Many times, our pets are telling us that they are not feeling well in subtle ways that can be difficult to know. If ignored, it could mean putting your pet at risk of getting even sicker, or worse. Four warning signs that you need to pay attention to are vomiting or diarrhea, decreased activity or appetite, urinating more or having accidents in the house and coughing.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Though it's normal for pets to occasionally vomit or have loose stools, if this is occurring more than once in a day there may be something more serious going on. It is normal, for example, if a puppy has just eaten then runs and plays hard to vomit. His food had not yet digested enough and simply got jostled back up. Be aware if this is happening multiple times a day or if there is a change in your pet's patterns of behavior.
Loss of Appetite or Decrease in Activity
These two signs are hard to decipher. Pets stop eating food for numerous reasons, but if this is happening consistently, then they should visit a vet. Activity levels also vary in pets depending on age and other factors. However, if your normally rambunctious dog is napping all day, then it is advised to have him checked out by a veterinarian. Although it might seem like a nice break to have your puppy sleep more instead of chew on your furniture, this could be a sign of serious illness.
Urinating More Frequently
When your pet needs to relieve himself more often than normal, it could be a sign of something wrong. Many times pets that have been well house-trained for years begin having accidents around the house. This is a possible sign that it needs treatment from a vet since it's a leading symptom of a urinary tract infection.
Coughing
Often times a pet will cough similar to humans and for the same reasons: hair caught in the throat or food down the windpipe. But if the coughing continues for several hours or over the course of more than a day, then you might consider contacting your vet as serious conditions such as pneumonia could be attributed to this symptom.
Attending to the needs of pets is key to a long and healthy life. At the Central Animal Emergency Clinic, the professionals are skilled at treating all of these signs and symptoms to get your pet back to health. Be sure to not ignore these common yet subtle symptoms in your pet.
Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver and often writes about home, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn't writing.
