Our furry best friends are masters at hiding illness and injury, inherited from their wolf ancestors. Left unchecked however, subtle signs of problems can progress into chronic conditions, impacting quality of life. Learning the most common physical and behavioral changes that indicate doggie discomfort empowers owners to seek veterinary help early when outcomes improve. Stay alert to shifts in energy, appetite, bathroom habits, mobility and sociability that mean your pup may need some extra care.
Appetite Alterations
One of the first signals something is amiss is a change in your dog’s drive to eat. Skipping meals, grazing slowly, or walking away from favorite foods is very out of character for previously voracious eaters. Similarly, abrupt gluttony or new difficulty chewing properly hints at dental disease or oral tumor development. The people at Nextrition recommend measuring food precisely to monitor concerning upticks or downturns day to day. Also check gums for redness, teeth for brown buildup causing stinky breath in dogs, and tongue for foreign objects interfering with gnawing comfort. If nothing is visible, lab work helps determine sickness impacting appetite from organ dysfunction or deficiencies. No matter the cause found, addressing eating changes promptly prevents dangerous weight loss and nutritional gaps weakening immunity further.
Distressing Digestion
Besides obvious digestive problems, even pets with strong stomachs should be checked if they are fussy eaters. Repeated vomiting, long-term diarrhea and constipation or bouts of gas point to irritation and infection disrupting nutrient absorption. Parasites, viral pathogens, bacteria imbalances, foreign items, organ dysfunction or simple dietary intolerance could be the culprit. If accompanying appetite loss or lethargy, infections become most suspect. Bring fecal and blood samples to identify the root irritation, treat accordingly and restore smooth stomach functioning. Don’t allow weeks of uncomfortable accidents or trips outside straining unsuccessfully. Get digestion flowing smoothly with prompt supportive interventions.
Mobility or Activity Changes
Subtle shifts in your dog’s baseline energy levels and movement abilities also give reason to investigate further. Previously peppy pups slowing on walks, resting more often or avoiding favorite activities signal discomfort or illness sapping strength. Note new hesitancy jumping on furniture, stiffness rising, limping or yelping when touched as all warrant attention. Have your veterinarian carefully check legs, spine and muscles pinpointing orthopedic injury or neurological problems. X-rays or advanced imaging often follow assessing damage to joints, tissues or vertebral bones. Addressing mobility issues early, while still mild, greatly helps restore function faster through medication and sometimes surgery.
Personality Shifts
Behavioral alterations in previously happy-go-lucky pets should raise eyebrows. One bad day is normal, but weeks of new clinginess, attention-seeking, irritability, isolation or house soiling urges further wellness investigation. Out-of-character actions result from sickness, stress, anxiety, or environmental changes. Start by addressing simpler solutions such as adjusting schedules that upset dogs, providing calming areas for privacy, using relaxing scents, or giving calming supplements for a short time. If problems continue, specialized behaviorists uncover root insecurities for customized cognitive approaches re-establishing confidence. Getting to the heart of personality shifts prevents worsened mental anguish or destructive coping outlets.
Conclusion
Our canine companions communicate through subtle symptomology and behavior far before reaching critical levels of illness or injury. Learning their unique language and watching closely for deviations from normal allows early identification and intervention for many conditions. Appetite changes, digestive upset, energy dips, mobility changes and personality shifts all mean it may be time for veterinary attention. Trust those doggie instincts telling you something is just a little “off” and pursue supportive solutions swiftly. Here’s to many more years of tail wags and playing fetch thanks to due diligence keeping furry friends feeling their best.
