What are the signs of an unhealthy dog

In every beautiful moment spent with our dog, we fully hope that it will always be healthy, happy, and full of vitality around us. Dogs are like little suns in life, adding endless warmth and joy to our days with their passion, loyalty, and liveliness. However, the shadow of disease may quietly envelop and threaten the health of dogs. As the closest guardians of dogs, it is necessary for us to keenly capture signs that may suggest that the dog is unhealthy, because every subtle change can be a distress signal that the dog sends to us.

The behavioral changes of dogs are often a direct reflection of their health status. If a dog that is usually lively and curious about everything suddenly becomes lazy and lethargic, loses interest in the toys and games it used to be passionate about, and always curls up quietly in a corner, it is likely that there is a physical problem. Some dogs may exhibit abnormal behavior, such as well-trained and regular defecation dogs suddenly defecating and urinating at home. This may be due to certain diseases in its body affecting the urinary or nervous system, leading to an inability to control bowel movements. Alternatively, if a dog excessively licks a certain part of its body, it may be due to itching or pain in that area, which can be relieved by licking. When we see these abnormalities in dog behavior, our hearts are filled with worry and we urgently want to know what's wrong with it.

Changes in diet are also important clues for judging a dog's health. Healthy dogs are usually passionate about food and have a stable appetite. If a dog suddenly loses its appetite and is not interested in delicious dog food and snacks, even if you lure it with its favorite food in front of it, it will only glance listlessly, then it should be vigilant. Decreased appetite may be a manifestation of various diseases, such as oral diseases causing chewing pain, gastrointestinal discomfort causing indigestion, or systemic diseases affecting a dog's metabolism and taste. In addition, dogs' drinking habits can also reflect their health status. If the dog suddenly drinks a large amount of water, it may be suffering from diabetes, kidney disease, etc. These diseases will lead to rapid water loss of the dog's body, which requires a large amount of water supplement.

The changes in body appearance cannot be ignored either. Carefully observe the dog's hair, healthy dog hair should be smooth and shiny. If the hair becomes rough, dry, or even shows shedding, it may be due to malnutrition, skin diseases, or endocrine problems. For example, when a dog is infected with skin diseases such as mites and fungi, the skin will show redness, papules, and hair will also fall off, accompanied by itching. The dog will frequently scratch, further damaging the hair and skin.

Dogs' ears also need attention, as the inside of the ears should be clean and odorless under normal circumstances. If there is a strange odor in the ears and the dog frequently shakes and scratches the ears, it may be due to ear inflammation, such as otitis media, otitis media, and in severe cases, there may also be secretion leakage. In addition, the oral health of dogs is also crucial. Healthy oral gums are pink, teeth are white, and there is no bad breath. When a dog's gums are red and swollen, bleeding, and there are a large number of dental calculus on their teeth, accompanied by bad breath, it indicates that there are problems in the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. These oral diseases not only affect the dog's eating, but may also cause other systemic diseases.

The mental state of dogs is also a key factor in judging their health. Healthy dogs have bright eyes, are curious about things around them, and react quickly. When a dog is sick, its eyes become dull and dull, and it reacts slowly to the movements around it. It may no longer respond quickly to your call as usual, but rather appear dull. Moreover, a dog's body temperature is also an important indicator of health. Under normal circumstances, a dog's body temperature is between 38 ℃ and 39 ℃. We can use a pet specific thermometer to accurately determine the rectal temperature of dogs by measuring it. If a dog's body temperature is too high or too low, it may be sick. High body temperature is common in infections, inflammation, and other conditions, while low body temperature may be caused by physical weakness, shock, and other reasons. Every observation of a dog's mental state and body temperature is an assessment of its health condition, and we hope to find the answer to whether the dog is healthy or not.

When we discover the above unhealthy signs in dogs, our hearts are filled with anxiety and unease. Dogs cannot express their pain in words, and can only convey information to us through changes in their behavior, diet, physical appearance, and mental state. What we need to do is to carefully observe every subtle change and promptly identify any problems.