How to tell if your dog is sick

Every owner should know how to recognize when their dog is sick and what important changes in their behavior and condition should be paid special attention to in order to seek timely help. In this article, we'll explain the symptoms of the most common illnesses, how to recognize when your dog is ill, what help can be provided at home, and when it's necessary to urgently take your pet to the vet.

Content

1 General signs of poor health
2 Symptoms of the most common diseases
3 Puppy vaccination schedule
4 Veterinarian's advice

General signs of poor health

Health is the most important aspect of an animal's life. Experienced breeders know how to tell if a dog is sick, as in most cases, simply observing their pet's behavior is enough.

The following symptoms may indicate that your dog is not feeling well:

Change in activity level

The animal may become apathetic or, conversely, anxious. It may constantly follow its owner or begin hiding, avoiding human company.

Change in appetite

If your pet is eating poorly or refuses to eat at all, it's worth visiting a veterinarian to determine the cause. Exceptions include periods of extreme heat, the post-operative period, and a number of conditions for which a physiological decrease in appetite is normal.

Increased body temperature

Normally, a dog's body temperature fluctuates between 37.5-39.2℃ for large breeds and 38.5-39.4℃ for small breeds.

You can tell if your dog has a high temperature by touching its nose (it will be dry and hot), but the correct way to check the temperature is to measure it rectally using a thermometer with a soft probe.

Changes in the moisture level and color of the mucous membranes

Dryness of the mucous membranes, as well as their significant lightening, may indicate problems with the heart and blood vessels, as well as internal bleeding (for example, as a result of injury).

Changing habitual behavior

The following may indicate that the animal has a problem: an unusual sleeping position, a change in gait, shaking of the head, freezing (the dog remains in a static position for a long time).

Changes in bowel and urination frequency

Naturally, the first incident doesn't necessarily indicate a serious illness. But if the dog had previously tolerated the problem well, and suddenly the "failures" become intermittent or constant, it's worth conducting an examination to determine the cause of the problem.

Discharge from the eyes and nose

Normally, the discharge is not too profuse and clear, but viral and bacterial infections often cause a runny nose and watery eyes. If you notice this symptom, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible, as without appropriate home testing, you won't be able to determine whether your pet has a cold or distemper, which is dangerous for dogs.

Changes in coat condition

All processes in a dog's body are interconnected, so hair loss, changes in its thickness, quality, and appearance may indicate that significant changes are occurring in the animal's body, caused by hormones or some kind of disease.

Skin manifestations

A rash, irritation, and an unpleasant odor are all early signs that your pet needs to see a veterinarian. Remember that before treating any skin condition, it's important to conduct tests to determine the underlying cause. Home treatment without proper diagnosis can only worsen the problem. Furthermore, ringworm can also infect people living with your pet.

Sudden weight change

Both sudden weight loss and rapid weight gain are obvious signs that the dog is sick and that some pathological processes are occurring in its body.

Important! We've only listed the main factors that can help you recognize if your dog is sick, but a veterinarian should make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Therefore, the first thing you should do if you suspect a problem is to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for an examination and diagnosis.

Symptoms of the most common diseases

Now you know how to tell if your pet is sick based on their behavior and condition. Now let's talk about the symptoms that can indicate a puppy or adult animal is suffering from canine distemper, parvovirus enteritis, and other dangerous illnesses.

Distemper (canine plague)

This multisystem disease is particularly severe in puppies during their first year of life. It is caused by an RNA-containing morbillivirus, which enters the body through contact with a carrier, by sniffing the feces of an infected animal, and through household contact (via personal care items).

How can I tell if my puppy has distemper?

Among the main symptoms of the disease:

depressed state;
loss of appetite;
vomiting, diarrhea;
temperature 40-41°C;
rhinitis and conjunctivitis;
cough;
Blistering rash on the pads of the paws.

If assistance is not provided in the first days of the disease's development, the virus attacks the cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa and the nerve cells of the brain, which is why in 80-90% of cases the animal, which does not have immunity, dies.

Parvovirus enteritis

The disease is considered one of the most dangerous, as it progresses rapidly and has a mortality rate of approximately 90% within the first few days after the onset of characteristic symptoms.

The causative agent of the disease is the Caninae Parvovirus, which enters the body through contact with a sick animal or sniffing feces infected with the virus.

Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the form:

cardiac (the heart muscle is affected);
intestinal (the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract are affected);
mixed (combines ode types).

At cardiac form The animal's condition deteriorates sharply, shortness of breath and cardiac dysfunction appear, which leads to death within 1-2 days of the illness.

Intestinal form Symptoms include a complete refusal to eat, severe vomiting, and bloody diarrhea, often leading to dehydration. Days 3-5 are critical for the dog. If treatment is started promptly and no organ or system damage develops by day 5, the prognosis is favorable.

Viral hepatitis

The causative agent of the disease is a special type of adenovirus that enters the dog’s body through the alimentary tract.

The disease is most dangerous for unvaccinated puppies between 1 and 6 months of age, but the disease can also develop in an adult animal due to a weakened immune system.

First symptoms:

increase in temperature to 41°C;
refusal to eat;
vomiting with bile;
bloody diarrhea;
dark colored urine;
yellowness of the mucous membranes and sclera;
keratitis;
the liver becomes inflamed and enlarged, so the animal may feel pain when palpated;
leukopenia (diagnosed by blood test);
rapid breathing (wheezing may occur in the lungs).

If the animal does not receive proper treatment in the first few days, liver necrosis may develop, which in most cases leads to death.

Tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease)

The disease develops after a tick bite, since it is ixodid ticks that carry the causative agent of borreliosis – the spirochete Borrelia.

Symptoms can vary in severity and include:

lethargy;
decreased appetite and weight loss;
fever;
periodically appearing chromatism (due to joint inflammation);
enlarged lymph nodes;
difficulty breathing;
thirst and frequent urination.

Without proper treatment, the disease can lead to glomerulonephritis and severe kidney damage, as well as affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Rabies

The disease is caused by a specific type of rhabdovirus, which most often enters a dog's body through a bite. However, rabies can also be contracted through contact with the blood or saliva of an infected animal.

Important! The disease can be transmitted to any mammal, including humans!

A characteristic feature of the disease is that the incubation period can last from 3 days to several years, and it is difficult to predict how quickly the first symptoms may appear after contact with an infected animal.

Most often, when describing rabies, they mean the furious form of the disease, which is characterized by:

disturbances in the animal’s behavior (it may hide from people or, on the contrary, become too intrusive);
muscle spasms (difficulty swallowing);
manifestation of aggression;
profuse salivation with foam formation;
paralysis.

But few people know that there are forms in which it is very difficult to determine that a pet has rabies, although the disease is no less dangerous for others.

Thus, in the silent (paralytic) form, the dog becomes very affectionate and constantly seeks contact with its owner, and does not show aggression even in the late stages of the disease. Rabies can be suspected based on neurological symptoms such as:

unsteadiness of gait;
difficulty swallowing;
paralysis of the limbs;
increased salivation.

Diagnosing atypical rabies is extremely difficult, as the animal exhibits no neurological symptoms. Owners are concerned only about gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea, which are typical of a wide range of diseases or poisoning.

What should you do if you suspect your dog has rabies?

Protect people living in the house by preventing them from having any contact with the sick animal.
Contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. An experienced vet will know how to diagnose your pet without exposing you or themselves to infection.

Important! Do not attempt to pick up the animal or transport it to the clinic by car or public transportation!

If an animal is bitten by an unfamiliar dog or wild mammal, a course of anti-rabies vaccine and a mandatory 10-day quarantine are prescribed, after which the absence of rabies is confirmed by appropriate tests.

All people and pets who have had contact with an infected animal (regardless of whether they were bitten) are recommended to receive a preventive vaccine.

Puppy vaccination schedule

To protect your pet from this dangerous disease, it is necessary to administer comprehensive vaccinations in a timely manner according to the schedule.

Important! 10-15 days before the expected vaccination date, give your pet a deworming medication.

Age	Vaccination
5 weeks	distemper, parvovirus enteritis
7-10 weeks	distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus enteritis, viral hepatitis
12-13 weeks	revaccination
6 months	rabies
12 months	rabies, leptospirosis