|
Hey there furr lovers & furrs of J-Land! A big WOOF from the Girls & a howdy from me.
Thought we'd come over & wish you all a happy wkend, hope you all had a nice week.
It's storming again here... grrr. Angel doesn't care for that at all, she hates the thunder/lightening, whines & looks so sad as she paces around looking for a "safe" place.
Was thinking about dogs & pain today, how they tend to not be able to tell us when something hurts... so thought we'd post the info below for you.
Dogs don't tend to be crybabies. After all, in nature, expressing pain can threaten an animal's survival by signaling vulnerability to predators as well as others competing for resources.
Following are signs that your canine may be in pain, based on information in the February 2008 issue of "Your Dog" newsletter and veterinarians at the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2007 annual meeting. .
* Difficulty or hesitation in getting up from a lying position or lying down.
* Change in chewing behavior. For example, reluctance to chew, chewing on one side of the mouth, hovering over the food or water bowl without eating or drinking, and dropping food could signal aching teeth, gums, jaws, with root causes ranging from an infection to a tumor.
* Unusual/rapid change in weight. Overeating? Reluctance to eat? Arthritis, for example, can make it painful to bend over to reach food.
* Avoiding your hands. Does your dog duck from affectionate petting he previously enjoyed? Pulls away when you attempt to comb her fur or otherwise handle her? Such behavior signals an injury, infection, possible joint deterioration, or other problem needing medical attention. * Decreased range of motion. Is he taking shorter strides on walks? Resisting your attempts to raise her paw for a nail trim? Has he stopped trying to jump on furniture?
* Reduced interest in play and walks.
* Sudden onset of housetraining accidents. Stiff joints and pain might be hampering your dog from both getting to the door in time to squatting and/or lifting legs to relieve himself. Urinary infections, fecal problems, or parasites such as worms make it difficult for a dog to delay urination or defecation when the urge hits.
* Sudden change in other behaviors, such as aggressive incidents (seemingly unwarranted growling, snapping, lunging) or more submissive behaviors (tucked tail, turning the head away, hunching down).
And remember, YOU know your furr baby better than anyone, & they trust you to look out for them. So, be vigilent... if any of the signs above occur, or if anything out of the norm is going on... see a Vet as soon as possible.
Have a woofing good wkend! Paws Up Y'all, WOOF WOOF! |
Archives
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
4/27/08 12:25 PM