5 Changes in Your Pet’s Daily Life You Shouldn’t Ignore

Animals can’t tell us that something hurts or that they don’t feel well. On top of that, dogs and cats often show the first signs of illness very subtly. That is why it is important for owners to pay attention not only to obvious symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, but also to changes in the animal’s usual behavior and daily habits.

Bad breath, drinking more water or a senior pet suddenly sleeping more may seem unimportant. Sometimes that is true, but sometimes these are the first signs that something in the body is not right.

Let’s look at 5 changes that veterinarians recommend paying special attention to.

1. Bad breath

Many owners believe that bad breath in a dog or cat is normal. However, markedly bad breath should not be considered normal.

Most often it is caused by problems in the mouth - plaque, tartar, gingivitis, periodontal disease, a damaged tooth or an infection. Periodontal disease can cause an animal pain even if it keeps eating seemingly normally.

Less often, a change in breath odor can also be related to other health problems, such as kidney disease, diabetes or certain digestive disorders - these should not be ruled out either.

It is especially important to pay attention if you also notice:

• increased drooling;
• difficulty chewing or dropping food from the mouth;
• avoiding hard food;
• bleeding gums;
• visible tartar;
• pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face.

If your pet’s breath has become markedly unpleasant, don’t simply try to mask the problem with dental treats - first find out what is causing it.

2. Your pet suddenly drinks more

If your dog or cat regularly empties the water bowl faster than before and also urinates more, this change should not be ignored.

Of course, how much an animal drinks is affected by the ambient temperature, physical activity, type of food and other factors. But persistent, unexplained thirst can be a sign of illness.

Increased drinking and urination may be associated, for example, with:

• kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• Cushing’s syndrome in dogs;
• hyperthyroidism in cats;
• certain liver and other systemic diseases;
• the use of certain medications.

Never restrict the amount of water available to your pet to make it urinate less.

If you think your pet is drinking more, it is useful to measure how much water it actually drinks over 24 hours and share this information with your veterinarian.

3. Your pet has become sleepier or less active

“It’s just old age” is one of the most common phrases veterinarians hear.

Activity levels can indeed decrease with age, but marked changes in behavior should not automatically be put down to aging.

If your dog no longer wants to go on long walks, doesn’t want to climb stairs, avoids jumping or takes longer to get up, joint or back pain is possible.

Marked apathy, weakness or sleepiness, on the other hand, can be linked to a wide range of health problems - from pain and fever to anemia, heart disease, infections or metabolic disorders.

The most important thing is to compare your pet with its own usual behavior, not with other dogs or cats.

If a previously active animal suddenly sleeps much more, refuses to play or seems unusually quiet, it is worth finding out why.

4. Unexplained weight loss

Weight loss can go unnoticed, especially in long-haired animals. Often the changes only become obvious once they are already significant.

If your pet is losing weight even though the amount of food and physical activity haven’t changed, there can be many different reasons.

It can occur with:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• parasite infestation;
• kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• hyperthyroidism in cats;
• chronic inflammatory conditions;
• cancer;
• other metabolic or systemic diseases.

It is important to assess not only weight but also body condition and muscle mass. Especially in seniors, loss of muscle mass can be an important sign even if the number on the scale hasn’t changed dramatically.

A good habit is to weigh your pet regularly and write down its weight. This makes it possible to notice gradual changes much earlier.

5. Your dog or cat keeps licking one spot

Repeatedly licking or chewing one area of the body is not simply a “bad habit”.

This way the animal may be trying to relieve itching, pain or discomfort.

The cause may be:

• allergy;
• skin inflammation or infection;
• parasites;
• injury;
• a foreign body stuck in the skin;
• pain in a joint or other deeper tissues;
• a problem with a claw or paw.

Prolonged licking can itself injure the skin further and cause secondary inflammation, so it is important not only to stop your pet from licking the spot but also to find out why it is doing it.

When should you see a veterinarian?

Not every small change means a serious illness. Context matters - how quickly the symptom appeared, how long it lasts, whether it is getting worse and whether other signs are appearing alongside it.

However, a veterinary consultation should not be postponed if the changes persist or progress, or if your pet also develops loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, marked weakness or other health changes.

On the other hand, difficulty breathing, impaired consciousness, collapse, seizures, inability to urinate, severe pain or a rapid deterioration in general condition are reasons to seek veterinary help immediately.

Preventive check-ups help detect changes earlier

Many diseases don’t cause very specific symptoms in their early stages. That is why regular preventive health check-ups are important even if your pet seems healthy.

During the visit, the veterinarian can assess your pet’s weight and body condition, mouth, heart and lungs, skin, coat, lymph nodes and other health indicators. Depending on the animal’s age and health, blood, urine or other tests may also be recommended.

It is especially important to regularly monitor the health of senior pets, as the risk of chronic disease increases with age and early changes can be very subtle.

You see your pet every day and know best what is normal for it. If you notice that something has changed, don’t hesitate to have it checked. Changes noticed in time can help detect health problems much earlier.