Some additional health concerns to watch for!!
In an entry a couple of days ago, (click here to check it out), I highlighted some symptoms your dog may experience that would require immediate attention from the vet.
However, your dog may experience health issues that are a matter of concern but allow you to observe for a day or so before contacting the vet. Some of those will be discussed here today.
If your dog experiences changes in their eating or drinking habits, it could be something temporary, like an upset stomach or perhaps they just feel under the weather. You should consult your vet if your dog hasn’t eaten anything over a 24 hour period and especially if the dog doesn’t drink. These changes could be caused by stress or many other conditions, which is why it is important to discuss it with the vet.
If you see dark residue or smell an unpleasant odor from your dog’s ears, it could also be a concern. Your dog might have ear mites, an ear infection, or allergies that cause production of yeast that irritate the ears of the dog. These problems should be addressed by the dog’s vet as potential damage to the dog’s ears could lead to loss of hearing. While it is not immediate that you contact the vet as an emergency, if you note these symptoms, you should not wait longer than 24 hours.
Just as our systems can be disrupted due to stress, and changes in food and water, our dogs systems can respond similarly. The result can be diarrhea. If your dog experiences diarrhea for more than a few days and it is accompanied by weakness and lethargy, it is time to contact the vet.
There are several other symptoms and conditions that will be discussed in a further entry. While they may not be life threatening, they do affect the overall quality of life of your dog and should not be taken lightly. Just as we care for ourselves, we have to be even more diligent with our dogs, because unfortunately, they can’t always tell us their aches and pains verbally, but there are signs and we always must pay attention!!
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