While lethargy and stomach complaints are common for many dogs, sometimes the symptoms point towards something serious.

But how can you tell when your dog is actually sick? Here’s what to look for.

First of all, give your dog a quick inspection – if your dog is healthy he will have bright eyes, clean ears and a shiny coat, and he should breathe regularly – about 15-20 times per minute.

External appearance

Look for any physical changes. Does he have any new lumps or bumps? Are there any changes to existing ones? Check for lumps that are bloody or oozing. Sudden changes in weight can indicate health issues. Inspect his coat for rashes and signs of hair loss. Does he have a persistent itch, especially around his ears? Any strange smells? Look out for red and swollen eyes, a runny, crusty nose, and check his gums – they should be pink.

If your dog shows any signs of these external changes, it might be a good time to visit your vet.

Stomach troubles

Every dog vomits and has diarrhoea occasionally. But if your dog is vomiting or has diarrhoea repeatedly over a 24 hour period, call your vet. Call immediately if the diarrhoea is bloody. In addition, keep an eye out for signs of dry heaving, restlessness and a distended belly – these could indicate that your dog is suffering from bloat, a life threatening condition that needs immediate attention.

Behavioural changes

Is your dog displaying behavioural changes? Look out for vomiting, coughing and sneezing; heavy panting and a loss of appetite and thirst. Signs that your dog is biting or clawing at his body also indicate something is amiss. Unusual behaviours also include falling over, constant sleeping and shaking, as well as lethargy, irritability, agitation or withdrawn or clingy behaviour.

Breathing problems

Is your dog experiencing trouble breathing? Is there a honking cough that has lasted longer than 24 hours, that disrupts his sleep? Look for a persistent nasal discharge, wheezy breathing, gagging or laboured breathing. Bluish gums – not pink – indicates that he is not getting enough oxygen. This could be a serious issue.

Toilet problems

Also look out for any issues with toileting behaviour, such as increased volume or frequency of urine; trouble passing urine or defecating and accidents in a housetrained dog.

Pain

It’s difficult to know when your dog is suffering from pain, because they will often suffer in silence, rather than whimper or yelp. If you notice your dog appears to be lame, or stiff, and it lasts more than 24 hours, there might be something serious going on. Watch for a reluctance to move, jump or walk, joint swelling, or growling to guard a body part.

Neurological signs

Is your dog displaying anything that might indicate trauma to his head? Look for weakness, stumbling, a tilted head, and disorientation. Seizures, repetitive twitches, stupor and loss of consciousness all indicate underlying health problems which warrant further investigation by your local vet.

The Yellow Pages has nearly 10,000 thousand vets and vet clinics located right around Australia. If you are concerned about your pet’s health, call an expert today. You can find your closest vet clinic, here.