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How To Tell If Your Dog Is Sick

June 29, 2020 by Mary Telesz

a sick dog receiving care from an experienced vetIf only your dog could talk. You would then know exactly what your dog is trying to tell you without having to guess. In fact, dogs do communicate. They communicate with body language, and It is up to us to recognize it and understand what they are saying. Reading their cues is also how to tell if your dog is sick and get them the help they need, and could even save your furry friend’s life.

Signs of Illness in Your Dog

Any behavior that is unusual for your dog can be an indication that something is wrong. For example, if an energetic dog is suddenly lethargic, or an always-hungry dog is not interested in food. Don’t ignore these signs; err on the side of caution by getting the dog to the vet. Important symptoms to look for include:

Bad Breath: Bad breath (not just “dog breath”) can signal a parasite load or disease.x`

Excessive Drinking or Urination: Some dogs drink a lot of water. However, if your dog seems to be obsessively drinking water, it could be a sign of an insulin problem. If your dog is urinating or attempting to urinate more often than is normal, it may have a urinary tract infection developing.

Appetite Change Leading to Weight Gain or Loss, Vomiting:  A change in appetite that lasts for more than 24 hours could be an indication that your dog is not feeling right. Vomiting frequently is another sign of illness warranting a trip to the vet.

a dog whose owners learned how to tell if their dog is sickSudden Drop in Activity Levels: Lethargy is a common symptom that your dog is not feeling well.

Lameness, or Difficulty Climbing Stairs: An older dog or a dog with arthritis setting in will naturally begin to slow down when doing activities that strain its joints and muscles, especially in the hind legs and back. When the dog runs, you may observe some lameness in one or more of its limbs. Lameness combined with imbalance or head tilting is a sign of a neurological condition.

Excessive Coughing or Sneezing: These signs are symptoms of a possible respiratory infection. Coughing that is persistent, a bloody discharge from the mouth or nose, or labored breathing are other signs of illness that need a vet’s attention.

Head Shaking, Scratching at Ears: These symptoms often indicate parasites or infections in the dog’s ears. You may even notice a foul smell emanating from the ears.

a dog that is itching itself while sickDry Itchy Skin, Hair Loss, Sores, or Lumps: Abnormalities in the dog’s skin need to be treated. Dry itchy skin can be a symptom that your dog has allergies, or it could be that the dog has a parasite infection. Sores are also a symptom of parasites or fungal infections. If the dog is obsessively chewing at a particular place on its body, it is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be treated. Left alone, the dog’s constant chewing and licking at it can create a hot spot that can turn into a serious secondary infection. Lumps appearing under the dog’s skin are common as the dog ages and many are benign. However, some lumps are signs of cancer.

Change in Bowel Movements:  How to tell if your dog is sick? Any change in bowel movements are a warning sign. Look for parasites in the stool. If your house-trained dog is suddenly having accidents in the house, it could be a problem with the dog’s digestive system.

Red, Goopy, or Cloudy Eyes: Eye discharges are normal, but if it becomes chronic, gunky, or excessive, you should have the vet look at it. It could be as simple as allergies, but it could also be a symptom of glaucoma or other eye disease. Yellow, green, or gray discharge warrants a vet appointment.

Fever: You cannot tell whether your dog has a fever based on the wetness or dryness or heat of the dog’s nose. Only by taking the dog’s temperature can you know if it has a fever. The easiest way to take the dog’s temperature is using an ear thermometer. Ear thermometers are available from any retail pet supply store or online. If your dog has a temperature of 103 or above, you need to get the dog to the vet immediately.

Preventive Care is Important

a sick dog receiving care from a vet nurseSometimes the signs of illness are hard for owners to spot until the symptoms present themselves in obvious ways. One good way to help prevent these health problems is by keeping up with annual or semi-annual veterinary exams.

Depending on your dog’s age, symptoms and overall health, preventive testing may include the following:

  • Tests to evaluate the functioning of your dog’s internal organs and electrolyte balance.
  • Blood and fecal tests to determine the presence of parasites or infectious diseases.
  • A complete blood count to identify any blood-related issues.
  • Urine tests to identify any urinary tract infections and evaluate kidney function.
  • A thyroid test to determine if the thyroid gland is functioning properly.
  • An ECG to screen for heart disease.

Based on the results of these tests, additional testing may be needed. Discuss with your veterinarian the various treatment options and at-home care. You’ll also get a better understanding of how to tell if your dog is sick.

Reach Out to a Professional for More Information

One way to stay on top of your dog’s health is by getting help with your dog’s care from the licensed professionals at Paw Pals. They provide dog walking and dog sitting services for busy owners, so their dog is not left alone for long periods of time. The Paw Pals specialists are not veterinarians, but are trained to spot health problems, how to give emergency first aid, and are able to get the dogs in our care to the vet if necessary. Contact them today for more information about pet care and to acquire services.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Monday
9am - 5pm
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Wednesday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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