Six Signs That Your Dog Is In Discomfort

We all want to take care of our dogs to the best of our ability, but sometimes it’s hard to know what exactly to do because, of course, they can’t tell us what exactly is wrong with them. As responsible pet owners, we need to do our best to start understanding the physical cues that our dogs give us that indicate that they aren’t feeling great. Here are some of the signs to watch out for…

A Lack Of Appetite

If we feel nauseous then our general instinct is usually to start eating less than we normally do – and this is often the case with animals as well. If your dog’s appetite changes drastically (or not so drastically!) it’s important to take note of it and see how long it lasts. If it’s over twenty four hours then it’s a good idea to take your dog in to see the vet to see what might be up with them. You might also notice your dog drinking and sleeping more.

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Bad Breath And Drooling

Bad breath and drooling are two classic signs that your dog might have toothache – which, as you probably know from your own experiences, can be extremely painful and debilitating. Your dog may also be experiencing some sensitivity and tenderness in his muzzle, and be staying away from his food.

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Scratching

If you notice your dog scratching a lot more than usual, he could be suffering from fleas or ringworm. These can be extremely uncomfortable – and you need to deal with fleas as quickly as you can with a medication like Advantage Multi for dogs to make sure that it doesn’t spread to any of your other pets or – even worse! – to you. Dogs can suffer from eczema and other skin complaints so watch out for areas of redness or dry skin when you’re grooming your pup.

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Excessive Panting

All dog owners are used to hearing their pets pant a little from time to time but if it starts to get excessive then they could be suffering from a cold or breathing problems – at the very least they’re in some discomfort, and it could be stress induced or caused by a physical health problem. Try to remove sources of stress, and if that doesn’t work, take them to the vet.

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Obsessive Grooming

If your dog has an area of pain on his body then chances are, he’ll spend time obsessively grooming and licking that area – it’s his version of trying to care for the wound and stop it getting infected. Of course, this won’t always work, particularly if there’s no surface injury. Make sure you get it checked out.

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Behaviour Changes

If your dog is acting unusually aggressively or shyly, they might not be feeling at their best – if they snarl or their ears flatten in a way that’s out of character, they could be trying to protect themselves because of an injury or illness. They might also be lying still much more often than usual, particularly on their sides, and they might end up making a mess in the house when they’ve been house trained for a long time. Don’t tell your pet off for it – instead get to the vet.