2 Signs That You Need to Get Your Dog to the Vet Immediately
Posted on: 2 July 2015
Taking proper care of your dog is essential when it comes to making sure that you can keep him or her with you for as long as possible. However, dogs will often attempt to hide their pain or discomfort, which can make it very difficult to know when you should take them to the vet. Some of the most common warning signs that you should keep an eye out for is uncharacteristically aggressive behavior and lethargy.
Aggressive Behavior
One of the most alarming signs that you need to keep an eye out for is if your dog suddenly becomes much more aggressive than normal. This is because there are a wide range of illnesses and conditions that are potentially very dangerous or life-threatening that can cause those behavioral changes.
If your dog becomes nervous or aggressive when you are getting too close to a particular body part, it is often a sign that the dog has sustained some kind of injury in that spot. A vet can help you treat and disinfect any cuts or punctures that the dog may have sustained. This is very important as a cut or puncture can lead to infections that can cause you dog to become very sick or potentially lose a limb.
Even if there are no visible signs that your dog is injured, you need to take him or her to the vet because there may be a broken or cracked bone involved. In that situation, you will need the vet to set the bone, provide pain medication, and prescribe antibiotics. This is vital as a cracked or broken bone can cause internal infections that can lead to a fever and possibly death.
Lethargy
Another common sign of a potentially serious condition is lethargy. If your dog has stopped being as active as you are used to, then it is very likely that he or she is feeling unwell, or is in pain. A common cause for lethargy is arthritis because it makes it too painful for your dog to be able to move around a lot, so he or she simply lies down and avoids activity to alleviate the pain.
A vet can help you treat the arthritis by suggesting supplements that can strengthen the dog's joints, as well as a specialty bed that will allow the dog to rest easily because the right bed can take pressure off of his or her joints. In addition, your vet, one like Gwynedd Veterinary Hospital, can provide you with pain medication that will help your dog feel better until the supplements and sleeping surface begin having an effect.
Share