How to Tell If Your Pet is Sick

Many pet owners recognize health problems in their pets too late. Serious illness, high expenses, and even death can result. This does not need to happen. If you spend time playing and grooming your pet each day, you will be able to recognize sings of illness quicker. Here are some cues you can look for.

Inappropriate or out of character elimination:

If your well-trained pet suddenly begins urinating on the carpet, do not dismiss their behavior as spiteful. This may signal urinary track or kidney disease. It can also mean they have arthritis making it difficult to get to the litter box or signaling need to go outside. If urinary tract infections in your cat or dog are not addressed immediately, your pet can get very ill. If they are moving their bowels in the home, your cat or dog could have intestinal problems.

Dr Jekyll, Mr. Hyde?

Most pets’ personalities will evolve over time by slowing down, or becoming friendlier as they age. If your pet however, becomes anti social, or mean, they could be in pain and be afraid of being touched. Such pain can be caused by arthritis, dental problem, etc. Alternately, a pet with a sudden increased activity may have hyperthyroidism.

Sleeping beauty?

Yes, pets do sleep all the time. However, they are light sleepers and wake up whenever someone comes near them. If you notice they do not wake easily, you need to have them checked for a number of possible ailments.

Eating disorder?

If you pet suddenly stops eating, their problem could be dental problems, immune deficiency disease, or cancer. Your cat or dog can have diabetes, hyperthyroidism or other diseases if they began overeating.

Silent treatment?

A quiet dog is a lethargic dog. Lethargy is always a sign of illness. It could be as mild as a stomachache, or as serious as blocked intestines or intense pain. Cats become more vocal when they are anxious or in pain.

Body Odor?

If you find that your pet is especially smelly, even after groom, they may have an ear, tooth, or intestinal infection. On the other hand, a cat or dog with a seemingly obsessive grooming habit may have a skin condition.