not have a complete limp, but could very subtly be putting a little more weight on one side of its body and less on the other. This is a classic sign of having hip pain or arthritis. The dog may also seem to go slowly upstairs or struggle when walking for long periods of time, even though it used to have no trouble.
If your dog is showing any signs of illness or injury, consider taking your pet to a local pet hospital, such as Orange Grove Animal Hospital.
Share