Signs of Illness in your Dog

Many people miss the signs of illness in their pets or attribute them to “old age.” By knowing the signs of disease, you can get help for your pet before it’s too late for treatment to be effective.

Top Ten Signs

1. Drinking Or Urinating More

   Possible problems: kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, adrenal gland dysfunction. Frequency of these problems: kidney disease is the third leading cause of death in older dogs and the second leading cause in older cats. Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death in senior dogs, and can appear at any age. Some causes of liver and kidney disease are genetic and cause problems in young pets. Infections and toxins cause damage to these organs as well. Adrenal gland diseases and diabetes are not as common, but are still seen frequently at veterinary hospitals.

2. Weight Loss/Change Of Appetite

   Possible problems: Cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, gastrointestinal parasites or diseases, diabetes, many others. Frequency of these problems: Cancer is the leading cause of death in senior dogs and cats, and some types of cancer occur in young pets as well. Many types of cancer are treatable nowadays, especially if caught early. Routine blood screening picks up many of these diseases. Elderly pets are more prone to picking up intestinal parasites and their stools should be checked more frequently.

3. Weight Gain

   Possible problems: Deficiency in thyroid or adrenal hormones, fluid build-up in the abdomen from heart or liver disease. Frequency of these problems: Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in older dogs and in some breeds can be seen as early as one year of age. “Cushing’s Disease”, or deficiency in adrenal hormones is common as well, especially in poodles and toy breeds. All of these diseases are treatable with medication.

4. Decreased Exercise

   Possible problems: Heart disease, arthritis, circulatory problems, diseases of the spine, anemia from kidney disease or cancer. Frequency of these problems: Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in older dogs and third in older cats. Some breeds of dogs, especially boxers, English cocker spaniels and Doberman Pinschers have inherited heart problems that can show up at a very young age. Special diets and medication can prolong life expectancy by many years, especially in dogs. Early diagnosis is very important. Chest x-rays and ECG (electrocardiogram) screening help us to catch problems early.

5. Stiffness, Difficulty Rising

   Possible problems: hip arthritis, spinal arthritis, disc disease, spondylosis. The most important thing to remember is that stiffness is a sign of pain. Frequency of these problems: Most large breed dogs will eventually become arthritic and many smaller breeds will too. Disc disease can show up at any age. Nutritional supplements and anti-inflammatory medications greatly improve comfort and quality of life. X-rays are very important to diagnose exactly what is wrong - different causes of pain respond to different treatments.

6. Sleeping More Or Other Behavior Changes

   Other behavioral changes include circling, pacing, abnormal sleep cycles, decreased interaction with the family, loss of housebreaking, confusion. Possible problems: The most common cause is pain. Just as you would if you had a migraine headache, painful pets become quiet and withdrawn or sleep more. Some may be restless and uncomfortable. A trial of pain medication will tell for sure. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (similar to Alzheimer’s Disease in people), thyroid disease, anemia, bladder infections, cancer, heart problems and other diseases can cause a pet to be tired or act differently as well. Frequency of these problems: It is very common to hear owners say their elderly pet “sleeps all the time.” This is not a sign of “old age,” it is a sign of disease and warrants investigation and treatment. Treatments are available for most of the problems listed, including Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD).

7. Lumps Or Sores

   Possible problems: Cancer, infection, benign tumors. Frequency of these problems: Surgical removal of tumors is one of the most common procedures performed in most veterinary hospitals. Some lumps are not a problem, including fatty tumors and warts. Others are a major sign of trouble. All lumps should be looked at by a doctor.

8. Dry Or Itchy Skin

   Possible problems: Lack of fatty acids in the diet, age-related drying of the skin, allergies, skin infections, parasites, thyroid dysfunction. Though these problems are rarely fatal, they can be uncomfortable for the pet and often signal a more serious dietary deficiency or medical problem. Healthy pets should have shiny, glossy coats.

9. Dry, Red Or Cloudy Eyes

   Possible problems: Decreased tear production is very common in older dogs and can lead to painful corneal ulcers. Allergies, infections, cataracts, glaucoma and other eye diseases become more common as pets get older, but can occur at any age. Frequency of these problems: Very common, especially dry eyes and cataracts. Some breeds such as cocker spaniels and poodles are more prone than others. Testing tear production and checking for glaucoma and cataracts are standard parts of examinations and testing for older dogs and cats.

10. Digestive Problems

    Possible problems: Kidney disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, intestinal parasites or infections, food allergies, chronic pancreatitis, constipation, others. Frequency of these problems: as we stated above, cancer and kidney or liver diseases are leading causes of death. Inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis and chronic constipation are all very common on cats, less common in dogs, and can occur at any age. Laboratory testing to determine a cause of the problem, special diets or medications may be needed.

Source: The Top Ten Signs of Illness, 2001