As a dog parent (or pet parent of any kind) who wants the best for their furry friend, it’s likely you dread the day your dog starts exhibiting any signs of illness.

Aside from the fact that you want your canine companion to feel their best and be their healthiest, you also likely want to avoid the sometimes overwhelming financial burden that surprise vet visits can be for pet parents.

The reality is that dogs are a lot like people. No matter how healthy and how well cared for they are, sometimes, they just get sick. The occasional virus, a harmless cough or even a cold can compromise your dog’s immune system, just like yours.

Even if your dog’s health is your top priority, it’s likely they’ll catch something at some point in their life. So, as a caring (and financially responsible) pet parent, how can you tell if your dog needs medical attention or just needs the canine equivalent of a few days lounging on the couch eating chicken noodle soup?

n this article, we’ll share a few tips for tracking your dog’s condition as well as some key tips on how you can tell immediately if your dog needs emergency veterinary attention. Further, we’ll share a few at-home steps you can take if your dog does catch a mild illness that doesn’t require a vet visit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Dogs, like humans, can get sick occasionally, and it's important for pet parents to be able to recognize signs of illness in their furry companions.
• Common signs of a sick dog include changes in appetite, excessive thirst or lack thereof, lethargy, gastrointestinal upset, abnormal vocalizations, bad breath or foul ear odor, mood swings, coughing or wheezing and hiding behavior.
• While some symptoms may indicate a mild illness, others may require immediate veterinary attention, such as a distended stomach, seizures, lack of coordination, excessive vomiting or diarrhea and pale gums.
• Steps to take when your dog is sick include contacting your vet for advice, noting symptoms and their progression, offering a bland diet if applicable, tracking progress, providing a comfortable space for healing, asking about over-the-counter medications, minimizing playtime, avoiding excess treats, separating sick dogs from healthy ones, increasing potty breaks if necessary and scheduling a non-emergency vet visit if symptoms persist.
• Dog health insurance, pet discount savings plans, and financial planning can help alleviate the financial burden of veterinary expenses and ensure that your furry friend receives the care they need without breaking the bank.

What to Do When Your Dog Gets Sick: How to Care for Under-the-Weather Pets

In a perfect world, our beloved dogs would be able to talk to us in order to communicate exactly where it hurts or what the problem might be. Unfortunately, we’re stuck guessing and working through the clues our pups can give us.

Before you can start treating your dog’s condition, you first need to be able to determine if your pup is actually dealing with an illness. We’ve included a few well-known signs below that often point to a sick dog.

9 Signs Your Dog Might Be Sick

Avoiding or Uninterested in Their Food

If your dog is on a hunger strike and doesn’t seem interested in his or her daily culinary delights, it’s likely that they’re feeling under the weather. If your pup doesn’t eat for a few meals or if you notice your dog is losing weight, it’s likely that they’re not feeling their best. Though it’s normal for dogs to avoid food every now and again, if this problem is paired with another symptom like losing weight  (or they’re regularly avoiding their favorite treat), it’s possible they’re battling an illness. 

Extra Thirsty or Not Thirsty

Dogs that seem to be exceptionally thirsty (or are urinating more than normal) might be dealing with an illness. On the flip side, dogs that are avoiding water also might be dealing with an illness. Too little might point to an under-the-weather dog, while drinking too much might indicate your pet has a fever or a hormonal imbalance. Try to monitor how much your dog is drinking to get a feel for their drinking habits and how they’ve changed.

Tired or Lethargic

When you’re sick or don’t feel your best, you mostly feel like lying around in bed until you feel better. With dogs dealing with mild issues, this can often be a similar case. If you notice your dog seems more tired or lethargic than normal, it’s possible they’ve come down with something.

Gastrointestinal Upset

Vomiting or diarrhea are the tell-tale signs of a dog not feeling well. The reality is that sometimes dogs throw up or have gastrointestinal upset for very mild reasons. Other times, it can be more serious. If your dog throws up or has a bout of diarrhea on one occasion and then the gastrointestinal issues subside, it’s likely they worked the irritant out of their system. That being said, you’ll want to continue to monitor them and likely alter their diet to something bland until they’re back to 100%.

Abnormal Vocalizations

If your normally quiet pup has been whimpering, crying or barking lately, it’s possible that this is their way of trying to communicate that they don’t feel well. Take note of these sudden vocalizations for your vet.

Bad Breath or Foul Ear Odor

Unpleasant smells coming from your dog’s mouth or ears could indicate they are fighting off an illness. Though bad breath does often mean periodontal issues, it can signify other issues, too, especially when paired with other symptoms.

Schedule a Telehealth Visit for Your Pup

If you’re unsure about whether or not your pet needs to be brought into the vet, scheduling a telehealth visit could be the next best option. With Carefree Pet, you can have access to unlimited, 24/7 vet support* by phone or video. A quick call into your vet to go over your dog’s symptoms could be the guidance you need to take action or let your furry friend rest.

Out-of-character Aggression or Other Mood Swings

If your normally cheerful, kind and affectionate pup starts snipping or acting aggression out of nowhere, they might not be feeling well. If your dog growls, nips or acts aggressively, it’s likely they’re sharing social cues that they’re ill. Sometimes, dogs will growl or bite when you touch the area of their body that’s bothering them, but this isn’t always the case.

Not all sick dogs will display this sort of behavior; some might actually become more clingy and needy when they don’t feel well. Monitor your pet’s behavior and take note of any big swings or changes.

Coughing or Wheezing 

Just like people, dogs catch coughs and have respiratory problems. Nasal discharge, puppy coughs and wheezing sounds all can vary from mild issues (like a simple cold) to more serious issues, like heart failure. These kinds of symptoms should be monitored closely.

Hiding

Pets who retreat and try to find additional space could be dealing with an illness. If your dog has opted for more space and seems to want to shy away, they might be fighting off a cold, fever or something similar.

Is it More Serious? Urgent & Emergency Warning Signs

While some of the previous symptoms could indicate a mild illness, they could also indicate something more serious. The following symptoms, though, almost always indicate a much more serious issue and should be treated as a medical emergency.

If your dog is experiencing any of these issues, call your vet immediately to determine what to do next, as an emergency visit might be the correct route:

• Hard, distended stomach
• Seizures, fainting or collapse
• Lack of coordination
• Unable to stand up
• Dragging hind legs
• Excessive vomiting
• Excessive diarrhea
• Blue tint to gums or tongue
• Unable to urinate
• Pale gums
• Unresponsive
• Blood in the urine
• Straining to urinate
• Unrelenting panting

Must-Know Steps to Take When Your Dog is Sick

If your dog does not exhibit any emergency signs that require immediate attention from a vet, you can take several steps to monitor your dog, track their illness and care for them.

Call Your Vet for Their Advice

Ultimately, the best way to determine your next steps is to get medical advice from your vet. While their condition might not require a vet visit, just checking in and sharing your dog’s symptoms can help you fast-track their recovery and know what to look out for.

Note Their Symptoms & When They Started

Take notes of what your pet is dealing with, what symptoms are troubling them and how these symptoms are progressing. Track any new symptoms, take note of when and why they’re happening, and make sure you’re keeping accurate records for your vet.

Opt for a Bland Diet

This is an especially helpful point of care if your dog has had digestive problems. Ask your vet for their advice on what to feed your pup post-gastrointestinal upset. It’s likely they’ll recommend waiting a certain amount of time before feeding, then offering a bland diet (sometimes chicken or rice) in small amounts to ensure your pup’s stomach can handle digesting food.

Track Their Progress

Is your dog getting worse as the hours or days progress? Are they getting better? Log their progress throughout so you can report back to your vet at an appointment if needed.

Give Your Dog Time & Space to Heal

If your dog is dealing with a non-emergency illness, they might just need extra time to rest and heal. This includes giving them a comfortable, private space where members of the family can check on them without bothering them. If you have young children, it’s possible you’ll need to separate your pet so that they can get adequate rest.

Ask Your Vet About OTC Medications

Sometimes, an over-the-counter medication could do the trick for your pup. But since dogs do not function the same as ours, we can’t simply give them what might work for us in a similar situation. Talk with your vet about your pet’s condition and symptoms and discuss any over-the-counter drugs that might help them.

Minimize Play Time

It’s possible that your under-the-weather dog might still want to play and romp around. If possible, minimize playtime, forgo long walks and keep them still and resting so they can heal faster. Giving your dog plenty of sleep means his body can better fight off the infection he might be dealing with.

Avoid Excess Treats

Even though it might be tempting to give your canine buddy something special while they’re not feeling their best, stick to your vet’s advice on their diet and keep things bland and nutritious.

Separate Your Dogs

If you have another dog who doesn’t seem to be dealing with similar symptoms, it’s a good idea to separate your pets so your potentially infected dog doesn’t get your other dog sick.

Give Your Dog More Frequent Potty Breaks

If your dog is on medicine, has gastrointestinal issues, is eating a special diet, or is drinking more water than usual, it’s likely that they’ll need more frequent access to the outdoors for their bathroom breaks. Their usual routine might not cut it for a few days. Eliminate the extra stress for your pup by taking them out more often.

Schedule a Non-Emergency Vet Visit

If your dog is not getting better or doesn’t seem to be improving quickly enough, you’ll want to schedule a visit with your vet. Take your notes to your appointment so you can answer their questions about symptoms and their condition.

Dog Health Insurance & Pet Insurance: What Options Are Out There?

Having a dog is one of the most rewarding parts of life–but it also has the potential to be expensive. Vet visits–even anticipated ones–are often costly. Opting for plans that can help with the financial aspect can potentially ease the burden.

Dog health insurance plans, pet discount savings plans, and financial planning can all help make those costly vet visits feel a little less substantial.

If you’re looking for affordable, convenient pet discount savings plans with an option that can help you save money at the vet when you do need to go,Carefree Pet can help.Explore our memberships to find the best choice for your pet and your budget.

*GoLexi is NOT FOR EMERGENCIES and are not for use for medical emergencies or urgent situations. If you believe you have an emergency, call your vet immediately or contact the nearest Animal ER. GoLexi is NOT a replacement for regular in-office visits, vaccinations, and by law our telemedicine vet services cannot diagnose or prescribe medications for your pet.

This is not insurance. GoLexi vets reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services. GoLexi operates subject to state regulations.