Both cat and dog symptoms are often hard to see and diagnose as these animals have evolved to avoid showing any sign of weakness or sickness. In the wild, the sick are taken as a meal by predators, so a dog’s symptoms of pain and illness are typically only seen at much later stages of disease. The following list are some common symptoms for dogs or cats:

1. Drinking more – This symptom can be very subtle in dogs and cats. You may not notice you’re filling the water bowl more often, or think it is just the heat, dry cold, etc. They might even go and drink toilet water or from the goldfish bowl! If you think your pet is drinking more you are probably right.
2. Peeing more – This is another symptom in dogs that is subtle at the start and often is seen when they are drinking more. It may be that dogs start peeing a couple more times on walks that we think of marking their territory. Cats may start peeing outside of the litter box in areas that you may not be aware of.
3. Changes in weight – We are with our pets every day and often do not notice increases or decreases in weight until they are substantial.
4. Decrease in activity – Dog and cats will often “warm out” of pain that would cripple you and me. This symptom in dogs and cats can be from any number of diseases, from arthritis to anemia.
5. Loss of vision – Most dogs and cats can be completely blind without us knowing. Usually blindness is gradual, giving time for the pet to adapt to their environment. Often the first time people realize their pet is blind is when they rearrange household furniture.
6. Skin problems – Fur keeps us from clearly seeing early problems of the skin. Watch for any change of texture, thickness, smell or an increase in itchiness.
7. Mental changes -Sleeping patterns may gradually change and we may not notice until they are up all night and sleep all day. Symptoms of dementia in dogs are the same as in people. They become disoriented or lost in the home, may have trouble recognizing people in the family and forget their house training.
8. Oral health changes – Diseases of the mouth have subtle symptoms in dogs and cats at the start. Bad breath is usually considered normal –  but it’s not. We think that they’re not playing games with the mouth or eating hard food because they are bored – usually, it’s because it hurts. Once their mouth problem is resolved, they start doing these things again. These are some of the most common symptoms in dogs and cats.
9. Stiffness – Most people equate stiffness we feel after a good work out to what their pets are feeling. The reality is, the pain that causes stiffness symptoms for dogs and cats would be crippling pain for people. Any limping, stiffness, decrease in the length of walks they can do or decrease in how high they can jump, are symptoms in your dog or cat that need to be looked into.
10. Masses – Some we can easily feel and some are felt with deep palpation of the belly. Any mass needs to be examined by your local veterinarian. Not every mass will be cancer, but early treatment is crucial for a chance at a cure if it is.

Yearly examinations for pets with comprehensive blood and urine analysis can help find these commonly hidden symptoms in dogs and cats before they become big problems.Call us nowto make your appointment.

Yours in health,

Dr. Kent Morley