Now for part 2 of how to spot that your fur kid might have some serious health issues going on. We talked about lack of an appetite, decreased activity. Going hand in hand (or paw to paw for those who favor bad puns) with not eating is a loss of weight. Assuming you don't have them on a diet of course. Losing weight is an issue but when this is combined with other behavioral issues, it could indicate something serious. A friend of mine who recently lost her dog to cancer noticed that her dog wasn't eating...and then dropped weight very suddenly. She took him in shortly after noticing these signs and he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Fortunately he didn't suffer much but sometimes if you catch something early enough, you can give them a fighting chance.
Another sign is a sudden change in how much water they drink. Drinking more water is often associated with a few diseases including kidney disease (which we lost our last bully too) and diabetes mellitus. If you notice that your dog or cat is drinking a lot more water, see your veterinarian.
Yet another sign is not grooming. Dogs and cats that don't feel well don't groom themselves. Or you may notice a dull lusterless coat. If your pet's coat changes, have him/her evaluated by your veterinarian.
The last sign for today is bad breath. Also known as halitosis, bad breath can be the result of dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders. Dental disease is the #1 disease in dogs. If not treated it can lead to many other metabolic diseases that cn shorten your dog's and cat's life.
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