On the third (3rd) memorial of my sister's
dog, TINKLEBELL, grief and sadness come all over. She never had another since.
With this invaluable loss, lessons are learned. However, I still carry the
guilt of ignorance from that moment.
My brother's dog, SANDY (above, in Chinese
New Year costume) greatly benefits from TINKLEBELL's sacrifice. The sadness
then was near breakdown. Hence I would like to share these tips to minimise
grief and guilt of dog parents.
Sick Dog Symptoms
As dog parents, it is important to know common
sick dog symptoms such as dog fever, appetite loss, diarrhea and vomiting, and
the possible causes of such signs and symptoms. This page looks at some serious
signs and symptoms of a sick dog.
Healthy dogs are usually playful, active, and alert. Once in a
while, your dog may seem to be dull or lethargic, and you may wonder if your
dog is sick.
There are some common sick dog symptoms
that can help you to determine if your dog is indeed sick, or if he is so
seriously sick that immediate veterinary assistance is imperative.
Before we get to such sick dog symptoms,
let's look at some vital physiological signs of a healthy dog.
Normal Body Temperature
- Adult Dog: 100°F to 102.5°F (37.7°C to 39.2°C)
- Average: 101.3°F (38.5°C)
- Young Puppy (4 weeks old): 100°F (37.3°C)
- Newborn Puppy; 94°F to 97°F (34.4°C to 36.1°C)
Click here
to learn how to take a dog's body temperature.
Normal Heart Rate
- Adult Dog: 60 to 160 beats per minute (depending on the size -
larger dogs have a slower heart rate than smaller dogs)
- Toy Breeds: up to 180 beats per minute
- Newborn Puppy: 160 to 200 beats per minute
- Young Puppy (2 weeks old): 220 beats per minute
Here is how you take your dog's pulse:
- Use your index and middle fingers to feel inside of your dog's
hind leg just below the point where it joins the body (the femoral artery
resides there).
- A pulse occurs with every heart beat. You can count how many
beats you feel in 15 seconds and then multiply it by 4. That will give you
the pulse.
Your dog's
pulse should feel strong and fall within the normal range. Too fast, weak, or
erratic indicates abnormality and should be checked out by a vet.
Normal Respiratory Rate
- Adult Dog: 10 to 30 breaths per minute
- Average: 24 breaths per minute (at rest)
- Newborn Puppy; 15 to 35 breaths per minute, up to 2 weeks of
age
12 Sick Dog Symptoms to Look Out For
There are some warning signs and symptoms
that can indicate a dog is very sick. If your dog displays any of the following
symptoms, seek immediate veterinary attention:
- Persistent Vomiting: Persistent vomiting
can result in dehydration.
Vomiting can be a sign of a serious problem like poisoning, or some form
of gastrointestinal problems. Also look out for bloody vomiting (which may
mean stomach
ulcers, stomach cancer or kidney
failure). or unproductive vomiting which can be a symptom of bloat
(an emergency).
- Persistent Diarrhea: Persistent
diarrhea is another sick dog symptom that can lead to dehydration. It is a
sign of severe infection, poisoning, bowel injury, cancer, or an
intestinal disease.
- Fever: A dog with a fever
can be suffering from some kind of infections, or he may have had a heat
stroke which is an emergency.
- Change in Urination Habits: Sudden
and significant change in the urination habits of a dog, such as frequent
urination, painful urination, or urinary
incontinence, can be an indication of urinary problems such as bladder
or kidney infection, kidney failure, or some form of poisoning.
- Bleeding: Any form of bleeding,
especially in the urine
or stools, can indicate a serious illness such as blood-clot disorders, bladder
stones, bladder or kidney infections. It may also indicate some form
of poisoning, or internal injury.
- Appetite Change: Any sudden change
in appetite
or thirst is alarming, as it indicates a serious health problem, such as diabetes,
Cushing's
disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and others.
- Rapid Weight Loss: Weight
loss can be caused by a wide range of health problems including such
serious illnesses as heart
failure, diabetes, or liver
or intestinal problems.
- Pain: A dog in pain usually cries
out or whines especially when touched. He may also suddenly become
aggressive. Drooling
is another indication of pain. There are a lot of reasons that can cause
pain to a dog, such as trauma, cancer,
periodontal
problems, etc.
- Difficult Breathing: Any change in
the breathing pattern (e.g. difficult breathing, panting,
rapid shallow breathing) of your dog is worth investigating. Panting may
be due to pain, overheating, heartworm,
or heart disease. Difficult breathing may be the result of heart or lung
problems, or airway obstruction by a foreign object.
- Lameness: Sudden signs of lameness
or weakness may be the result of trauma, infection, or heart
failure. Persistent lameness may, especially in older dogs, be the
result of arthritis.
- Confusion, Staggering, or Collapse:
Any of these symptoms may indicate heart or brain problems. It may also
mean high blood pressure, hormonal disorders, or poisoning.
- Lethargy: Healthy dogs are active
and playful. On the other hand, sick dogs are usually dull, lethargic,
and do not even want to play with their favorite toys, or go for a walk.
If your dog has become lethargic, it is likely that he has become sick.
Watch for other symptoms to try to determine the cause. If that is not
possible, and if your dog continues to be lethargic for over 2 to 3 days,
consult with your vet.
As you can see, sick dog symptoms can give
us an idea as to what the problem is, and how sick our dog is, so we know what
we need to do.
In trying to decide what to do, one of the
major considerations is age. Older dogs have weaker immunity and less reserve,
and if an older dog suddenly shows some of the above sick dog symptoms, it is
more of an urgent problem than a younger dog because things can deteriorate
much faster in an older dog.
Another factor that determines what action
to take is, how quickly and how severely our dog has become ill. If the
sickness symptoms come on very quickly (within a few hours or a single day),
then obviously this is more urgent and serious than if the symptoms develop
over weeks or months.
An ANNUAL ultrasound, full blood test and full medical check-up will further reduce the risk of serious illnesses.
The information provided here is intended for educational
purposes ONLY. It should NOT serve as a substitute for the professional
medical advice of your veterinarian. ALWAYS consult your veterinarian
with questions about your pet’s health and before initiating any
treatment regimes.
Bibliography
Reference
Cited
[Accessed: 19 OCT 2010]
.jpg)
.jpg)
