Ten Warning Signs That Your Pet’s Health Is Deteriorating

Keeping an eye on your pet's health is of paramount importance. You can easily do this by understanding certain warning signals from your pet. Early detection will save your money and the pet health but carelessness could cost you dearly. The life span of a pet and its fitness level vary according to its breed. A regular visit to a pet's doctor would be prudent. Read on



This article covers

• Fitness Levels of Young Pets, Middle Aged Pets And Elderly Pets
• Symptoms of Dog Illnesses
• Symptoms of Pet Illnesses

Pets are no different in the way their physiology responds to changes in their routine. Subjected to extreme colds for long periods of time, infectious diseases or contaminated foods, all of them, can get your pet sick. Dog illnesses are diagnosable by their change of behaviors etc. It is a bit tricky to diagnose sick cats because they are outdoors for most of the times and you can hardly tell what is in their minds.

Fitness Levels of Young Pets, Middle Aged Pets And Elderly Pets

Generally, dogs reach "old age" at about 7 years. But it depends on their size and breed. Their metabolisms and immunities slow down which can be seen by their slow motion. If you see your dog limping especially after sleep or climbing stairs, it could be a symptom of arthritis. The AKC pet health care plan recommends a comprehensive check up every year to check for dysfunction of kidneys, liver, heart etc. Dog illness of Vision and hearing are also paramount as it becomes feeble. The cat illness symptoms do not vary much from that of a dog’s. A veterinarian can diagnose sick cats much the same way he does with dogs.

Overall, aging with pet weight loss due to reduced eating (older pets do not need to eat more to eat more to keep their weights) make pets susceptible to illnesses.

Symptoms of Dog Illnesses

Various pet illness symptoms are given below. We can consider the case of dog illnesses and cat illness symptoms together. Therefore, here are prominent dog fever symptoms, which we find quite similar when we diagnose sick cat.

1. Vomiting And Diarrhea

These two pets: dog and cat illness symptoms show up for innumerable number of reasons. One of them could be pet cancer. Some other indications are: intestinal parasites, hypoadrenocorticism, liver disease, gastric ulcers, food allergy, absorption and digestion disorders, colitis, enteritis etc.

2. Difficulty In Breathing

The respiratory distress is known as dyspnea, characterized by labored and difficult breathing or shortness of breath. Minor causes can be of kennel cough, on the serious side, it could be breast cancer for female dogs. Other indications are heart disease or heart failure, lung disease, tumor etc. Bulldogs and Boston terriers, boxer and bracycephalic breed are more prone to breathing troubles show dog fever symptoms more often in addition to small and toy breeds.

3. Itching And Scratching

It is because of some chemical reaction on his skin. You can also notice biting. Indications are skin diseases, bacterial and yeast infections and allergies. Continued scratching or biting leads to lesions

4. Blood In Stool And Urine

Blood in urine is possibly from the bladder, kidneys or from an earlier clotting and occasionally from the vaginal area in females. Causes are infections or stones in kidney or bladder or traumatic injuries. Blood in stool indicates one or all of these: Infection (bacterial, viral, protozoan, and intestinal parasites), inflammation or trauma in bowels. Intestinal cancer, intussusceptions and sundry diseases of the colon, rectum and anus

5. Coughing

Is protective reflex to clear secretions due to foreign matters in the whole of respiratory system. Indications are obstruction, lung tumors, pneumonia, bronchitis, heartworm disease and heart failure in addition to dog fever symptoms. Coughing is predominantly found in dogs than in cats.

Continue to : Symptoms of Pet Illnesses