It’s never fun when your dog gets sick. But it’s important to know when they’re sick, so we can give them the help they need. It’s fairly easy to tell if your dog isn’t feeling well, since they’ll act differently than they normally do.
Here are some of the common signs that your dog is sick:
Vomiting/bowel movements
Your dog is definitely sick if they begin vomiting frequently, as well as when they’re bowel movements change. Vomiting can be due to an upset stomach, which is your dog’s natural way of relieving themselves of it. Signs of soft stool or diarrhea is also a sign of an upset stomach.
If you notice your dog having these problems, cook them some rice along with some bone broth. Both are easy to digest and gentle on an upset stomach. If there are no signs of improvement within 3-4 days, you need to take them to the vet. There could be something more severe going on.
Urination
If you notice your dog either frequently urinating or having a hard time doing it, then something could be wrong with their kidneys or there’s some sort of infection. You may even notice blood in their urination, which is not great. If your dog is showing any of these signs, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Loss of appetite
Eating little to nothing at all is another sign of a sick pup. You may notice that your dog isn’t excited about meal time like they normally are, or they may pick at their food. As mentioned above, try to give them some cooked rice with bone broth along with some unseasoned chicken.
If this does not resolve, or it becomes worse with signs of vomiting, take your dog to the vet to see what the issue may be.
Body odor
Your dog’s breath may smell really really bad, or they have body odor elsewhere. The odor could be coming from their ears or skin. If you notice your dog giving off an odor in one of these places, they could have a rotten tooth, an ear infection, or a skin disease. Go to your vet for the proper antibiotics.
Behavioral changes
Changes in your dog’s behavior, such as being less active, constantly tired, or even spurts of aggression are signs that your pup is not feeling well. These changes in behavior could most likely be due to some physical pain they’re experiencing.
Body pain
Do you notice your dog flinching when you pet them in a certain area, or when you pick them up? This is a sign that they’re physically in pain. They could have bumped into something, or rough-housed too much with another dog. Or it could be something more serious that needs to be looked at.
You could also notice your dog limping or walking funny, or even having a hard time walking up the stairs. This could be a sign of arthritis. No matter what it is, it’s best to seek medical attention right away in order to relieve their pain.