A Healthy Pet Can Be in Pain and Not Show It

08.11.2009 | Author: Jen Newton | Posted in Pets | Jen Newton has blogged 4 posts other posts by Jen Newton

Congratulations! You are fortunate to own and have the companionship of a healthy pet. They seem active and healthy without a care in the world. You think there could be nothing wrong. Stop! Please take a moment to think about how animals are programmed by nature.

Since the beginning of time, most animals have been programmed to do whatever it takes to live with pain without making it obvious. The reason is obvious – other animals looking for food might make them their next meal if they sense they are weak or injured (easy to catch and kill). Given this, even your pampered indoor puppy might be hurting and not inclined to show it. You have to keep a close eye on your pets.

Key an eye on your pet. Normal healthy pet behavior is easy to spot, but there are different signs that can indicate a problem that you pet isn’t openly revealing. Your pet by nature is built to resist and conceal the effects of pain and discomfort, and not reveal them to you or anyone else.

Carefully observe your pet’s physical characteristics. Are they losing weight for no obvious reason? Are they chewing their food more slowly, or eating less than usual? This could indicate problems with their teeth or gums. Patches of hair missing, or an obvious dulling of their coat, could be signs of internal problems. You should know how a happy, healthy pet looks and acts. Watch carefully for deviations from this norm.

Routine dental checkups are important to treat dental disorders and related mouth pain. Most pet owners neglect their pet’s teeth, but doing so can cause your pet to experience unnecessary pain, especially as they get older.

Good health is directly influenced by your weight and eating habits. Animals as well as humans carrying excess weight have an increased chance of physical illnesses and damage. Weight gain due to lack of exercise also can be a signal of arthritis pain. Joint disease is the most common cause of pain. Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise, or play.

Losing unnecessary pounds will help your overweight pet decrease pressure of sore joints and reduce pain. Many excellent reduced fat or low calorie pet foods are made to assist with this.

Just because your normally healthy pet doesn’t express pain through their eyes or vocally doesn’t mean they are not hurting. You should watch for even small differences in their normal behavior. Having a strong awareness of your pet’s normal habits can assist your pet’s doctor in diagnosing and treating their pain. Be safe. If you notice any differences in your pet’s normal routine, call your vet and discuss or take them in for an exam as soon as possible.

Discover how to maintain and have fun with your pets. Information and help for taking care of and keeping your pet happy. Let there be no doubt – a healthy pet is one of the great pleasures of life!

categories: pet,pets,dogs,cats,hamsters,rabbits,ferrets,fish,lizards,animals,home

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