Is my dog sick? How do I know if my German Shepherd is sick?

Is my dog sick? First of all, what are your dog's symptoms? We all know that your dog can't tell you if it feels bad (at least not in so many words), so it’s your responsibility to take care of your dog and to understand when your dog is feeling bad.

Just how do you do that?

Well, the best thing I can suggest to you is to know exactly how your dog feels when it is not sick.

If you know this, and you know it well, you will be able to tell the difference when your dog is really sick without anyone else having to tell you otherwise and you'll be able to answer your own question - "Is my dog sick?"

When your dog feels bad he will probably exhibit some sort of symptom that should communicate to you, if you're really paying attention, that he does not feel well. What is a symptom? Well, to be precise, a symptom is often defined as "a physical sign that a disease or sickness is present". Knowing exactly what kind of symptoms your dog has can usually guide your veterinarian toward diagnosing your pet illness.

So, is my dog sick? Here are just a few of the more common symptoms your dog may exhibit if it is injured or feels "under the weather", including: vomiting, diarrhea , going off it's food, stumbling, seizing, drooling or limping.

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The ability of recognizing your dogs symptoms and knowing when they need to be treated professionally is very important.

This is a skill that everyone does not have but learning it can be the difference between life and death in many instances. The best thing I can tell you is to watch carefully. If your dog exhibits any kind out of the ordinary, and if that symptom continues or worsens over time, then it could very well become a problem.

Are you still wondering, "Is my dog sick?" Many symptoms, such as seizures, breathing problems, or any kind of collapse should prompt you to get your dog a veterinary exam immediately. If there is ever any kind of doubt about the seriousness of any symptom then please contact your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency facility immediately and ask.

Don't wait to see if it'll go away on it's own. Explain the symptoms to the pet professional and ask for their advice. It is always better to be safe than sorry if you're not sure whether or not your dog is in serious trouble.

There are all sorts of serious symptoms that should never be ignored in your dog. Potentially any of these symptoms could easily indicate an underlying disease and might even be your first clue to the presence of a life-threatening conditioning in your dog. You never know. So, here are a few symptoms that should never be ignored if you see them in your German Shepherd!

"Is my dog sick ?" A few important dog symptoms:

Collapse or Fainting. Any reasons for collapse or fainting should always be considered serious and should not be ignored. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Seizure. A seizure is often a symptom of some sort of neurological disorder. They can be caused by several things including epilepsy, toxins or tumors. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Bloated or Distended Abdomen. Abdominal distension is an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal cavity and can often be a symptom of potentially life-threatening disease. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Breathing Problems. Respiratory distress, labored or difficult breathing or even shortness of breath are all very serious symptoms and should be taken care of immediately.

Unproductive Retching. Dogs that attempt to vomit over and over and are never able to bring anything up is very serious. You should call your veterinarian immediately.

Trouble Urinating. This can range from: straining to urinate, frequently attempting to urinate, or even great discomfort when urinating. This can be very serious. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Pale Gums. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian. Bruising and/or Bleeding. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Bite Wounds. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Lethargy or Weakness. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Not Eating or Loss of Appetite. This is often the first indication of illness in your dog. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Pacing and Restlessness. In dogs, pacing and/or restlessness can usually be indicative of pain, discomfort or distress in your dog. In many cases it an indicator of a serious problem. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Losing Weight. There are several causes for this, if you're not actually trying to help your dog lose extra pounds - some of which can be very serious. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Urinating and Drinking Excessively. Either of these are often the early signs of several diseases such as: kidney failure, diabetes, thyroid problems, uterine infections, etc. If you think that your dog is drinking excessively, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.

Fever. The normal temperature in dogs is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dogs temperature is higher, call your veterinarian asap.

Excessive coughing. Don't think that this is no big deal. Coughing is a common protective reflex to clear the throat, etc. It can also affect the respiratory system if the coughing is excessive. Common causes of excessive coughing can be quite severe, such as: an obstruction in the windpipe, heartworm disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung tumors, kennel cough or even heart failure. This should be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian.

Bloody Diarrhea - Bloody Urine - Bloody Vomit. Any of these should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Some may be the result of minor ailments, while others could be severe or even life threatening. Contact your veterinarian immediately. So, "Is my dog sick?" While the list of dog symptoms above is not at all all-inclusive, it is meant to be merely a resource of symptoms of which you should always be aware of as a dog owner.

Keep an eye on your dogs health in much the same way you would do so for your own child and you will be well on your way to a long and lasting relationship with your own dog and being able to answer for yourself, "Is my dog sick?"

Your dogs health is important so watch for any symptoms your dog may exhibit closely and be ready to act on them as necessary.

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"The old dog barks backward without getting up - I can remember when he was a pup." - Robert Frost