Is your pet’s health deteriorating?

Keeping an eye on your pet’s health is very important. You can easily do so by understanding certain warning signals from your pet.{{more}}

The life span of a pet and its fitness level vary according to its breed.

Fitness levels of young pets, middle aged pets and elderly pets.

Generally, dogs reach “old age” at about 7 years. But it depends on their size and breed. Their metabolism and immune system slow down which can be seen by their decreasing agility. If your dog is limping especially after sleep or climbing stairs, it could be a symptom of arthritis.

As your pet becomes old, it is recommended that a comprehensive check up once yearly is done to check on how well vital organs are functioning. These would include, kidney function, liver function, heart function etc. A Dog’s vision, and hearing are also of importance as it becomes old.

The symptoms of cat illness do not vary much from that of a dog’s.

Overall, aging with pet weight loss due to reduced eating makes pets more susceptible to illness.

Symptoms of dog illnesses.

1. Vomiting and diarrhoea: I see these symptoms, especially in dogs under 1 year old, when they acquire a viral disease called Parvo Virus infection. Other causes could be intestinal parasite infestation; liver disease; gastric ulcers; food allergies; absorption and digestive disorders; enteritis; gastritis; colitis etc.

2. Difficulty in breathing: This respiratory distress is known as dyspnoea, characterized by laboured and difficult breathing and shortness of breath. Minor causes could be kennel cough, and on the serious side, it could be breast cancer for female dogs, heart disease or heart failure, lung disease, tumours etc.

3. Itching and scratching: This could be as a result of skin diseases such as mange, bacterial and yeast infections, allergies etc.

4. Blood in stool and urine: Blood in urine is possible from the bladder, kidneys, or from the vaginal area in females. Causes are infections or stones in the kidneys, bladder or the tubes leading from them or from traumatic injuries. I have also noticed blood in the urine as a result of the ingestion of rat poison (warfarin), or in dogs infected with ehrlichia ( tick fever). Blood in stool indicates: Infection (bacterial, viral, protozoan and intestinal parasites), inflammation or trauma in bowels. Intestinal cancer, intussusceptions and diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.etc.

5. Coughing: Is a protective reflex to clear secretions due to foreign matters in the whole of the respiratory system. Indications of obstruction, lung tumours, pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, heartworm disease, heart failure. Coughing is more often found in dogs than in cats.

6. Lethargy: Inactivity or lack of response, indifference and drowsiness characterize lethargy. This could be seen when your pet is ill, including pets with, neurological, physical, endocrinal, hormonal and nutritional disorders.

7. Panting: Characterized by open-mouthed rapid and shallow respirations with the tongue stretched out. Respirations jump from the normal 30 -40 to 300-400 per minute range. Panting is generally done to dissipate heat if the place is hot or if the dog has been exercising. On the other hand, it could indicate respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, or hematologic disorders.

For further information, contact: Dr. Collin Boyle
Unique Animal Care Co. Ltd.
Tel: 456 4981
Website: www.uniqueanimalcare.com