When Your Pet Is Sick
When sick, we all just want to feel safe and cared for.
Like every human family member, our pets express sickness and vulnerability differently, depending on their individual personalities. It is our job, as your pet's care team, to approach them individually and provide them with care that suits their personality. We're not interested in forcing them to do what we want from them. We are visiting THEIR home. They are safe. We don't want to change that trust. We want to be a net positive in their lives. As such, sometimes things take a little more time than we, or you, may expect. That's ok. Our goal is always to provide the best care and sometimes the best is worth the wait.
Skin and/ or Ear Issues
Skin and ear problems are some of the most common reasons we see pets in the Sacramento area. Sacramento's pollen allergens are some of the worst in the country (being an agricultural area powerhouse), affecting humans and animals alike. In our dogs, we often see itchy skin which can look like lots of foot licking/chewing and head shaking/ear discomfort.
An ear infection is a serious condition; if it goes untreated it could lead to hearing loss.
General skin issues are usually easier to see and often require careful management to control the discomfort and inflammation.
Vomiting/ Diarrhea, etc.
General GI issues include vomiting, diarrhea or softer than normal stools, constipation, and/or regurgitation.
Illnesses that cause vomiting and diarrhea are numerous and are sometimes difficult to determine. Sometimes, upon investigation, the stomach/intestines aren't even the main problem.
Any time a pet has multiple episodes of vomiting, diarrhea or any other abnormality that involves the beginning or end of the "food hole" - you should make an appointment to determine what might be causing it and how to help them.
Limping or Pain
Any limp is an indication of pain. Even if your pet doesn't show any other outward signs of pain, the limp is your cue. Ancestors of dogs and cats were hardwired to hide their illnesses, so they didn't become some bigger predator's lunch, and it's something that has stuck around.
Obvious pain - yelping/crying - signals a bigger problem that likely needs emergency care right away.
Coughing and/or Sneezing
Any cough or sneeze that happens regularly can be a problem. All animals have occasional sneezes that are "normal" (see pollen allergens above), but if your pet is doing it regularly, especially if there is colored or thick discharge, there could be a bigger issue. Coughing can happen occasionally in dogs and not be a concern, but cats are not normal coughers. Any cat that is coughing needs to be evaluated. If your dog is coughing regularly, or it's a new sudden issue, they should get seen too!
Unexplainable Weight Loss/ Gain
A large proportion of our dog and cat population is overweight. Sharing food is a powerful love language. However, if you aren't actively working to have your pet lose weight, but the weight is going anyway - please have them seen so we can determine if something serious is going on like dental disease (or a broken or loose tooth), kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.
Similarly, unexplained weight gain can indicate a metabolic issue, heart failure, or an abdominal mass which is creating the appearance of a fuller abdomen. Sometimes it's just too many snacks, but we don't want to miss the scary things.