10 warning signs that you should take your dog to the vet immediately

To stay healthy and happy, dogs need to be taken to the vet for a general checkup at least once every six months, or three, in the case of older pups. But, in between checkups, your dog might show symptoms that make you wonder: should I take them to the vet, or it’s nothing to worry about? From time to time, even healthy pups can vomit or be a bit under the weather, and it’s usually nothing to be worried about, but it’s also not a good idea to downplay symptoms. Just like in the case of humans, canine health problems are best caught early, and if you wait too long to go to the vet, their state can deteriorate, and the illness might become too complicated or expensive to treat.

Here are a few situations when it’s best to be safe than sorry and schedule an appointment with a dyrlege nittedal as soon as possible.

1.      Your dog was hit by a car.

Getting hit by a car is a medical emergency, and early treatment can make the difference between life and death. Even if your dog looks fine and doesn’t seem to be acting strange, you should take them to the vet to rule out the possibility of internal bleeding and organ trauma.

2.      Unexplained change in eating habits

If your dog is finicky about food, although you haven’t changed their diet, schedule a checkup. Most health issues in animals first manifest as lack of appetite. It could be nothing, it could be a minor infection with a stomach bug, or it could be something more serious, but it’s best to take action when they haven’t eaten for one day, not for three days.

3.      Lethargy

If your puppy is usually happy and playful, but recently they’ve been quite moody and lethargic, sleeping more than usual and refusing to play, call your dyrlege for a checkup. Maybe their system is fighting off a virus, or they have health problems that need further investigation.

4.      Unexplained weight loss

Unless you’ve put your puppy on a diet or they’ve been more active than usual, they should not be losing weight quickly. If you notice that your dog has visibly lost weight, take them to a checkup to discover the causes and start rehabilitering hund immediately.

5.      Unable to stand

The inability to stand is usually caused by musculoskeletal issues, by old age, or maybe your dog was hurt while they weren’t supervised.

6.      Lumps and bumps

Lumps and bumps are common in older or overweight dogs, but they can also include tumors or inflammation in one of the organs. To avoid complications, have the vet look at any bump that doesn’t go away.

7.      Vomiting

Vomiting in dogs is normal from time to time, but if your dog vomits more than twice a week or they can’t hold down a meal, you have it checked out.

8.      Change in stool

Changes in stool can be triggered by allergies, indigestion, sensitivity to certain ingredients, or by stomach issues.

9.      Difficulty breathing

Difficulty breathing and excessive panting could indicate a blockage with a foreign body or a disease of the mouth or throat.

10. Seizures/loss of consciousness

Although they’re not always life-threatening, seizures or loss of consciousness need to be investigated immediately to maximize survival chances.

Never feel guilty about taking your dog to the vet as a precaution. Ultimately, you’re the one who knows them best and, if something feels off, it’s better to be safe than sorry.