As you know I am here to support you and your dog’s wellbeing journey.
However unfortunately, neither of us are vets with a crystal ball. It is important to remember that we are working together to support your dog’s wellness, which essentially means you may have identified a niggling health issue or unresolved problem your dog is suffering with. It is therefore crucial to be able to clearly identify when your dog is in need of urgent medical attention and actually ill, rather than needing a nutritional boost or just having an 'off day'.
It’s your turn to play Doggy Detective. Let’s hope you’ll never have to play - but just in case - these are the rules I live by with my dogs, and how I assess if I ever need to call the vet. I recommend you refresh your own rules incase you have to play Detective...
However unfortunately, neither of us are vets with a crystal ball. It is important to remember that we are working together to support your dog’s wellness, which essentially means you may have identified a niggling health issue or unresolved problem your dog is suffering with. It is therefore crucial to be able to clearly identify when your dog is in need of urgent medical attention and actually ill, rather than needing a nutritional boost or just having an 'off day'.
It’s your turn to play Doggy Detective. Let’s hope you’ll never have to play - but just in case - these are the rules I live by with my dogs, and how I assess if I ever need to call the vet. I recommend you refresh your own rules incase you have to play Detective...
1. Has your dog been refusing food for over 24 hours? No healthy dog will ever starve themselves, although like humans sometimes we don’t fancy the meal that is put in front of us so may choose to skip dinner. Use your common sense, if your dog is refusing food and has lost appetite for a period of time that is unusual and causing you concern - contact your vet. You can read more about anorexia here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/my-dog-wont-eat/#:~:text=Dental%20problems%2C%20pain%20and%20internal,and%20rule%20out%20other%20causes
2. Is your dog drinking excessive amounts of water? There is being thirsty after going on a run, and there is being excessively-unquenchably-thirsty. The latter is not normal or safe. If your dog is consuming an unusual amount of water and you are concerned - call your vet. Be aware your pet can consume too much water when playing in water too, you can read more about water intoxication here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/water-intoxication-in-dogs/
3. Does your dog have a high temperature? If you are ever worried about the well-being of your dog (the same as your child!) you should take their temperature immediately. With dogs you should take their temperature rectally. Their average safe temperature is 39.5°C. You can find more information here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dog-temperature-fever/ and should contact your vet if your dog has a fever.
4. Is your dog listless, unresponsive or uncoordinated? If your dog knows their name, but is unresponsive when you call them - call your vets. Listlessness is easy to identify as your dog can be unusually quiet, slow, and lethargic. If you find your dog in this state, call your vets. You can read more here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dog-is-lethargic/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20reasons%20that,liver%20problems%2C%20diabetes%2C%20and%20hypoglycaemia
5. Is your dog off their feet, not lifting their head or tail? Your dog isn’t well - seek veterinary advice. There’s nothing else to say here, your dog should be able to stand and lift their head and move their tail. https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/my-dog-keeps-falling-over/
6. Again diarrhoea and sickness are obviously a sign of illness. However much like us, we can get a bug. It is about assessing what they are ‘coping with’, if your dog is struggling with sickness or diarrhoea please seek veterinary advice. Yuou can read more about sickness https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dog-being-sick/ or diarrhoea here https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/ahds-in-dogs/
7. Is your dog excessively panting, or drooling? This is concerning in dogs. Obviously panting is a normal response to heat, however excessive panting and drooling can be a sign of illness such as heatstroke - which requires immediate veterinary attention. You can find out more here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dog-wont-stop-panting/ or here: https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dog-drooling/
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This list is not exhaustive, I could have gone up to 10, heck probably 50. But you have to remember dogs are like our children, and you are the only person on the planet that knows your dog best. If you are ever worried about your dog, seek medical advice from your vet immediately and please keep me updated. I hope our journey together will be smooth and stress free, but life is never simple and it is better to be informed and correctly equipt, ready to be proactive. I live by this rule book with my own dogs, and I would always rather air on the side of caution - I sense check myself first, then secondly give my vet a call if there is need. I hope you never need to ask yourself these questions, but like us sometimes our dogs do get unwell and need hospital. Better be informed and never need it, than be too late and wish you knew. Wishing you all the best of health x Isobel |
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