Remember that if you suspect there is something wrong with your dog ALWAYS take it to the vet immediately. The information in this article was not written by a vet and should not be taken as medical advice.

1. A Change in Behaviour
If your dog is noticeably acting different to usual then this could be a sign there is something wrong. In some cases this could be anxiety or another emotion over a situation change, but in general behaviour changes indicate pain or an illness. As you know your dog better than anyone it should be obvious if your dogs behaviour changes, but it always helps to keep an eye out. Especially look for signs of fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of balance or anxiety.

If your dogs behaviour change lasts for more than a couple of days then you should always visit the vet to get a professional opinion.

2. Signs Of Pain
If your dogs shows obvious discomfort by biting or licking a certain area repeatedly then this could also be a sign of illness or pain. A dog in pain may also cry out or whine. Sometimes this will cause a change in behaviour too.

This symptom of pain in dogs is often caused by an injury but can also be caused by various illnesses. You should always visit your vet if your dog is in pain.

3. General Illness Symptoms
Apart from the way the dog acts there are many other external symptoms of illness. These include red eyes or swelling, ear discharge, a runny nose, coughing, diarrhoea, hair loss, weight loss, vomiting and many more. If you regularly groom your dog then you should notice these problems quickly. Once you do notice them visit a vet immediately to get a diagnosis.

If your dog is ill then the medical costs can be huge and difficult to pay. For that reason you should consider getting pet insurance. It can be a real help when your dog gets ill, so don’t overlook it.

I’ve heard that Parvo is a common disease amongst dogs. What are dog Parvo symptoms and what are the effects of a dog getting Parvo?

Carrie

First of all, you should try to make sure your dog gets all his Parvo immunisations. The virus can be stopped in the majority of cases by getting the dog vaccinated at the right age. Once Parvo has been contracted there is almost nothing you can do, but if you see the following symptoms make sure you take your dog to the vet immediately.

Canine Parvovirus usually exhibits the following symptoms within 6-10 days of contracting the virus.

• Vomiting – causes dehydration in the dog
• Diarrhoea – again causes dehydration. The diarrhoea is also often bloody
• The dog will become lethargic and not his usualy self
• The dog may also run a fever

Because the dehydration of the dog can cause death, you should immediately take your pet to the vet if you see these symptoms who’ll try to re-hydrate the dog and give it the essential electrolytes lost.

As always, if you are in any doubt as to your dogs health you should contact a registered vet immediately.

Thanks,

Richard Cross