Pet Health Symptoms

Your pet wants to please you so even if they are feeling under the weather they may continue to be playful and attentive to your commands. It is also important to remember that in the animal world showing weakness can be dangerous-making an animal vulnerable to attack or abandonment by its family group. For these reasons it is an animal's natural instinct to hide any symptoms of poor health when it can.

So which pet health symptoms should be monitored to maintain your animal companion's healthy life?

- Prolonged or Frequent Vomiting or Diarrhoea
Most animals suffer from one or both of these symptoms in a lifetime, but prolonged or frequent suffering can indicate a serious health problem related to food allergies, parasites, gastric disorders or even potentially fatal diseases such as Parvovirus in dogs. Small or young animals are especially vulnerable to severe dehydration when diarrhoea or vomiting occurs. Any change in your animal's elimination habits should be noted. Constipation lasting more than one or two days can also be a serious pet health symptom.

- Blood in Urine or Faeces
Any number of parasites, infections, injuries or diseases, including cancer, can be indicated by blood in an animal's urine or faeces. Kidney stones and bladder infections may cause blood in the urine. Blood in the faeces can result due to diseases or injuries of the rectum, anus or colon.

- Respiratory Distress
Any changes in your pet's breathing patterns, such as coughing or laboured breathing should be closely monitored. Shortness of breath in dogs may be an indication of kennel cough. It may also be a symptom of more serious illness such as cancer or heart disease.

- Low Energy
Lethargy or any other unexplained changes in your animal's energy level-especially if accompanied by any of the above pet health symptoms-should be viewed as a reliable gauge of your pet's overall health. Lethargy includes atypical unsocial behaviours such as hiding from people or other pets. Low energy lasting more than one day may be a symptom of anaemia or other blood disorders.

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- Scratching or Biting
Some itching and scratching is normal for most animals, but when it becomes excessive it may suggest parasites (commonly fleas or ticks) skin diseases or simply dry skin related to a poor diet.

Most of the vital information we need to know as pet owners can be learned through the daily care of our animals. Walking, grooming, playing, sharing affection and regular veterinary care will generally tell a pet owner everything they need to know about their companion's health. However, if you have reason to be concerned about any symptoms your pet is presenting do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian for an appointment. Taking care of a problem quickly may result in smaller vet bills, but more importantly it may just save your pet's life.

About the Author:

Angela Hamm is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about pet health symptoms, please visit Free Pet Health for current articles and discussions.

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