Caring For Sick Pets - Recognizing Illness Early

In order to know if something is wrong with your pet, you must first be able to tell the difference between what is typical behavior and what is not right. Observe their personality, sleeping, grooming, and eating habits. Because our pets cannot tell us directly when something if wrong, paying attention to what is normal, every day behavior can help you distinguish sooner if something is wrong when your pet starts acting strangely or out of sorts.

Generally, if an animal doesn’t feel well, their social interactions and regular behavior are likely to change. An animal that is characteristically very friendly and outgoing that unexpectedly becomes withdrawn and aggressive can be a warning sign that something more serious is occurring. Similarly, if your aloof cat begins acting more clingy and needy than usual, they may not be feeling well. Being aware of your pet’s usual personality can help alert you that something may be wrong when they suddenly begin acting unlike themselves.

Urination and defecation can also be signs of sickness in pets. If your housebroken pet abruptly begins urinating or defecating in the house, they may be too weak or unable to make it outside to relieve their bladder because of infection, weak muscles, or possibly a liver or kidney disorder. If there is blood in your animal’s stool, if they are not urinating or defecating as frequently, or they are urinating or defecating more frequently, they may need a visit to the vet.

A change in sleeping and eating habits can be another sign that your animal is feeling sick. A check up may be needed if a normally active feline begins sleeping at all hours,or a dog becomes extremely lethargic or weakwithout an obvious reason (like a long walk or rambunctious playtime). If your pet is so weak that they begin refusing foodeating only minuscule amounts, seek help right away before the problem gets worse.

Because dogs are usually more involved with their owners and less autonomous, it can be easier to spot illness early in canines. Cats, however,may be less likely to show when they’re in pain because of their independent nature, and owners may miss the early signs of infection if they aren’t expressly looking for them.

Paying attention to your pet when they are healthy can help you be more prone to seeing the early warning signs when something is wrong. Being observant of your pet may mean that you can get them help quicker if an ailment or infection does happen.

To learn more about how to recognize illness early in your pets, speak with a San Jose veterinarian www.evergreenvetclinic.com