| Dog owners, who recognize the early signs
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| | has abdominal pain will continually
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| and symptoms of illness or pain in their
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| | glance toward their belly, bite or lick
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| dogs, will not only relieve their loved
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| | the area, and will not want to leave his
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| one's suffering but may also be able to
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| | her bed. The dog may stand hunched over,
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| save themselves an expensive trip to the
| |
| | or take the 'prayer position' which is
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| veterinarian. Not only is it important to
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| | when a dog gets down on it's forelegs
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| recognize these signs early to relieve
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| | with the hind legs still standing,
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| pain and suffering, but it is much more
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| | because of the pain in her abdomen area.
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| effective to treat an illness when it is
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| | Dogs can not tell you that they are
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| detected early.
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| | hurting or cry real tears but a dog may
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| The dog owner should keep an accurate and
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| | vocalize their pain in a different way. A
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| detailed account of their dog's symptoms
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| | dog that is hurt suddenly (such as being
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| to help the veterinarian correctly
| |
| | stepped on) will cry out or wimper in
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| diagnose and effectively treat the dog's
| |
| | pain. This also happens when an external
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| illness or condition. Most canine
| |
| | injury or internal injury (such as an
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| illnesses are detected through a
| |
| | organ) is touched. Whining or
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| combination of various signs and
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| | vocalization that is unprovoked may be
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| symptoms:
| |
| | caused from an internal injury as well.
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| Temperature, Respiratory Rate and Heart
| |
| | Some breeds of dogs (such as the American
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| Rate
| |
| | Pit Bull Terrier) have a higher pain
|
| A newborn puppy will have a temperature
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| | threshold and need to be watched more
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| of 94-97º F. which will eventually reach
| |
| | closely for signs of pain. Breeds with a
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| the normal adult body temperature of
| |
| | high pain tolerance are more likely to
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| 101.5º F. at the age of 4 weeks old.
| |
| | endure the pain without vocalization.
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| Take care when trying to take your dog or
| |
| | Another clue to pain is a change in
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| puppies temperature as the thermometer
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| | temperament. A dog that is in pain may
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| can easily be broken off in the canine's
| |
| | show signs of aggression. Please take
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| rectum. Also any form of excitement can
| |
| | note of this before concluding that a dog
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| cause the temperature to rise by 2-3º
| |
| | has become vicious and let your
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| when the dog is actually in normal
| |
| | veterinarian know so that the correct
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| health. If your dog's temperature reaches
| |
| | treatment can be administered. Also
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| 105º or above OR 96º or below please
| |
| | females in general (even humans!) have
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| take him/her to the emergency vet
| |
| | days when they are just in a bad mood for
|
| immediately!
| |
| | no obvious reason. Take note of days of
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| An adult dog will have a respiratory rate
| |
| | times that these mood swings occur as
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| of 15-20 breaths per minute (depending on
| |
| | well as any events that might have
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| such variables as size and weight) and a
| |
| | triggered them.
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| heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute.
| |
| | Other signs that your dog may be sick:
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| You can feel for your dog's heartbeat by
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| | - Ears: discharge, debris, odor,
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| placing your hand on his/her lower
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| | scratching, crusted tips, twitching or
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| ribcage just behind the elbow. Don't be
| |
| | shaking.
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| alarmed if the heartbeat seems irregular
| |
| | - Eyes: redness, swelling or discharge.
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| compared to a human's heartbeat, it is
| |
| | - Nose: runny, thickened or colored
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| irregular in many dogs. Have your vet
| |
| | discharge, crusty.
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| check it out and get used to how it feels
| |
| | - Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or
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| when it is normal.
| |
| | gagging.
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| Behavior Changes
| |
| | - Shortness of breath, irregular
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| Any behavior changes that are not
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| | breathing or prolonged/heavy panting
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| associated with a change in the household
| |
| | - Evidence of parasites in the dog's
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| atmosphere, such as jealousy over a new
| |
| | stool, strange color, blood in the stool,
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| pet or child may be an indication of an
| |
| | or lack of a bowel movement
|
| illness. Signs of behavioral changes may
| |
| | (constipation).
|
| be:
| |
| | - Loss of appetite or not drinking as
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| - Depression
| |
| | much water as normally would.
|
| - Anxiety
| |
| | - Weight Loss.
|
| - Fatigue
| |
| | - Strange color of urine, small amount of
|
| - Sleepiness
| |
| | urine, straining, dribbling, or not going
|
| - Trembling
| |
| | as frequently as normal.
|
| - Falling/Stumbling
| |
| | - Bad odor coming from mouth, ears, or
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| If your dog shows any of these signs, he
| |
| | skin.
|
| she needs to be kept under close watch
| |
| | - Hair loss, wounds, tumors, dander or
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| for a few hours, or even a few days,
| |
| | change of the skin's color.
|
| until positive signs develop or he/she
| |
| | - Biting of the skin, parasites,
|
| has returned to normal. Do not try to
| |
| | scratching or licking the skin
|
| exercise the dog or put him/her in any
| |
| | frequently.
|
| situation that may cause stress. Most
| |
| | The preceding article was meant to help
|
| veterinarians will want for you to keep
| |
| | educate you to the signs and symptoms of
|
| track of when the symptoms first
| |
| | probable pain or sickness in your dog. If
|
| appeared, whether they are getting better
| |
| | any of these symptoms occur over a
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| or worse, and also whether the symptoms
| |
| | prolonged period of time, please seek the
|
| are intermittent, continuous, or
| |
| | help of a veterinarian. I hope that this
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| increasing in frequency.
| |
| | article will help stress the importance
|
| Pain
| |
| | of keeping watch over your dog's health
|
| Dogs that are in pain will likely
| |
| | patterns and the importance of keeping an
|
| indicate that they are suffering by
| |
| | accurate, detailed health record for your
|
| giving you clues as to where the area of
| |
| | veterinarian's convenience.
|
| discomfort is. For instance, a dog that
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| |
|
