Being a dog owner goes way beyond teaching your pup a few tricks. Owning a dog means being responsible for a life other than your own. Your dog depends on you to take care of him when he’s well and also when he’s sick.

Obviously, you can’t run out to the vet every time your dog has a sniffle. So how can you know when your dog’s sickness symptoms are more than just a common cold?

This article will shed some light on how to know if your dog is sick and when to escalate matters to your veterinarian.

Common dog sickness symptoms are:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• obesity
• dehydration
• abdominal swelling
• itchy dry skin
• excessively wet nose (mucus)
• cough

These symptoms can all be treated through common home remedies found in most dog health guides.

Some major red flags of dog illness are:

• escalating lethargy
• sudden weight loss
• disorientation
• difficulty breathing
• inability or difficulty walking
• persistent cough
• bloody stool or urine

If your dog is experiencing any of these, you’ll want to take him to the vet for closer observation.

The key to nipping a serious dog health problem in the bud is being aware of your dog’s behavior and staying on top of arising symptoms before they turn into life threatening problems.

If you suspect your dog is sick but you’re not sure how serious the situation is, take his temperature. You can buy a dog thermometer in any pet store. You’ll need to take his temperature rectally.

A normal, healthy dog’s body temperature will be between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature outside of this range is an indicator of canine illness and may warrant a trip to the vet’s office.

It’s important to look at things like your dog’s gums and eyes on a regular basis. If you don’t know what your dog looks like when he’s healthy, how on earth will you be able to tell when he’s sick.

The real key to keeping your dog healthy starts by educating yourself. You can find an amazing reference to do that below. It’s called the Ultimate Dog Health Guide and it will show you step by step how to cure common dog sickness problems that will come up from time to time.

Check it out -----> The Ultimate Dog Health Guide

Other than that, you can start by learning how to treat one of the most basic dog health problems first… severe dog diarrhea. Take the time to check out these dog health tips today. Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog!