"Dog Obedience, Dog Training
and Dog Health Tips"
puppy training: Page 6 of 13
Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs
by: Jennifer Bryant
Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness or
pain in their dogs, will not only relieve their loved one's suffering but
may also be able to save themselves an expensive trip to the veterinarian.
Not only is it important to recognize these signs early to relieve pain
and suffering, but it is much more effective to treat an illness when it
is detected early.
The dog owner should keep an accurate and detailed account of their
dog's symptoms to help the veterinarian correctly diagnose and effectively
treat the dog's illness or condition. Most canine illnesses are detected
through a combination of various signs and symptoms:
Temperature, Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate
A newborn puppy will have a temperature of 94-97o F. which will eventually
reach the normal adult body temperature of 101.5o F. at the age of 4 weeks
old. Take care when trying to take your dog or puppies temperature as the
thermometer can easily be broken off in the canine's rectum. Also any form
of excitement can cause the temperature to rise by 2-3o when the dog is
actually in normal health. If your dog's temperature reaches 105o or above
OR 96o or below please take him/her to the emergency vet immediately!
An adult dog will have a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute
(depending on such variables as size and weight) and a heart rate of 80-120
beats per minute. You can feel for your dog's heartbeat by placing your
hand on his/her lower ribcage just behind the elbow. Don't be alarmed if
the heartbeat seems irregular compared to a human's heartbeat, it is irregular
in many dogs. Have your vet check it out and get used to how it feels when
it is normal.
Behavior Changes
Any behavior changes that are not associated with a change in the household
atmosphere, such as jealousy over a new pet or child may be an indication
of an illness. Signs of behavioral changes may be:
Depression Anxiety Fatigue Sleepiness Trembling Falling/Stumbling If
your dog shows any of these signs, he/she needs to be kept under close watch
for a few hours, or even a few days, until positive signs develop or he/she
has returned to normal. Do not try to exercise the dog or put him/her in
any situation that may cause stress. Most veterinarians will want for you
to keep track of when the symptoms first appeared, whether they are getting
better or worse, and also whether the symptoms are intermittent, continuous,
or increasing in frequency.
Pain
Dogs that are in pain will likely indicate that they are suffering by
giving you clues as to where the area of discomfort is. For instance, a
dog that has abdominal pain will continually glance toward their belly,
bite or lick the area, and will not want to leave his/her bed. The dog may
stand hunched over, or take the 'prayer position' which is when a dog gets
down on it's forelegs with the hind legs still standing, because of the
pain in her abdomen area.
Dogs can not tell you that they are hurting or cry real tears but a
dog may vocalize their pain in a different way. A dog that is hurt suddenly
(such as being stepped on) will cry out or wimper in pain. This also happens
when an external injury or internal injury (such as an organ) is touched.
Whining or vocalization that is unprovoked may be caused from an internal
injury as well. Some breeds of dogs (such as the American Pit Bull Terrier)
have a higher pain threshold and need to be watched more closely for signs
of pain. Breeds with a high pain tolerance are more likely to endure the
pain without vocalization.
Another clue to pain is a change in temperament. A dog that is in pain
may show signs of aggression. Please take note of this before concluding
that a dog has become vicious and let your veterinarian know so that the
correct treatment can be administered. Also females in general (even humans!)
have days when they are just in a bad mood for no obvious reason. Take note
of days of times that these mood swings occur as well as any events that
might have triggered them.
Other signs that your dog may be sick:
Ears: discharge, debris, odor, scratching, crusted tips, twitching or
shaking. Eyes: redness, swelling or discharge. Nose: runny, thickened or
colored discharge, crusty. Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or gagging. Shortness
of breath, irregular breathing or prolonged/heavy panting Evidence of parasites
in the dog's stool, strange color, blood in the stool, or lack of a bowel
movement (constipation). Loss of appetite or not drinking as much water
as normally would. Weight Loss. Strange color of urine, small amount of
urine, straining, dribbling, or not going as frequently as normal. Bad odor
coming from mouth, ears, or skin. Hair loss, wounds, tumors, dander or change
of the skin's color. Biting of the skin, parasites, scratching or licking
the skin frequently. The preceding article was meant to help educate you
to the signs and symptoms of probable pain or sickness in your dog. If any
of these symptoms occur over a prolonged period of time, please seek the
help of a veterinarian. I hope that this article will help stress the importance
of keeping watch over your dog's health patterns and the importance of keeping
an accurate, detailed health record for your veterinarian's convenience.
About The Author
Jennifer Bryant is a life-long lover of dogs. Jennifer loves and breeds
American Pit Bull Terriers in her North Georgia home with her 2 young children.
Her love of dogs has inspired her to create a website for herself (as well
as other breeders) to advertise their occasional litter of puppies and to
educate others with dog breed information and useful articles.
Bryant's Red Devils (Red Nose American Pit Bull Terriers) http://www.bryantsreddevils.com
Puppies and Dogs for Sale .com http://www.puppiesanddogsforsale.com
This article may be reprinted on your website, but the content and signature
of the author must remain intact.
sitemanager@puppiesanddogsforsale.com
Copyright 2005 by Jay Jennings. All rights reserved.
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