More important symptoms to be aware of in dogs...

In a previous blog, I talked about the importance of understanding the signs of illness in a dog, there are certain symptoms that should never be ignored. If you were to call your local emergency vet clinic and give them specific information about any of these symptoms, they will most likely tell you to bring your pet in immediately for evaluation.
The 5 symptoms we discussed last time were:

Pacing and restlessness
Unproductive retching
Collapse or fainting
Pale gums
Lethargy or weakness

Today I want to tell you about 5 more important signs you should watch for. Remember, all of these symptoms can indicate very serious problems.

1. Not eating or loss of appetite. Anorexia is a term used to describe the situation where an animal loses his appetite and does not want to eat, or he is unable to eat. Many things can cause a dog to lose his appetite, and often it is the first indication that your dog has a serious illness. Regardless of cause, loss of appetite of 24 hours or more can have a serious impact on an animal's health.

2. Losing weight . Weight loss usually occurs when the body uses and/or excretes essential nutrients faster than it can consume them. Essentially more calories are being burned than are being taken in. Be aware of your dog's weight because it could be a significant symptom. When a dog loses more than 10 percent of his normal body weight (and it is not associated with fluid loss) that weight loss is considered clinically important. There are several causes for this, some of which can be quite serious.

3. Breathing problems . Respiratory distress, often called dyspnea, is labored difficult breathing or shortness of breath. When your dog has trouble breathing, he may not be able to get enough oxygen to his tissues. Breathing problems can be associated with heart failure or with the accumulation of fluid (edema) in the lungs or the chest cavity (pleural effusion). This is a very serious symptom that should be evaluated immediately.

4. Red eye . A "red eye" is a non-specific sign of inflammation or infection. It may be symptomatic of several different diseases including those involving different parts of the eye (including the external eyelids, third eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea and sclera). It may also occur with inflammation of the structures inside the eye, with glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or with certain diseases of the orbit (eye socket). If one or both of your dog's eyes become red, the underlying condition can be quite serious and ultimately cause blindness.

5. Jaundice . Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, describes the yellow color taken on by the body's tissues due to elevated levels of bilirubin, a substance that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells. There are several causes for jaundice but regardless of the cause, it is considered abnormal and serious when a dog has jaundice.

I hope these tips will help you identify potentially serious problems so that you can take action and get your dog the medical help he needs.