| Sign |
Possible Causes or Conditions |
What to Do |
| Abdominal pain or hardness |
Blocked bladder, severe constipation, pregnancy, intestinal problems, pancreatitis, peritonitis |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Changes in eating or drinking habits |
Stress or a variety of disorders |
Consult vet; if dog hasn't eaten for 24 hours, see vet as soon as possible. |
| Coughing |
Allergies, upper and lower respiratory diseases, lung parasites, foreign bodies, heart disease, heartworm, abnormal windpipe |
Add water or fiber (bran, pumpkin) to food, or add petroleum jelly to food with vet's OK. If condition persists, visit vet. |
| Dark residue or foul odor in ears, or dog shaking head or scratching ears |
Ear mites, ear infection, inhalant and food allergies, foreign objects trapped in ear |
Consult vet within 24 hours. |
| Diarrhea |
Stress, change in diet, food allergy, intestinal infection or parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, parvovirus, coronavirus |
If symptoms persist for more than a few days or are severe, accompanied by signs such as weakness, vomiting or lethargy, consult vet at once. |
| Difficulty breathing; wheezing |
Same as coughing, plus heart problems |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Difficulty urinating; blood in urine |
Urinary tract infection or irritation; stones, tumors |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Excessive scratching or licking |
Fleas, mites, skin disorders, allergies, wounds |
Check for and eliminate fleas. Relieve itch with cold, wet towels. Otherwise, consult vet within 24 hours. |
| Excessive thirst and urination |
Diabetes, kidney or hormone disorders, uterine infection, high blood calcium |
Give plenty of water. Consult vet within 24 hours. |
| Foul breath |
Dirty teeth, gum infection, abscesses, mouth tumors, foreign object between teeth |
Brush dog's teeth and feed dry food. If symptoms are severe or persist, consult vet. |
| Inflamed eyes or eyelids |
Eye infection, allergy, injury, glaucoma, corneal ulcers |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Loss of appetite (anorexia) |
Stress, gastrointestinal or other disorders |
If dog hasn't eaten for 24 hours, see vet as soon as possible. |
| Loss of balance or coordination; weakness |
Injuries, blood loss, brain or spinal trauma, poisoning, inner ear disease, tumors |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Pale gums and mucous membranes |
Anemia, heart disease, septic shock |
Consult vet immediately. |
| Sneezing; runny nose or eyes |
Cold or upper respiratory system infection, allergies, foreign object in nose, nasal mites or tumors |
If problem persists for more than a few days or if dog stops eating, consult vet immediately. |
| Vomiting |
Food allergies, intestinal problems, stress or many other disorders |
If symptoms persist for more than a day or are severe, accompanied by signs such as weakness, diarrhea or lethargy, consult vet immediately. |
| Weight loss |
May indicate many different disorders |
Consult vet for diagnosis within 24 hours. |
