Your pet's health is obviously very important to you. That's why you need to make sure your pets are in proper health. Many people have pet health questions that they don't have the answer to. Pets are not like humans. Their illnesses are unique to them and unfortunately they can't tell us exactly what hurts or doesn't feel right. That's why you need to look for signs that your pet might not be feeling just right. Here are some signs to look for if you think your pet is under the weather. Just not Himself One indicator of a sick pet is that he is not acting the way they usually do. Often lethargy (tiredness and/or fatigue) sets in when a pet is sick and your dog or cat may shy away rather than run up to greet you. Also if your pet isn't as vibrant or energetic, it's a good indication that something is not right. However, these signs won't answer your pet health questions. They'll just key you in to how your pet is feeling. When a pet is not acting like himself, feel around his body and see how your pet reacts. If something is tender, your pet will definitely react with a howl or quick movement. That means a visit to the vet's office is necessary. Vomit/Diarrhea Even though pets are not like us, there are some indications of poor health that are similar to ours, such as vomit and diarrhea. These are two clear signs that something's not right with Fido or Fluffy. This normally means that your pet has eaten something that has made him sick. In this case, it's common to see your pet eat grass. The common belief is that grass helps remove the "bad stuff" from your pets system, acting sort of like a laxative so you might see your pet eating grass prior to spotting vomit and/or diarrhea. Normally if they just ate something that doesn't agree with them the vomit and diarrhea will pass. However, if it persists consult your veterinarian. Fur Loss We all know that our pets shed. We see the lumps of hair build all over the house that, at times, can be a bit annoying. However, if you notice large patches of missing hair, something is definitely not right. In some cases your pet might just be getting old and losing hair. However, this is not always the case. In some cases hair loss indicates skin irritations (scratching at itchy skin causing hair to be scratched away), cysts, ringworm, or an infection. Fur loss does raise a lot of pet health questions and since there could be a number of reasons. Your best bet is to take your pet to the vet for some pet medications. Discharge from Eyes and/or Nose If there's unusual goop around your dog or cat's eyes or coming from their nose, you have a sick puppy/kitty on your hands. Goop normally indicates some sort of infection. If you notice such goop, clean your pet's eyes/nose and see if it persists. If it does, there's something wrong and it's time to go see the vet. Your pet's health should just as important as yours and your family's. The healthier your pet is, the longer life he may enjoy. |