If you’re a pet parent, you undoubtedly don’t want to think about your animal being sick. With that said, sometimes, it’s just something that you can’t avoid. However, knowing when to spot early signs of sickness is one of the best things that you can do as a pet parent to ensure your pet has the best chance of staying healthy. If you’re not sure how to spot signs of sickness, here are a few things you should keep an eye on:
A lack of appetite
A lack of appetite can be a sign that something isn’t right with your pooch or kitty. This is especially true if your pet typically enjoys a hearty meal and always wants to eat. While you should give it some time and make sure it’s not just something else, like change of schedule or environment, if their lack of appetite persists, consider talking to your vet about it. They can give recommendations on what to do or what may be wrong.
Excess vomiting or diarrhea
Your pet may vomit every once in a while or have upset bowel movements. These things happen with animals. However, if the vomiting seems severe and frequent, you may want to go to your vet’s office. Diarrhea can be similar, but typically you could take longer to keep an eye on your pet before bringing them in. Blood in their stools isn’t a good sign, though, so keep an eye on their feces so that you can stay on top of their health. You may want to consider getting a prescription from an online pet pharmacy if they need extra support.
Lethargic behavior
Beyond your pet’s appetite or stomach issues, another thing to keep an eye on is their energy level. Some older dogs and cats may not be as active as they once were, and you may not always be able to tell if their behavior is lethargic. However, if your pet is behaving in a way that seems a lot less active than their normal self, you may find that to be an early sign that something could be off. While you don’t want to rush into the worst-case scenario, consider making an appointment with your vet to rule out illness and keep an eye on your pet.
Itchy skin/hair loss
If your pet loses a lot of hair or itches their skin a lot, you may want to talk to your vet as well. They may have bad allergies or be dealing with some other health issue that could warrant some treatment. While hair loss isn’t usually an alarming sign of serious illness, it’s still good to find out what they need. Even if it’s not a serious sickness, you still want to be sure that they get the treatment they need for their skin condition.
If it’s due to something that they’re eating, finding out what’s going on can help you to change their diet and provide them with better food for their overall health.
Immobility
For a telltale sign that something could be seriously going on with your pet, a lack of mobility isn’t something to be ignored. If you notice serious limping or an inability to walk, call your vet and get an appointment in as soon as possible. Sometimes they may simply need some treatment while other times, you may need to run some tests. With proper pet insurance and a great vet, you can have peace of mind in times like this.
In Conclusion
From vomiting to itchy skin, there are different things you’ll want to pay attention to as a pet parent. If you always want to be sure that your pet is healthy, then make sure to stay on top of any signs of illness like these ones.