Don't ignore these signs of illness in pets - Ellwood City Ledger

Don't ignore these signs of illness in pets - Ellwood City Ledger

Don't ignore these signs of illness in pets - Ellwood City Ledger

Posted: 26 Jul 2020 01:14 AM PDT

There are some signs of illness that pet owners should never ignore. They often start out as subtle signs, and when overlooked, disease states can advance quickly.

There are some signs of illness that pet owners should never ignore. They often start out as subtle signs, and when overlooked, disease states can advance quickly.

Unfortunately, pet parents will blame themselves for waiting to visit the veterinary office when they discover the source of what seemed like a small, new problem.

This is the list of the most often dismissed symptoms of illness my clients report:

1. Increased water consumption: Fluid needs increase with increased activity, higher ambient temperatures, and switching from moist food to dry food. Higher sodium and sugar content in the diet can also your pet's increase thirst.

Some increases in water intake with the above situations are normal, but when it is excessive, prolonged, or coupled with excessive volume or frequency of urination, you should seek prompt veterinary attention for your pet.

Potential health problems include:

• Kidney or bladder infection or disease.

• Cushing's disease (a hormonal problem that causes excess cortisol to be released from the adrenal glands).

• Hyperthyroidism, which is more common in feline patients.

• Diabetes (there are two types, including diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus).

• Cancer.

• Increased fluid loss through diarrhea, panting or fever.

• Liver disorders.

You can be certain to notice increases in water intake by measuring your pet's water when filling his bowl, the number of times you refill it in a day, and note when you are filling more often. Also, be prepared, when you visit the vet, to answer questions regarding volume consumed in ounces, quarts or gallons, and avoid answers, like "two bowls a day."

(Unless you bring the bowl, your vet won't know how much the bowl holds, and "a regular bowl" is not a helpful answer – and, yes, pet owners give me that answer.)

2. Excessive panting: Panting can indicate difficulty getting enough oxygen to the lungs, heat stroke, anemia, fever, asthma, an airway blockage, pain, anxiety, chemical imbalances in the blood due to kidney or liver disease, heart conditions, cancer or spinal disease.

Vets use physical exam findings and tests like CBC, blood chemistry, EKG and X-rays to figure out the cause of the panting. Since many of the underlying problems are serious, don't delay having your pet examined when he has continued panting.

3. Cough: Coughing can be related to infections in the airways, tracheal collapse, bronchitis, heart disease, pneumonia, allergies, asthma, pleural effusion (fluid outside the lungs), internal parasitic infections, cancer, heartworm disease in dogs, cats and ferrets, kennel cough and other respiratory viral, fungal and bacterial diseases.

When you visit the vet, expect him to recommend chest and airway X-rays, blood tests, and in some cases, a bronchoscopy, or a CT scan of the sinuses, trachea and lungs.

4. Pale or purple tongue and gums: Cyanosis or bluish gums indicate a lack of oxygen in the blood, so it can be associated with an airway or lung problem and/or cardiovascular or heart problems. Cancer and chest tumors can also bring about pale or bluish gums.

Pale mucous membranes are associated with anemia from internal bleeding, destruction of red blood cells from an immune disorder, or acute blood loss. Trauma, tumors and infections can be the underlying cause of anemia. Regardless of the cause, when pets don't have enough red blood cells, they can go into shock and die, so head straight to the vet when you see pale or bluish gums.

5. Behavioral change: Changes in desire to walk, go outdoors, use the litter box, reactions to visitors, family members or strangers, new fears, aggression, phobias, avoidances, desire to take treats or eat, and changes in play behavior can be result of pain, arthritis, cancer, tumors, infections, and internal medicine disorders.

Diagnosis in cases of behavior changes depend on owners' observations and communicating well with the veterinary staff. Do not dismiss behavior changes with the excuse that a pet is "just getting old" or "my cat is mad, so she is peeing out of the box". Aging and anger are rarely the diagnosis.

6. Excess drooling: Hypersalivation occurs when pets have gastrointestinal distress, a swallowing or nerve disorder, bloat, nausea, toxic plant ingestion, pain, gingival or oral infection, tooth root abscess, or picking up toads. Call your vet and get specific treatment quickly, if you see excess slobber or drool.

7. Change in odor or scent: Changes in skin, oral, anal gland, ear, nasal, urine or foot smell can indicate an infection. But sometimes even deeper problems may be lurking. For example, with cancer, some pets will have a change in smell that is hard to localize. Chronic diarrhea can create a bad odor, in spite of bathing.

Regardless of the cause of a bad odor, taking your pet in for a checkup, as opposed to trying to cover or mask an odor, will help your pet get diagnosed and treated quickly.

If your pet experiences any of these or other concerning signs, be sure to check in with your vet and make an appointment. If you are self-isolating, and not going out, many vets are performing virtual consults, so don't give up on getting answers.

Dr. Cynthia Maro is a veterinarian at the Ellwood Animal Hospital in Ellwood City and the Chippewa Animal Hospital in Chippewa Township. She writes a biweekly column on pet care and health issues. If you have a topic you'd like addressed, please email ellwoodvet@msn.com.

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