Dog Questions

Most of us have a harder time getting over the loss of a pet than we do a friend or family member.  Most of us are taken by surprise when our pet dies, but with family and friends we are aware of what is going on with them before hand.  Our furry friends are tying to tell us something is wrong, but we usually don’t listen, or just don’t understand what they are trying to tell us. 

 

Being able to understand the signs our dogs give us is the first part of listening to them.  We need to learn about their experiences and discomforts and then do what we must to fix the situation.  Our dogs give us subtle clues.  We need to pay attention.

 

Has your dog’s energy level decreased, or is there a change in otherwise normal behaviors?  Does your dog no longer like the long walks or runs you are both accustomed to?  Is there a disinterest in playing fetch for hours at a time?  These could be signs of pain or distress. 

 

Has your dog started hiding, or running away or escaping from the yard?  Maybe they are being left alone for too long at a time.  Maybe there is too much activity going on around him and he just can’t cope.  Maybe your dog is being abused by the neighborhood kids -  they might be teasing or taunting through or over the fence or gate. 

 

Growling, biting, not wanting to be touched are also signs that something may be wrong.  Maybe the kids have started playing to rough.  Maybe its a certain part of the body that causes this response.  Ducking the head, for example, could mean a headache, an earache or a vision problem.  Jerking away when you pet him, especially in the shoulder, hip or back area, could be an indication of pain.

 

A change in your dog’s appetite could mean several things. The food they are eating no longer meets their nutritional needs, or is contaminated - remember the pet food recalls?  Maybe they just need to recover from overeating, or eating the wrong thing.  There is also the possibility of an impacted bowel, or a kidney or bladder infection or blockage. This is something you need to visit your vet about.

 

Sad eyes are always a sign that things are not as they should be with your dog.  Animals suffer grief and emotional turmoil just as humans do.  They also become depressed or unhappy with changes in their lives.  Are you working longer hours?  Has one of the kids gone off to college?  Are you moving and the house is in turmoil?

 

In other words, pay attention to what is going on in your life, and you may have a clue as to what is going on with your dog.  Talk to him - tell him your moving to a new house, tell him your working longer, tell him Jeff is getting married.  He may not understand the words, but he understands that you know things are changing, and he will take comfort from that.  If your dog is experiencing a health issue, talk to them about that too.  It helps your dog to know that you know what they are feeling.

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