In the span of four years, visits to the vet increased from about 119 million to 130 million.
If you ever notice something off about your dog, you should make sure that you consult the vet immediately to figure out what’s wrong. But how do you know when to take them?
Knowing the main signs a dog is in pain, as well as the most effective solutions, is crucial to take good care of your pet. Learn everything here!
1. An Upset Stomach
One sign that your pooch might not be feeling well is if they have an upset stomach.
You’ll be able to tell if this is an issue because they may not be eating as much as they normally do. They may be having irregular bowel movements or none at all. You may also be able to hear their stomach gurgling, or making noises to indicate that it’s upset.
However, you should know that sometimes their stomach will make noise when they’re digesting food. A lot of dogs also inhale a lot of air when they eat because they eat so fast. So if their stomach is making noises, you should also look for other symptoms that are accompanying this.
They may be having issues digesting whatever they ate. They could’ve eaten some kind of human food, something new that doesn’t agree with them, or they may have gotten into some trash.
2. Start Barking More
If your dog is in pain, he might be trying to tell you.
Normally dogs will start making more noise if they’re in distress because they’re trying to get you to notice and do something about it.
If your dog has been barking, growling, or whining a lot more than they usually do, listen to them. If they have other symptoms associated with that, they may be in some pain that you didn’t realize.
3. Changes in their Eyes
Your dog’s eyes might also be able to tell you how they’re really feeling.
The dog’s eyes can change whether the pain is directly in their eye or not. You can normally tell because if the pain is located somewhere else on their body, you might notice that their pupils are larger than normal. If the pain is in their eyes, the pupils might be smaller.
In addition to looking at their pupils, you should check to see if their eyes are bloodshot or if they’re squinting and not opening all the way.
4. Panting or Difficulty Breathing
After going for a long walk, it might be normal for your dog to be panting heavily. But when they start panting for no reason, this should raise some concern.
Dogs pant when they feel overly exerted because they’re trying to bring in more oxygen. If they’re panting, that might mean that they’re not able to breathe easily right now.
It can be difficult to try and figure out exactly why they’re having trouble breathing, but this is why it’s always a good idea to bring them to a vet if you notice this problem.
5. Changes in Their Posture
Your dog will probably change their posture if something is wrong as well. If they’re in pain, they may have some awkward stance to try and minimize whatever pain they’re feeling.
One common position dogs will do is putting their front legs on the ground, stretch their abdomen, and then put their butt up in the air.
Their tail may also be tucked in or hanging low whenever they walk around.
6. Less Mobility
Instead of having weird positions, they may also just lay on the ground and move as little as possible.
If they can’t move very well, they may be having problems with their hips, legs, or some kind of arthritis. If you know that they’ve had an injury recently and they still haven’t really been able to move, you may want to make an appointment with your vet.
Their movements may also be limited, rather than just completely immobile. When they walk, they may walk around with a limp. Or you’ll notice that they’re leaning more on one side than the other because they’re trying to compensate for an injury.
Examine your dog to see if there are any visible signs of injury that might be causing them this pain. If they won’t walk on one paw, then they may have something stuck to the bottom of it or some other injury.
How to Help Them
Noticing that your dog is in pain is the first step, but then you have to figure out how to help them next.
There are all kinds of over-the-counter medications that you can give them. Some pet owners have also said that CBD helped their dog out as well. However, you should always consult with a vet before you give them any type of medication.
If you give your dog some medicine and they’re still not showing any signs of improvement, you should call your vet as soon as possible. It’s always best to have a professional check out your pet as soon as possible in case it’s a life-threatening emergency.
Learn More Signs a Dog is In Pain
These are only a few signs a dog is in pain, but there are many more that you should recognize.
Sometimes the symptoms or problems will go away on their own, but if you think it’s life-threatening or serious, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to get your dog checked out.
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