Do you see your dog chewing on its paw and you wonder why? Perhaps your dog has been drinking more water, or have been excessively ‘lazy’ lately? These are actually common signs of illness that many pet owners ignore. These behaviors are often written off as our dogs as ‘just being dogs’ or minor illnesses. Unfortunately, unlike humans, dogs often times do not show symptoms of an illness unless it is serious.
Despite being one of the first creatures to become domesticated, their ancestors still had to worry about survival first. Showing weakness could mean death. Many people (especially martial artists) believe that part of the reason animals are healthier than humans is because their organs are constantly stimulated. According to Bill, a Martial artist and dog owner, “with the organs being hung from their spine, they are stimulated every time they move, and this action promotes health.”
So, as a rule, dogs are healthier, more active, less prone to disease and less inclined to show it by their nature. So when dogs are showing symptoms of illness, it is usually because they are ill. Here are some of the most common symptoms that go ignored.
Excessive Licking/Chewing paws – While not the most dire, licking can be an indication of either an injury or an allergy, “if they have a sore or a wound then they should be seen right away. Sometimes pets with allergies will lick their paws; allergies are not as serious, but [the allergies] still need to be controlled for the pet’s comfort.” Says Carla, A Vet Tech.
Excessive Drinking/Urinating Water is good for you, and many of us don’t think of drinking excess water as an issue. Humans usually don’t drink the amount of water they need in a day, so it makes sense we wouldn’t even notice. However, dogs, unlike us, are more in tune with their water needs. Without Soda, coffee and other options, a healthy dog will only drink as much water as it needs. If your dog is drinking more water than they usually do, especially if they are not being any more active than usual, than this could be a symptom of kidney disease, diabetes, or a uterine infection.
Lethargy – A happy dog is an active dog. Like their ancestors, dogs need to be constantly active. Lethargy, or low energy, indifference, drowsiness or slow response; especially in an otherwise active dog, can be an indication of something more serious. Dogs want to be active; they want to run, chase things and have fun. If they’re lethargic, they’re not being lazy, they’re usually sick. What the exact illness is varies, and can range from a minor illness to a life-threatening illness.
Coughing – While we sometimes cough for no real reason, or a minor infection, a dog coughing could mean a number of things. Before they evolved into the domesticated creature we know today, making unnecessary noise could mean death; whether from a predator or by scaring off prey and therefore not getting food. In Dogs, coughing is usually a symptom of one of two things: an obstruction or bloat. While an obstruction may be something small and harmless, if it doesn’t come out quickly, it can be life threatening. It could also be lung tumors, bronchitis, heart-worm disease or kennel cough.
Pale Gums – Pales gums are largely ignored because pet owners don’t look at their dog’s gums often enough. “Pale gums are very serious and should be addressed right away.” Carla says, the gums should be a pink color, and often times when they are not, that means that the dog has blood loss or is malnourished. Blood loss may not just be from an open wound. Often times dogs with internal injuries or tics will experience pale gums. This is a hard one to check, but should be checked immediately if you suspect that your dog is sick.
Waiting too long can be dangerous for your dog’s health, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. “These symptoms are all good indicators for underlying disease. Some of the more serious symptoms are lethargy, pale gums, coughing, drinking more, vomiting, weight loss and limping. . . [Pet Owners] should not wait longer than a day for any of these symptoms”, says Carla. While many people do not think about their dog’s health if it is not something that they would go to the doctor for, it is something that dog owners need to be aware of. Many symptoms are far more serious for dogs than they are for humans, and, if ignored, can lead to dire consequences.
Carla is a Veterinary Technician at Timpanogos Animal Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT.
Bill is a Martial Artist in Lehi, Ut, and owns two miniature Schnauzers.
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