Pet Health Symptoms- 7 Ways to Know if Your Pet is Sick

So, you want to keep your pet healthy, but how do you know when they’re having problems?  While your pets can’t talk to you and tell you that they’re sick, there are some symptoms you can look out for.  Here are 7 pet health symptoms that could signal a problem with your pet’s health. 

1. Lack of energy/Change in attitude-  If you notice a big change in your pet’s attitude for several days, you should take notice.  Maybe your pet seems tired all of the time or starts being more aggressive.  Pets can’t tell you when they’re sick, so this is usually one of the first signs there’s a health problem.   

2. Not eating or drinking-  While it’s not uncommon for pets to lose their hunger or thirst for a day or two, it can be a problem if it continues longer than that.  Not only is it unhealthy for your pet to go without food or water for too long, it could be a symptom of a larger problem. 

3. Vomiting/Diarrhea-  As with humans, most of the time vomiting or diarrhea are not the symptoms of a serious problem.  However, if either one continues for several days, you should get your pet to the vet’s office as soon as you can.  The vet will be able to treat these symptoms as well as tell you if there is a more serious problem.   

4. Scratching or biting-  There are many reasons that pets can scratch or bite at their selves.  They could have fleas or ticks.  They also might have a skin condition.  Another reason for the itching could be from an allergic reaction to something in the environment.  There are usually medications or treatments that can help with any of these things.

5. Problems breathing-  This is definitely a pet health symptom that you don’t want to ignore.  If you ever notice that your pet is having problems breathing, you should take them to the vet immediately.  They could have swallowed something that’s blocking their airway, or they could have other respiratory problems like asthma or allergies.  However, you won’t know how serious it is until you visit with your vet. 

6. Blood in urine or feces-  This is another serious symptom.  As with breathing problems, if you notice blood in your pet’s urine or feces, you need to get them to the vet.  While there are plenty of common problems that could cause this like a bladder infection.  There are also some serious problems that could be fatal if they’re not treated.  So, don’t ignore this symptom if you ever notice it.

7. Unusual loss of hair, feathers, etc.-  Most animals will lose more hair at certain times of the year.  This is usually not something you should be concerned about.  However, if you notice your pet is losing more hair or feathers than normal, you might want to get your pet checked out.  More than likely, it will be a simple problem that your vet can easily treat. 

If you notice any of these health symptoms in your pet, you should contact your vet to see how you should proceed.  This is especially true if the symptoms persist for more than a couple of days.  Your vet might recommend that you bring your pet into the office for further examination and treatment, or they may be able to tell you how to treat your pet’s symptoms at home.