Symptoms of a Sick Dog

Our dogs may not speak our language, but they're able to tell us much more than we might think — we just need to pay attention and know how to spot the signs.

At Soyunperro we'll go over the main symptoms shown by a sick dog. This way, if we spot them in our dog, we'll be able to tell something's wrong and see the vet for treatment.

Changes in Behavior and Appetite

A drop in activity level can be an early warning sign. This may or may not come with a decrease in appetite, or the appearance of picky eating. Both, if they become chronic, can result in more noticeable signs: weight loss, muscle wasting, a coat that loses its vitality, becoming dull and rougher.

Sometimes there's pain, or certain conditions can come with aggressive behavior. Hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, rabies, or intracranial tumors are some of these conditions.

It's also important to spot stereotypies, repetitive behaviors carried out following a temporal pattern and spatial orientation, without a clear purpose. For example, a dog biting its own tail or the appearance of a lick granuloma, generally due to separation anxiety and/or lack of stimulation.

How to Know If a Dog Is Sick?

Starting with the eyes, any type of discharge, eye boogers, or excessive blinking should raise suspicion. In these cases, we should keep our dog from scratching to prevent corneal ulcers. Certain breeds, such as the Yorkshire Terrier or Maltese, are more prone to tear discharge with no underlying condition at all.

Moving on to the mouth, bad breath (halitosis), visible tartar, and/or gingivitis are linked to periodontal disease. We can also detect an ammonia smell in the breath, pointing to kidney disease. As for the nose, increased dryness of the nasal plane can be linked to hyperthermia (fever).

As for the rear end, in females, it's essential to check for vulvar discharge — important in detecting pyometra (uterine infection) or other reproductive conditions, accompanied by behavioral changes and fever. In the anal area, excessive scratching may be due to parasites or problems with the anal glands.

Finally, when it comes to spotting "lumps," it's important to assess whether they're superficial or extend inward, whether there's discharge, warmth, or pain. They can be due to post-vaccination reactions, abscesses, sebaceous cysts, leishmania-related nodules, tumors, etc. Avoid handling them excessively, since this could be counterproductive.

These lumps can also be due to lymph node conditions. In our dogs, we can normally feel some lymph nodes: mandibular, prescapular, and popliteal. There are others that become palpable in the presence of disease: parotid, retropharyngeal, axillary, and inguinal. The causes are quite varied, ranging from bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections to tumor-related conditions such as lymphoma.

Is My Dog's Digestive System Sick?

Among the best-known symptoms, we'd highlight:

1. Vomiting.
2. Diarrhea.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Flatulence.
5. Stool with mucus or blood (melena).
6. Abdominal pain.
7. Dehydration, assessed by how long a skin fold takes to flatten (skin tenting).

How to Know If My Dog Has Kidney Problems?

In terms of kidney disease, some of the symptoms worth highlighting would be:

1. Polydipsia (drinking more).
2. Polyuria (urinating more).
3. Mouth lesions or bad breath, with an ammonia smell.
4. Edema in dependent areas (lowest points of the body).

Is My Dog's Liver Sick?

Among the most common and visible symptoms in dogs with liver problems, we'd highlight:

1. Jaundiced mucous membranes (yellowish coloring).
2. Associated nonspecific symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, polyuria, polydipsia, bleeding, encephalopathy, etc.

How to Know If My Dog's Respiratory System Is Sick?

A dog's respiratory system covers many parts, but altered breathing or the appearance of coughing or mucus can be a symptom that something isn't working as it should.

1. Altered breathing, with rates higher or lower than the standard range (15-30 breaths per minute).
2. Presence of crackles or wheezing.
3. Orthopneic posture: front legs arched, neck extended, and mouth open.

Is My Dog's Heart Sick?

Heart conditions are linked to:

1. Exercise intolerance.
2. Weakness.
3. Fainting.
4. Repeated coughing.

I've Noticed Some Symptoms — Is My Dog Sick?

Finally, it's worth noting these are just small guidelines to keep in mind. That said, any abnormality we detect, whatever it is, should be properly evaluated by your regular vet, who will give you a definitive diagnosis and steps to follow.

At the same time, I feel obligated to warn owners about the dangers of the sources found online. It's a very useful tool for finding information, but sometimes results can be misinterpreted and only end up making us panic. That's why it's essential to always see a professional at the first suspicion.