Arthritis
Atopy (Inhalant Allergy)
Bufo Toad Poisoning
Cat Home Safety Tips
Collar Hazards
Common Things to Watch for
Dental Disease in Pets
Diabetes
Dog Safety Tips
Feline Heartworm Disease
Mallassezia (yeast) Dermatitis
Reasons to Neuter
Noise Phobia in Dogs
Weight Problems in Pets
Otitis (Ear Infections)
Parvo Virus
Pruritis (Itchiness)
Rabies
Seizures and Epilepsy
Senior Pets
Reasons to Spay
Toxoplasmosis, Cats and Women
eating for a few days and was drooling a lot. The first thing that I did was
open the cat’s mouth and much to everyone’s surprise I found a large
sandspur embedded in the cat’s tongue. We removed it and started the cat
on a few medications and he recovered without any further problems.
While the owner was grateful that his cat wasn’t seriously ill, he was quite
angry at himself that he hadn’t thought to look in the cat’s mouth when he
first noticed there was a problem. Had he found it right away he would have
saved his cat from three days of pain.
Since our pets can’t talk to us when they aren’t feeling well, it’s up to the
owner to recognize the signs a pet is showing when something is wrong.
And the sooner an owner can recognize there is a problem the sooner the pet
can be treated, which may help prevent a mild problem from becoming a
serious one.
Here is my list of simple things that all pet owners should be able to
recognize and should check their pet for on a regular basis.
1. Increased thirst and urination. This is the most common sign of metabolic
diseases such as diabetes, adrenal gland disease, or kidney disease. Any pet
that is drinking and urinating more than normal should have a urinalysis and
blood panel.
2. Weight gain. Many pets are overweight or obese which is very unhealthy
and leads to all sorts of medical problems and ultimately shortening the pet’s
life. Some pets with a rapid weight gain may be suffering from a metabolic
disease such as hypothyroidism or adrenal gland disorders and should be
examined and have the proper diagnostic blood tests performed.
3. Weight loss. This is a significant sign that owners should watch for.
Common causes include malnutrition, parasites, cancer and hyperthyroidism
in cats.
4. Change in appetite. This may be coupled with weight gain or loss. Cats
that have an increased appetite but are losing weight need to be tested for
hyperthyroidism. Animals that have a decreased appetite coupled with
lethargy, diarrhea, and/or vomiting need immediate attention.
5. Urination. Can your animal pee? Sounds like a silly question, but when
was the last time you observed your animal urinating? Owners that walk
their dog daily are able to, but cat owners and people who have outdoor
dogs may not recognize that there is a problem until it has gone on for
several days and the pet is really sick.
Male cats and dogs (esp. Dalmatians) may become blocked by stones and
become unable to urinate. Cats may sit in the litter box for long periods of
time and dogs may go about the yard lifting their leg multiple times or
squatting with only a dribble of urine coming out. These signs may indicate
a life-threatening emergency and require immediate attention.
Increased attempts to urinate, straining, urinating in the house or outside of
the litter-box or blood in the urine all signify that there is a problem. Owners
should frequently monitor their pet’s urination so that they will know right
away if there is a problem.
6. Defecation. As with urination, many owners don’t observe their pet when
it’s defecating and have no idea of the status of their animal’s stool or
defecation habits. Stools can be soft, watery, hard, bloody or have worms or
mucus in it. The pet may also be straining (or unable) to defecate. And it
could be days before it’s noticed if the pet is let out unsupervised in the
yard. Cats frequently develop chronic constipation and may not have a
bowel movement for days, which can become a serious problem.
Again, owners should frequently monitor their pet’s defecation habits so as
to recognize when there is a problem as early as possible.
7. Scooting or licking at the rear end. Dogs and cats have anal sacs, a pair of
"glands" at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions in the anal wall. These
glands produce a thin, smelly secretion that is normally emptied when the
pet defecates. Some animals may overproduce the secretion and "express"
them resulting in a foul, "musky" odor in the house. The sacs can also
become infected, blocked or abscessed. The typical sign that there is an anal
sac problem is that the animal drags its butt across the floor in an attempt to
itch itself. Some animals will also lick at their anal area too.
8. Toenails. Have you checked your pet’s toenails lately? I’ve seen nails
grow so long that they curl around and pierce the pad and cause an
infection. Long toenails can also splay the toes out making it difficult and
painful for the animal to walk. Long nails are also more likely to get caught
on something and ripped out or broken off. Some animals need to have their
toenails trimmed on a regular basis and if the owner is reluctant to do it the
pet should be taken to a veterinarian or groomer as needed.