Is Your Dog Sick? Know the Signs.
Like with humans, there are red flags for dogs that indicate sickness.
The following dog symptoms may signal trouble that requires a trip to your family veterinarian.
Possible Condition: Worms and Parasites
Symptoms:
- Diarrhea (especially bloody diarrhea)
- Weight loss
- Lackluster appetite
- Scooting on the bottom
- Poor appearance
A number of worms are capable of causing serious problems for dogs. Among them are hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms and heartworms. These nasty parasites are transmitted through mosquito bites, food, soil or even mother’s milk.
Roundworms (ascarids) are the most common worms that infect dogs. While seldom fatal, they can severely weaken puppies. Adult dogs are essentially immune, but larvae of dormant worms can be transmitted to puppies in the womb. Dams should be dewormed before breeding to prevent transmission.
Hookworms thrive in hot, humid conditions. They feast directly on dogs’ blood, and can severely weaken infected animals. Like roundworms, hookworms can be transmitted through the placenta during gestation, or after birth, through mother’s milk. They can even burrow directly through the skin of the paws. Your family veterinarian can detect the eggs of these parasites in your dog’s stool.
Whipworms lay fewer eggs than other worms, making detection more difficult. But once in the soil, eggs remain ineffective for up to five years. They can cause acute, chronic or intermittent diarrhea in dogs.
Possible Condition: Fleas
Symptoms:
- Scratching
- Licking or biting the skin
- Hair loss
- Hot spots
Within just three short weeks, a single flea can infest your dog with more than 1,000 blood-sucking descendants. While uncomfortable for your dog (and your unprotected ankles), fleas can also cause anemia, allergic reactions and infections. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms.
Possible Condition: Acute Moist Dermatitis (hot spots)
Symptoms:
- Bare, inflamed red patches on the skin
Hot spots are inflamed patches of skin that may weep pus and exude a foul odor. These problem areas may be related to allergies, mites, parasites, poor grooming, etc. Topical steroids or antibiotics may be required to address this painful condition.
Primary Symptom: Frequent Vomiting
- Other Symptoms
- Drooling
- Abdominal heaving
- Anxious behavior
Dogs are scavengers with a well-developed ability to throw up. This helps prevent poisoning or ingestion of indigestible substances. If vomiting occurs more often than once a day, or for several days, seek a veterinarian’s help. Other signs of trouble include abdominal bloating, frequent dry heaving, bright red blood (or a substance resembling coffee grounds) in the vomit, and vomiting that occurs even when your dog has not eaten for several hours.
Primary Symptom: Diarrhea
Other Symptoms:
- Watery or loose stools
Dogs can get diarrhea from something as simple as a dietary change. Occasional diarrhea, lasting no more than a day or two, is common. If it persists or becomes bloody, see your family veterinarian, as your dog’s symptoms could lead to dangerous dehydration. Causes include anything from ingestion of spoiled food to allergic reactions, to infection with parasites or even ingestion of a foreign object.
Next Steps: Diagnosing Your Dog
If you are concerned about any of these symptoms presenting in your dog, it’s important to take them to a vet to be examined. Your primary vet may refer your dog to a veterinary specialist for more testing and treatment. BluePearl Pet Hospital offers a wide range of specialty veterinary care including internal medicine specialists who can investigate and diagnose what these symptoms in your dog mean. Find a BluePearl veterinary specialist near you.
