Your pet can’t tell you when they aren’t feeling quite right, but their subtle changes often provide clues. Some of pets’ illness signs are not concerning, but others require a prompt veterinary examination. Our team at Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital shares the health signs that pet owners should never ignore. 

Your pet’s eating habits have changed

The amount of food your pet consumes is a key health indicator, and if their eating habits change, something may be off with your four-legged friend’s health. Consider these eating habit changes:

  • Eating more — If your pet has been ravenous lately, they may be unwell. A pet’s potential causes for overeating may include:
    • Poor nutrition — To take in the nutrients they need, your pet may eat more food. Their dietary needs can change as they age or develop health conditions, which can increase nutritional and calorie requirements.
    • Endocrine or metabolic disorders — Certain metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or Cushing’s disease, may increase your pet’s hunger.
    • Food malabsorption — If your pet is unable to absorb nutrients from their food, they will eat more to obtain the nutrition they need. Conditions that interfere with appropriate digestion and nutritional absorption include parasites, inflammatory bowel syndrome, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and cancer. 
  • Eating less — If your pet has been turning up their nose to their food, they may be in pain, have mobility issues, or an illness. Problems that lead to pets’ inappetence include:
    • Dental disease — Oral pain can put a damper on your pet’s appetite, as dental disease makes eating and drinking difficult and uncomfortable. Because almost all pets experience some form of dental disease by age 2, staying on top of their oral health care is critical for them to maintain normal eating and drinking habits.
    • Arthritis — Pets with arthritis pain and decreased mobility may have difficulty bending down to reach the food in their bowl and they may be reluctant to eat. 
    • Foreign object ingestion — Ingesting a foreign object can lead to an obstruction and inappetence.
    • Cancer — Pets affected by cancer often lose their appetite and weight.

Your pet has breathing difficulties

Breathing difficulties can indicate conditions such as a respiratory infection, asthma, a heart condition, and anemia. If your dog is panting excessively while at rest, or if your cat is open-mouth breathing, they may have a heart or lung issue, and our team should examine them.

Your pet is vomiting repeatedly 

While occasional vomiting might not be an emergency, frequent vomiting or vomiting accompanied by excessive drooling or behavior changes, such as lethargy or appetite loss, can indicate something serious. If your pet has been vomiting repeatedly during a 24-hour period, cannot keep down food or water, develops blood in their vomit, or shows other illness signs, seek veterinary care. 

Your pet has an eye injury

All changes in your pet’s eyes are cause for a veterinary exam, as ocular conditions can rapidly decline and cause extreme pain or permanent vision loss. Seek veterinary treatment for your pet if they exhibit any of the following eye problems:

  • Redness
  • Cloudiness
  • Excessive discharge
  • Different-sized pupils
  • Pupils that do not constrict
  • Light sensitivity
  • Protruding or elevated third eyelid
  • Bulging or sunken eyeball 

Your pet won’t stop scratching 

Many pets are affected by allergic dermatitis, and the condition can progress quickly and be hard to manage. Flea bite dermatitis, atopy (i.e., environmental allergens), and food sensitivities are the most common pet allergies. These conditions typically show up as excessive itchiness and skin lesions. If not properly treated, allergies can lead to skin excoriations attributable to constant scratching, licking, or chewing, skin infections, and chronic or recurrent ear infections. A thorough veterinary diagnostic workup is necessary to determine the problem’s cause so we can devise an effective treatment strategy. 

Your house-trained pet is having accidents 

House soiling (i.e., urinary or fecal accidents) in previously well-trained pets is not an act of defiance and can be caused by an underlying health issue, such as stress or anxiety, urinary tract infections (UTIs), urinary stones, diabetes, inability to reach the litter box or go outside, or in senior pets, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (i.e., dementia). 

Your pet is lethargic 

A normally energetic pet who seems lethargic for more than a day or two is cause for concern. Fatigue can indicate countless health issues, from heart disease to respiratory problems. Limping or reluctance to jump or climb can indicate musculoskeletal issues, injuries, or conditions such as arthritis. While many pets experience joint pain as they age, you need to ensure your furry pal is not suffering unnecessarily.

Being vigilant about your pet’s health is crucial. Early health issue detection and treatment can make a significant difference in your pet’s quality of life. If your pet exhibits any unusual behavior or concerning signs, err on the side of caution and contact our Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital team.