Knowing when to take your dog to the veterinarian will help you remain calm in an emergency situation and when assessing any injury or illness involving your sweet pet. Keep the vet’s number posted where you can easily find it, and when in doubt, always call.

Lethargic

When your dog is unusually lethargic, it could be they’re worn out from an increase in activity, or it could mean they’re sick. Since there is no way of knowing for sure, it’s best to get an exam.

Difficulty When Walking or Standing

As dogs age, it’s common for them to develop arthritis. Sometimes an owner may even hear whimpering from their dog as the dog is just lying still. This can be a sign of arthritic pain.

Seek a veterinarian with the latest imaging resources such as small animal MRI for checking joints and tissue. That way, if an arthritis diagnosis is made, you’ll know they ruled out any other possibility.

Cloudy Eyes

Dogs will begin to show cloudy eyes with age, sometimes due to cataracts. However, if the eye cloudiness is a new thing, get your dog seen in case there has been an unknown injury or a new health concern. Pretty much everything, including any issues affecting your dog’s eyesight, is better off treated early.

Aggressive Behavior

It can break our hearts when our sweet, loving dog begins to act aggressively. If your furry best friend has gone from cuddly to snapping, have them seen quickly.

They may be scared because of pain that has gone too far and you are unaware, or they could be sick and have no other way of letting you know.

Emergencies

Some situations require an appointment while others need emergency attention. Here are a few possible scenarios of when you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately:

• Inability to stand
• Labored breathing
• Obvious trauma such as being hit by a car
• Seizure
• Collapsing

Enjoy the unconditional love your dog brings into your life and return the favor by keeping an eye on their health.