Health Care for your Pet

What to look out for when your pet falls ill and when to seek immediate veterinary attention.

Signs of acute illness include :

• lethargy
• poor response to your attention
• poor appetite
• unexplained sudden hair loss
• dull eyes
• dry nose
• body or limb pain
• abnormal smell
• moist/reddened skin
• mouth-breathing
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• shaking of head
• constant licking of paws or other areas of the body
• persistent cries of distress
  

Remember, what you are looking for are indications that your pet is not its normal self. Just because your pet is showing one of the signs listed above does not automatically mean that it is ill. For example, many people think their pet is ill just because it has a dry nose. This sign will only be reliable if your pet is also not its normal self, is lethargic and not eating.

If you think your pet is ill, it does not mean that you have to rush it to the veterinarian. You may wish to wait up to 48 hours as, often, the pet may get well on its own. The body is very resilient and often heals itself given time.

However, if your pet has persistent vomiting and diarrhea, or is breathing through its mouth and obviously in distress, DO NOT DELAY. It should be rushed to the veterinarian immediately.