.jpg)
I’m a bit of a worrywart when it comes to my pets. I fretted when both of my cats entered our house for the first time and didn’t seem to eat for a few days. One thing I’m always concerned about is how to tell if my pets are feeling ill. Humans can complain of their symptoms and ask for help, but our pets don’t have that option.
Veterinary doctor Eric Kane published some advice on patch.com about how to tell if your pet might be feeling unwell. The main tool to employ is common sense: keep an eye on your pet’s daily routine. Make sure you know the behaviors and actions in which your pet indulges daily, because a deviation from that routine could mean that something’s wrong.
One of the most common indicators of health, or the lack thereof, is a dog or cat’s drinking and urination habits. Each individual dog or cat might want different amounts to drink, so that’s why the key is being familiar with your pet’s usual routine.
If you notice your pet drinking more than it usually does, that might indicate something is wrong. Before you rush to the vet, however, consider the situation.
Had your pet recently vomited? If so it’s dehydrated and needs to replenish its water. Did the pet just eat something unusual, but not harmful, that might have made it thirsty? When I give my dog her rawhide treats she gets thirstier than usual after finishing one.
If you can’t find any reason for your pet’s sudden thirst, it might be time to start paying attention to your pet’s urination. Over the next few days watch your pet to see if it still drinks a lot, and try to observe its urination habits as well.
If your pet is urinating for a longer period than it usually does or needing to go more than usual (which of course could just be caused by all of the drinking), then you might have a problem. Some kidney issues that pets develop can manifest themselves in excessive urination, which in turn triggers the dehydrated pet to drink more.
Observe your pet. If after a few days you’re concerned that this might be the case, contact your vet. Your vet should be able to sort out whether your pet’s unusual behavior indicates a health problem.
Problems with urination do not always take an excessive form, either. If your dog or cat starts peeing in places it shouldn’t, when usually it knows better, then it might be trying to tell you that something is wrong.
The bottom line, one I know I need to remember, is to remain calm. Make sure you know your pet’s appearance, body language, and habits well. A change in any of these can indicate a problem. That goes for non-mammalian pets as well; a loss of color or sudden listlessness might mean illness for birds, lizards, fish, and amphibians.
Watch your pet and see if it returns to normal in a couple of days. If not, contact your vet. Remember not to panic – your pet could be fine, but because it can’t tell you what’s wrong it doesn’t hurt to check.
Related Articles:
How Far Would You Go to Save a Sick Pet?
Farmers’ Insurance Decides Dog is “Totaled”
*(This image by Andreas D. is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
