How to Tell If Your Dog Is Sick? 6 Signs You Will Notice

how to tell if your dog is sick

If you’re someone who dedicates a lot of time to your dog, you have the advantage of noticing any health problems early on. That said, if you’re new to having a dog, it can be tough to tell apart normal dog activities from symptoms of sickness. This guide is here to help you identify when your dog might be feeling under the weather and advise on the appropriate actions to take.

How to Tell if Your Dog is Sick?

If your dog is sick, it might not exhibit signs of illness in the beginning. Dogs usually tend to hide their sickness as it makes them weak and vulnerable to attacks in the wild.

So, the following points will help you in diagnosing a sick dog.

  • Change in behavior

The change in behavior is an easily noticeable sign that tells that your dog is sick.

So, you need to look carefully at your dogs’ behavior to tell if it is sick. Your dog might start hiding in the corner to conceal illness. In some instances, he might start to stay closer to you, which could be an indication that he wants to say something.

The behavior depends on the nature of your dog. As you are the only person who knows your dog best, you can easily determine what the behavior means.

  • Vomiting

Although your dog throwing up may make you freak out, it is usually normal in dogs. In some cases, it can be severe, indicating a health issue. So, if your dog starts vomiting, the first thing to do is to determine the reason for vomiting.

You can do this by looking closely at the vomit. If you feel that this condition is not normal, it might indicate that he must have eaten something bad that caused the tummy ache.

  • Lethargy

Dogs usually lose stamina when sick. If your dog is sick, you will notice that he’s often lying down all day or sleeping instead of playing. 

  • Allergy or rash

The signs of allergy and rashes appear on the skin, so they are easy to notice. The allergy can be due to many reasons. So, if you find any redness or soreness on the skin, it is time to take the dog to the vet.

  • Loss of appetite

When the dog is sick, it may eat less food or stop eating at all. This usually occurs when he has some stomach issues.

The loss of appetite is a serious condition as it may lead to lethargy. In many cases, it can become life-threatening. So, make sure to take your dog immediately to the vet.

  • Diarrhea

To help you understand how to tell if your dog is sick, here’s the last sign.

Vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are correlated. Your dog might have one symptom when sick, or all at once.

Diarrhea also arises due to stomach issues. You will see your dog feeling tired all day and going continuously to the washroom. Also, looking at its poop can help to know if the dog is sick.

What to do when the dog is sick?

As soon as you notice any of the above symptoms, the first step is to take it to the vet.

We cannot always use the same medicines for dogs as we use for humans. So, call your vet whenever you notice any signs.

Your vet may tell you the solution over the phone or ask you to visit the emergency room or clinic, depending on the situation.

What to feed a sick dog that won’t eat?

Dogs usually stop eating when they are sick. You should never leave your dog alone in this condition, as loss of appetite can become life-threatening. 

If your dog doesn’t eat, put the food in front of it and sit back. It might not want to eat it at that time, but seeing the food can encourage eating again and again. The dog may also eat the food at small intervals.

Also, most vets recommend feeding shredded chicken to sick dogs. If your dog is allergic to chicken, you can try some other food, like bone broth or pumpkin. Asking a vet about the food is the best choice.

If any condition does not work and your dog is not eating for two days, you can try force-feeding through a syringe. It usually includes feeding liquids like broth or wet food. 

However, it is better to ask a vet before performing it.

Your vet might also recommend appetite-stimulating medicines that will help the dog regain its lost appetite.

Don’t panic: Everything will be okay!

Every dog owner gets worried about seeing their best friend sick. It may make you freak out when you see it throwing up white foam, getting allergy, or diarrhea.

So, it is always better to determine the reason and contact the vet as soon as possible. Taking some preventive measures will help your dog get out of trouble.

We hope we were able to help you answer the question “how to tell if your dog is sick?” If you have more suggestions, don’t forget to comment down below.

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