Many people love to keep an animal as a pet for company. They are loveable and amazing to spend time but it is very important to take care of them. They need your time and attention so that they feel healthy, happy, and safe around you. They require nutritious food, clean, fresh water, and a comfortable place to sleep. Most pets must also be exercised on a regular basis to stay fit. It is critical to learn everything there is to know about an animal before deciding whether it will fit in with you or your family. Cats and dogs are the most popular pets.

These Sign Could Indicate a Serious Medical Condition in your pet

You`ve probably heard that pets can`t tell us when something is wrong. As a pet owner, trust your instincts: if you notice something different with your dog or cat, pay close attention, it could be a sign of a serious medical condition.

Here are five warning signs that you should never ignore in your pet.

Excessive Panting

Pets pant naturally, especially after chasing toys, running around the house, or spending time outside on a warm day.

Heavy panting, on the other hand, is not normal. What`s the distinction? Heavy panting is typically associated with deeper, labored breathing and may last longer than normal panting associated with excitement, play, or cooling down.

Heatstroke, poisoning, heart failure, Cushing`s disease, pneumonia, or lung tumors can all cause excessive panting in your dog or cat.

Weeping

Those of you who own boxers, bloodhounds, mastiffs, or Saint Bernard`s are familiar with drool. Excessive drooling, on the other hand, could indicate that something is wrong with your dog or cat.

Sudden, excessive drooling may indicate heatstroke, dental problems such as periodontitis or a tooth abscess, or that your pet has chomped on something that has irritated or burned the mouth, eaten a toxic plant, or is suffering from a neurological problem.

Excessive Water Consumption

You`ve probably seen your pet slurp away at water, perhaps even lie down and straddle the water bowl after playtime, especially if it`s a hot day outside.

It is not normal to see your pet return to the water bowl repeatedly over time. Drinking excessive amounts of water can be a sign of kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, Cushing`s disease, pyometra in unsprayed female dogs, or, less commonly, psychogenic polydipsia when it is related to a behavioral problem that is not caused by illness. 

Some medications may increase water consumption, and excessive panting can also lead to excessive drinking.

Behavioral Modification

Have you noticed your dog or cat acting strangely lately? A change in your pet`s behavior, such as unprovoked aggression, moodiness, erratic temperament, hyperactivity, fearfulness, anxiety, submissiveness, sudden onset of seizures, or inactivity — no longer playing with toys, preferring to be alone in another room, not being able to get comfortable lying down, or even a lack of appetite — can be a strong indicator that something is wrong.

Pain and discomfort are the most common reasons for a change in your pet`s behavior. Thyroid dysfunction in dogs, hyperthyroidism in cats, and other medical conditions such as pancreatitis, cancer, arthritis, parasites, skin allergies, heart disease, or injury can all cause behavioral changes.

Odor change

Don`t dismiss your pet`s stinky breath as normal when it comes to aging. Remember that healthy pets do not stink. If your pet`s smell has changed — bad breath, stinky ears and skin, noxious smelling gas, there could be a problem.

Bad breath can be a sign of a dental problem, oral melanoma, diabetes, or kidney failure. Musky smelling ears are usually the result of an ear infection.

Allergies, seborrhea, or bacterial or yeast infections can all cause stinky skin, which may be accompanied by itchy, flaking skin or skin lesions.

While you may be used to your pet emitting foul smelling gas on a regular basis, a change in the intensity of the odor could indicate gastrointestinal disease.

You should take your pets to a local, trusted veterinarian for wellness checkups at least once a year to ensure that they are healthy and agile. It is critical to keep up with your pet`s vaccinations. Clean teeth and healthy gums are also essential for your pet`s health. If your pet exhibits signs or symptoms of illness, take them to your veterinarian or animal hospital right away to get them feeling better sooner rather than later.

Another thing you can do to keep your pets healthy and happy is to groom them on a regular basis (if needed). Matted fur can be painful and harmful to dogs. Baths, brushings, nail trimmings, and flea/tick removal may be unpleasant for dogs and cats, but they may be necessary.