Does Your Dog Feel Healthy? How To Tell If They Are Well- Issue 46, 2024

Does your dog feel well?

Nov 09, 2024

Hi Gang

How are you all?

We are good. Twyla is finally feeling loads better after her IBD attack and we are now cracking on with her Samaritans Fundraiser doing a 50 Mile Walk through November.

It got me thinking though. Sometimes our dogs can feel really quite ill yet not be able to let us know. The thought of them suffering in silence is a horrible one, so here is some hints for you to tell if you dog is feeling well.

Is your dog healthy?

It is really important to remember that our dogs are not always able to tell us when they are feeling poorly. It’s not always a simple case of watching for physical signs like limping or whimpering as dogs can be very stoic, and hide their discomfort. Knowing the signs that they may be sick can make all the difference when it comes to getting them back to their healthy selves.

Things to look out for include:

Appetite: A sudden loss of appetite or unusual increase could both be signs of illness. Suddenly avoiding certain foods they used to enjoy can also indicate something more than fussiness.
Lethargy: While it's normal for dogs to have lazy days, excessive tiredness or a significant or sudden drop in activity levels can be a concern. Older dogs will often be less active than their younger counterparts, but the decline is generally gradual and not sudden.

They may become less interested in play, or in walks, and slow down noticeably. Dogs that generally enjoy being active, who are suddenly not, warrant a vet visit to check everything is ok.
Vomiting or Diarrhoea: Occasional upset stomachs can happen, but persistent issues or severe symptoms need a vet's attention. Twyla has IBD attacks that can go on for several days at a time, leading to her passing blood and it can be very upsetting for all of us. Mostly her symptoms are controlled by giving her a fresh diet as it seems kibble sets it off (plus the occasional bin-diving session.) Other dogs will have other causes, be it from IBD or intolerances, allergies, parasites, infections or more.

Vomiting and/or diarrhoea in young puppies could be very serious, very quickly. Always call a vet.
Changes in Drinking Habits: Watch for any increase or decrease in water intake.

Polydipsia (increased thirst) can indicate some quite serious conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, liver disease, plus any number of bacterial or viral infections.

Decreased thirst could indicate nausea, dental problems, some painful conditions.

Some medications can also cause changes in drinking habits.
Unusual or Persistent Coughing: This can be a sign of respiratory issues or something more serious like heart disease.

A cough should always be investigated if it doesn’t go away after a couple of days, if it is getting worse or is accompanied by any other symptoms. If a dog has been in an environment such as kennels, or a dog park, they may need to be checked over for kennel cough and other infectious diseases.
Difficulty Urinating or Changes in Urination: Pain or straining to urinate, or changes in the urine's colour or smell, can indicate urinary issues or other health problems.
Behaviour Changes: If your dog suddenly seems unusually withdrawn, aggressive, or restless, it could be a sign they're in discomfort or pain.

Dogs often present with behaviour struggles when in fact they are not feeling well or are in pain. Dr. Daniel Mills et al. suggest up to 80% of the patients they see in their behaviour clinics can attribute their behaviour to physical discomfort. If you can solve the pain or illness problem, the behaviour problem often improves or goes away by itself.
Physical Changes: Look for signs like unexplained weight loss or gain, swelling, lumps, or bumps on the body.
Mobility Issues: Difficulty standing up, climbing stairs, or a limp can indicate joint or muscle problems.

Canine Arthritis Management have some incredible free resources to help dogparents to understand and to improve the outcomes for their dogs who struggle with arthritic conditions.

Dynamic Dog Practitioners have extensive training in observing your dog’s minute movements, their gait, their behaviour patterns to spot things that the vet might not. If you are concerned your dog may be acting out because of pain, but your vet can’t find a reason, try contacting them.
Grooming Changes: Excessive scratching, hair loss, or a dull coat can signal allergies, parasites, or skin diseases.
Bad Breath or Dental Issues: Bad breath can indicate dental issues or other health problems. Tooth pain is horrible for anyone, but imagine not being able to tell anyone that it is happening. Most vets will offer a dental check up as part of your dog’s routine health care. Do take advantage of it.

As with all things, it is down to us to be our dog’s advocate when we feel something is not quite right for them. It is also our responsibility to always be checking that our dogs are comfortable and healthy, as they can’t tell us themselves, and they can’t just ring the vet and get themselves in for a check up. Their lives and wellbeing is entirely in our hands and it is a responsibility we should all take seriously.

Scrumperdinger.com

Dear Fans,

We didn’t get as far as we had hoped during week one of our walk … But week two we kicked off with a great start. I won’t spoil it, you can read all about our week two walks next week.

In the meantime, I’m starting to wonder what Santa Paws will be buying me for Christmas. Mum is going to check out some of the best Christmas presents and see what I will like, and let you all know what she thinks is fantastic for floofers.

What do your dogs like? And are they on the “Good Dog” list, or the “Cheeky Scrumper” list?

On the Good Dog list as always,

Twyla xx

The Happy Dog Journal™

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Want to know more about helping your anxious dog the Fun Not Fear® way?

We have a book! Available in all formats from Amazon.

Grab your copy, and get helping the dog in your life to overcome their struggles.

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