Pet ownership carries with it the responsibility of being proactive in your pet’s health care. You are the best advocate for your pet’s health. You see them everyday and know how they normally act when they are feeling well. Often times, when pets go to the veterinarian, they hide their illnesses or injuries. Just like the car that you take into the shop because it is making a weird noise, and then stops as soon as you pull in, our pets often suddenly look just fine when they arrive at our office. What you are seeing at home is what is important. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, our doctors and staff take our role very seriously in helping you give your dog the longest and healthiest life possible. We know pet care is a partnership with you, our pet owners. There are certain steps that you should take to prevent health problems.
Our Recommendations for Dog Owners
- Keep vaccinations current
- Brush frequently to keep hair coat from matting.
- Clip toenails as needed to prevent overgrowth.
- Keep plenty of fresh water available and monitor its consumption.
- Keep other pets from preventing this one from free access to food and water.
- Weigh your dog on the same scale and record results at least every 60 days.
- Give heartworm prevention year-round.
- Annual physical examinations by your veterinarian and twice yearly in senior dogs
- Monitor food intake and avoid obesity
Early Signs of Disease – How To Tell If You Need to Call Our Office
There are many early signs of disease that can easily be interpreted as insignificant or even normal. We recommend that you call the Animal Clinic at Thorndale if your dog is doing any of the following:
- Sustained, significant increase in water consumption. (Abnormal is intake greater than 50 ml/#/day or approximately 1.5 cups (8 oz cups)/day or 12 oz total 10 pounds of body weight.)
- Sustained, significant increase in urination.
- Straining to urinate.
- Weight loss.
- Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than two consecutive days.
- Significant increase in appetite.
- Repeated vomiting.
- Bleeding.
- Paleness of gums
- Yellowing of gums, whites of eyes, or ear flaps
- Diarrhea that lasts over 2 days.
- Difficulty in passing stool.
- A break in housetraining habits.
- Lameness that lasts more than 2 days, or lameness in more than one leg.
- Noticeable decrease in vision, especially if sudden in onset or pupils that do not constrict in bright light.
- Squinting an eye or third eyelid covering eye
- Masses, ulcerations (open sores), or multiple scabs on the skin .
- Foul mouth odor or drooling.
- Increasing size of the abdomen.
- Difficulty rising, standing or walking
- Increasing inactivity or amount of time spent sleeping.
- Unusual neurologic activity or seizures
- Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching
- Breathing heavily or rapidly at rest.
- Coughing repeatedly
- Inability to chew or eat dry food.
Consider that your dog cannot tell you how they are feeling. “Put yourself inside the furry suit” and think if you were doing what your dog is doing, would you want to be seen by your doctor? If you are not certain what to do, give us a call. We are here to help.