Signs of Illness in Your Dog

When your dog is ill, the sooner you intervene, the better.

While lethargy and changes in appetite and elimination patterns are easily detectable, other signs of illness may slip under the radar for months on end.

Dr. Trisha Joyce, a veterinarian at NYC Veterinary Specialists, offers advice on what you should watch out for to ensure your pet stays healthy.

 

Gums

When dog owners call Joyce to ask whether or not they should bring their pet to her emergency room, one of the first things she asks about is the color of the animal's gums. Gums that are lighter or darker than normal can indicate a number of problems requiring medical attention.

In general, a healthy dog has pink gums. "If gums are pale, the cause can be internal bleeding -- especially common in older, large-breed dogs -- or it can be due to low blood pressure or low body temperature," explains Joyce. "Bright-red gums can be caused by a fever and an infection."

Legs and Paws

Your dog should always bear weight equally on all four legs. Both sprains and bone cancer can show up as what Joyce calls "light lameness." She suggests checking for lumps and bumps, particularly in older large-breed dogs. Asymmetry in the legs can suggest a disease that involves withering of the muscles.

Your dog's paws are vulnerable to contact dermatitis, and dogs usually lick their paws repeatedly to manage the irritation. Excessive redness between the toes can mean that either a bacterial or yeast infection has set in.

Eyes

When your dog is hale and hearty, its eyes are bright and clear. The whites are white, and there is no discharge. In contrast, less-than-healthy eyes are red and may be a notable source of irritation for your furry friend. Redness can indicate anything from dry eye to glaucoma to an infectious disease. Discharge may be suggestive of an eye ulcer.

Ears

Healthy ears are reasonably clean and don't smell bad. The floppy part is neither pink nor red. Also, both ears should look the same on the inside. If there's a difference, the animal may have either a bacterial or a yeast infection.

Abundant earwax can also signify an ear infection. "If your dog is scratching at its ears a lot, check the wax. Normal earwax is pale gray to light brown and is not abundant," explains Joyce.

Skin and Hair

Ideally, your pup's skin is pink, without patchy areas of hair loss or irritation. "Your dog should smell like a dog. With some skin diseases, the dog will smell yeasty or stinky," says Joyce. Excessive skin scratching is another way your dog may alert you to skin issues.

A healthy canine coat has luster. "You can see if a dog's hair is healthy, just like you can with a person," says Joyce. Hair should not have a lot of dander and should not feel greasy. Abundant hair loss can indicate anything from anxiety to endocrine disease and nutritional deficits.

Teeth

Dental health is as important in dogs as in people. Good dental hygiene shows up in your pet's breath as well as its teeth. "Dog owners are surprisingly reluctant to look into their dogs' mouths," comments Joyce. However, doing so is important, as dental disease is common -- especially in small dogs, which tend to have longer life spans.

"Teeth are a potential source of pain and infection," notes Joyce. She suggests monitoring your dog's breath and the amount of tartar on its teeth. When either takes a turn for the worse, it may be time for a cleaning to prevent more serious problems down the road.

"No matter what body part you're talking about, start off knowing what's normal for your pet," sums up Joyce. "Changes in any of the above might be indicative of a problem, at which point it's time to check with your dog's veterinarian."

 

 

Steve Dale and the Puppy Pros

Steve Dale -- pet expert and certified dog behavior consultant -- and the Puppy Pros share their expertise in the following dog training vidoes ... Why brushing your dog daily is important for you and your pup ... This one command will help save your dog's life ... and more ...

Westminster Dog Show Expert Shares Training Secrets
Darcy Lockman for The Dog Daily

While non-show dogs don’t need to be as comfortable with the human touch as Westminster wannabes, they can nonetheless learn something from Westminster training and grooming standards. In this article, professional dog handler Clint Livingston of Denver shares his tips for helping your puppy dog achieve best in its own show

Are Dogs Like Human 2-year-olds?
Jennifer Viegas for The Dog Daily

Children go through the "terrible 2s." Dogs do something similar, only they never grow out of it. Canines aren't quite as terrible, however, because they can't throw a decent temper tantrum. Numerous recent studies compare dogs to human 2-year-olds, both in terms of intelligence and behavior. Consider the following

Canine Heart Disease - A Silent Killer
Susan McCullough for The Dog Daily

More dogs than people suffer from heart disease. According to Novartis Animal Health, 25 percent of dogs over the age of seven have the most extreme form of heart disease -- heart failure. By contrast, the National Institutes of Health estimates that only 6.4 percent of men and 2.5 percent of women between the ages of 65 and 74 suffered from the same condition

Exercise With Your Dog to Prevent Obesity
Jennifer Viegas for The Dog Daily

According to the National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Study conducted by 95 veterinary clinics nationwide, more than 44 percent of all dogs are overweight or downright obese. The fat stats for people in America are even higher, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that around 67 percent of adults are heavier than they should be

Health Clues in Your Dog's Behavior
Susan McCullough for The Dog Daily

Here are some common apparent canine behavioral problems and their possible medical causes

Is Your 'Natural' Dog Food Truly Natural
Elizabeth Wasserman for The Dog Daily

You are probably concerned about putting 'natural,' or minimally processed, foods on your dinner table, and that standard now extends to what's in Fido's bowl. That's why you look for recognizable ingredients, such as chicken and carrots, when choosing commercial food for your dog. However, there's still some confusion about what constitutes a 'natural' dog food.

Vitamins and Minerals Your Dog Needs
Kim Boatman for The Dog Daily

Is improving your health on your list of new year's resolutions? This year, don't forget to include your dog on that list as well. But first, find out which vitamins and minerals your canine needs and where to find them.

Selecting the Best Kibble for Your Dog
Karen Asp for The Dog Daily

Selecting the right kibble for your dog can be an overwhelming task. After all, there are dozens of choices on the market these days. To help simplify your decision, ask yourself these seven questions

Canine Conduct - Sniffing and Whiffing
Amanda Harrison for The Dog Daily

Is your dog like a shopaholic at a rummage sale, smelling anything and everything that comes its way? You are not alone. As every dog knows, the best way to get the scoop on anything is through its nose.

Veterinary Research on Compulsive Behavior Could Benefit Dogs and People
Steve Dale

It turns out that your dog's brain isn't all that different from your own. Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the behavior clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, has been studying compulsive behaviors in dogs, horses and cats for decades. And for years he's been encouraging using these animal models to help understand what's going on with people

Animal Books for Your Pet-Loving Friends and Relatives
Steve Dale

Searching for last-minute gifts? How about books for your pet-loving friends and relatives, or maybe as presents to yourself? Here are some suggestions:

Scoop the Poop! Your Neighbors Will Thank You
Steve Dale

Already it's happening -- it snows and people don't pick up after their dogs. Doesn't that stuff carry disease?

For more Pet Stories and Articles, Click Here to Visit our Pets Section

 

About the Author

Darcy Lockman is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Rolling Stone. She lives in Brooklyn, with the prettiest pug dog in the five boroughs.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.