5 more symptoms that you should never ignore in your dog. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Trouble urinating – This can include straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination and evidence of discomfort when urinating. Discomfort may be demonstrated by crying out during urination or excessive licking at the urogenital region (or focused attention in that area). There are several underlying causes, some of which, if left untreated, can result in death in as little as 36 hours.
- Urinating and drinking excessively – Excessive drinking and urination are often early signs of disease including kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland problems and uterine infection (called pyometra). Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 milliliters of water per pound of body weight per day, or one to two cups per day for a normal-sized dog. If you determine that your pet is drinking excessively, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
- Fever – A fever is an abnormally high body temperature that is believed to be a method of fighting infection. The body resets the temperature control area of the brain to increase the body temperature – often in response to invasion by bacteria or viruses. Your dog’s normal body temperature is between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dog has a fever, call your veterinarian.
- Seizure – A seizure or convulsion is the result of a sudden excessive firing of nerves in the brain. The severity of the seizure can vary between a faraway look or twitching in one part of your dog’s face to your dog falling on his side, barking, grinding his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs. A seizure can last from seconds to minutes. Seizures are symptoms of a neurological disorder – they are not in themselves a disease. They can be caused by several neurological conditions including epilepsy, toxins and tumors.
- Bruising and bleeding – Abnormal bruising and bleeding arise from clotting disorders. Clotting abnormalities are also called coagulopathies because they reflect the inability of the blood to coagulate or clot. Bleeding from clotting disturbances may occur into the skin or mucous membranes, or in various internal organs, tissues and body cavities. The impact of such bleeding may be mild to severe depending on the degree of your dog’s blood loss.
So keep an eye out for any abnormalities in your pet. If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health – see your veterinarian immediately.
