As mentioned in the paper, this week I will be looking at the body language of our pets, what their behaviours tell us and how they communicate.
It was a pretty rough weekend for Koljander, Vinkel and me. I usually come home to two very excited dogs, ready to jump into the car for their walk and ready for an apple before we go. Their tails wag, they bark, they show every sign of body language that just shouts excitement.
However, this past Friday I arrived home to a very excited Vinkel and a very meek Koljander. There was no woof and that already told me something very important. While he was happy to see me, I could immediately see that he was not okay. When offered his apple, he showed absolutely no interest and this is by far his favourite treat. I decided to put off walkies for half an hour to see if he has any interest in eating first. He had none. This raised real concern for me and I was on the phone with my vet immediately, who told me if a golden retriever has no interest in eating, there is great cause for concern. While on the phone, Koljander had crawled up into a little ball and I knew without a doubt I had to get him to the vet as soon as possible. My vet, who operates in the north, referred me to a reputable vet in the south, which, by the way, is very important. Always make sure you take your pet to a reputable vet.
So off we went, and graciously, I got Koljander there just in time. Had I waited, he could have become dehydrated, and had they not treated him immediately, he would have needed to be hospitalised, over even worse, may not have recovered. He was diagnosed with a severe gastrointestinal virus. We were sent home with some more medication and instructions to get him on a diet of plain chicken for the next few days. If he ate the next day, we were over the worst, but if he didn’t, we’d have to go back to the vet. Vinkel and I watched him through the night, making sure he had water to keep him from dehydrating and that he was warm and comfortable. All Koljander wanted was to sleep, snuggled up with his loved ones.
I cancelled my plans for Saturday and stayed with him and gradually, by the time Saturday afternoon came, he finally showed some interest in eating. What a relief. Pampering continued through the weekend and by Sunday afternoon I could see his appetite had returned. He wolfed down his supper with his usual gusto, drooling for his apple and his doggy biscuits.
Needless to say, I had a very big scare. And I don’t even want to think of the consequences had I ignored the signs.
While vet visits can be expensive, the consequences of not heeding the signs of a sick pet can be dire.
The truth is that our pets do not have the ability to communicate in the ways that we can. It is up to us to know our pets well enough in order to see the signs in their communication to us when they are not well and to heed those signs.
It’s always important to know your pet well and be aware of their eating habits. A dog that has lost its appetite is a sure sign of something being wrong. Similarly, make sure your pet is drinking enough water, urinating and doing their other business on a regular basis. Runny or bloody stool, as much as constipation, is a sign that something serious could be wrong. While vomiting does occur from time to time in pets, make sure they are not eating things that could be harmful to them. It’s always good to check your yard for anything that could be hurtful to them. Any different behaviour in a pet should be treated with concern. You should know your pet well enough and be the first one to pick up any signs that something may be wrong.
If you have questions about your dog’s health or is concerned that an issue may be present, contact your vet immediately. Remember, your dog can’t always tell you when something is wrong. If you see a sign that has you questioning your pet’s health, don’t hesitate to schedule a check-up.
Last week we spoke about the importance of keeping your dog vaccinated and I would like to reiterate that it is your responsibility as a pet owner to make sure that you do. Should your pet need to be hospitalised without updated vaccinations, this can cause serious complications at the vet as they immediately become a threat to the other pets at the vet.
Remember, safety first. Your pet is an integral part of your family.
That’s it for this week, from me, Vinkel and Koljander. Paw five! Woof!
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