Top 3 Symptoms Of Pain And Illness In Dogs

November 7, 2008 by Richard Cross

As a dog owner not only are you’re responsible for the general care and wellbeing of your dog but also for its health. Dogs can’t tell you verbally when they are ill, so it is down to you to recognise the signs and symptoms of dog illness. Luckily these signs are often obvious if you know what you’re looking for! Here are the top three symptoms of pain and illness in dogs.

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.