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10 Ways To Tell If Your Dog Is in Pain

Whenever our dogs are ill or in pain, it completely turns our World upside down!

Also, the fact that dogs often hide the pain or take some time to manifest serious illness makes it even worse because it takes some time for us to notice it.

There can be a number of reasons why dogs are in pain, some without much consequence but others that are much more serious, with deadly consequences.

Why Dogs Often Hide Their Pain

This is basically a survival instinct.

In the wild, showing pain means weakness and exposing themselves to be preyed upon by predators or other dogs.

Dogs that come from a domesticated lineage will be more than happy to let you know they’re in pain whereas dogs with ancestors that lived in the wild tend to hide it.

Then, you have dogs that are just too rambunctious to even notice they’re in pain or letting that stop them, making it harder to notice.

Some dogs will get bruised, hurt, sick and only let it show when it’s really hurting them. So you really need to pay attention.

Why It’s Important To Detect Your Dog Is In Pain

The obvious answer would be: to make it stop.

However, it can be more complicated than that because, like humans, dogs experiencing pain can mean life threatening conditions.

And those conditions will only get worse during the time it will take you to notice that your dog is experiencing pain.

Often for serious illnesses, this means you’ll only notice your dog is in pain when it’s too late to do something about it.

10 Signs of Pain in Dogs

Well, let’s get to it. Here you’ll find 10 ways you can tell your dog is experiencing pain, or at least, discomfort.

This will make it easier to identify an issue before it gets out of hand.

1 – Anti-social Or Aggressive Behavior

We all know our dogs and their personalities, so it’s pretty easy to tell if they’re acting differently.

When it’s full on aggressive behavior on a usually calm dog, it’s a clear sign something is going on.

Dogs will also hide and avoid contact with others when they’re in pain.

2 – Changes in Eating, Drinking and Sleeping Habits

This is a dead giveaway.

If your dog is sleeping much more than usual, not showing much appetite or thirst, you need to find out what’s going on.

On the other hand, if your dog is drinking water more often than usual (easy to tell by the state of his water bowl) it may be worth having a look at because it can mean illness like diabetes.

3 – Being More Vocal

Dogs in pain will yelp, growl, snarl and howl more than usual.

Even the ones that hide their pain will eventually begin to vocalize it, when it becomes too much.

It particularly easy to tell if he does it when you touch a certain part of his body or when he gets into a specific position.

4 – Excessive Grooming

If you notice your dog is constantly licking his paws, odds are he’s trying to soothe himself.

Also, dogs will lick their wounds and even sometimes bite them.

They lick the spots that hurt because they’re trying to clean it and make the pain go away.

5 – Heavy Panting or Altered Breathing

If your dog hasn’t exercised and is panting or showing altered breathing, he’s probably in pain.

Shallow breathing can also mean they’re feeling pain and can’t take deeper breaths.

6 – Mobility Issues

Limping, weakness and stiffness are the more obvious signs.

If your dog is refusing to run, go up the stairs or even get up, something is wrong.

One of the most common pain for dogs, particularly when they reach a certain age, is hip and joint pain.

Hip and joint pain can seriously restrict your dog’s mobility and there isn’t much you can do about it outside medication.

If you hate the thought of having to give your dog chemicals for the rest of his life, know that there is an alternative.

After much research we found a natural hip and joint pain relief supplement our dogs react very well too.

The relief is almost immediate and they seem to like the flavor, what more can we ask?

7 – Agitation

You can tell your dog is in pain if he’s looking unusually agitated.

He can be pacing back and forth, trying to lie down only to get back up, constantly changing positions in the bed or not sleeping at all.

8 – Changes in Their Bodies And Posture

Changes in his body are clear warning signs. Like swelling, bumps or anything different in his body than what it used to be.

Posture-wise, you’ll notice he’s more rigid or humping.

Another tell-tale sign is when they’re spending an abnormal amount of time on the prayer position (front legs on the ground and bottom in the air).

This allows them to stretch and relieve abdominal pain.

9 – Shaking or Trembling

Shaking or trembling can mean much more than cold or old age.

If your dog is shaking or trembling or doing it in specific positions, it means he’s in pain.

Muscle tremors more specifically can be a sign of poisoning, for example.

10 – Changes in His Eyes

Your dog’s eyes can tell you he’s in pain.

He’ll squint more often, you can notice redness or cloudiness.

Dilated pupils or discharge are also big signs something is wrong with your dog.

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3 Ways Your Cat Asks For Help

Your cat wants to tell you a lot of things, and as an owner, you need to understand and respond to his needs. Today, we decipher what their behaviours mean, and you can follow your cat better. We will give you an in-depth analysis of 3 ways your cat asks for help.

Pay attention to the cat’s body language – How your cat asks for help

Watch your feline’s tail. Like mutts, felines speak with the situating and development of their tails. Knowing the sign of tail position related to vocalizations can enable you to comprehend the necessities and needs of your feline. Some basic tail positions include:

  • Tail jerking: Your feline is energized or on edge.
  • Hide on tail standing up or thick: Your feline is energized, perky, or feels undermined.
  • The tail hide sticks straight up while the tail twists in the state of a N: This is an indication of extraordinary animosity and might be available during battling or self-protection.
  • When the Tail hide sticks straight up yet the tail is held low: Your feline feels forceful or startled.
  • Tail held low and tucked under the back: Your feline feels scared.

Take a gander at your feline’s eyes

Eyes are the windows to the soul, and it applies to cats as well. This is a must when learning ways your cat asks for help. Looking into your feline’s eyes can enable you to bond with him/her and read his emotions. Know, in any case, that direct gazing without flickering might be translated as a place of hostility that makes your feline awkward.

  • If your feline’s understudies are enlarged, he/she is feeling either energetic or energized or very frightful or forceful. You need to utilize other conduct prompts to figure out which it is.
  • A feline gradually squinting his/her eyes might demonstrate love, showing the feline is OK with whoever may associate with him/her.

Notice other non-verbal communication

Since felines are progressively “familiar” than people in non-verbal communication, specific signals will go with vocalizations to strengthen their message.

  • A feline may lay his/her ears back if he/she feels dread, tension, or fun-loving nature. This may likewise be seen when carefully sniffing something he/she needs to find out about.
  • A feline who flicks his/her tongue out somewhat and licks his/her lower lip is demonstrating that he/she is stressed or uncertain.

Listen to your cat

Listening is the most significant help in knowing how your cat asks for help. You need to pay attention to:

  • See how and why felines impart. Vocalizing is by and large not your feline’s favoured method of correspondence. A feline’s “first language” comprises of a mind-boggling arrangement of aroma, outward appearance, complex non-verbal communication, and contact. Felines before long understand that we don’t comprehend the non-verbal sign they send to one another, so they vocalize trying to impart in our language. By seeing which sounds inspire which activities from us, a feline is continually figuring out how to make demands or requests.
  • Watch whimpering conditions. On the off chance that you watch what your feline is doing when the person whimpers, you might have the option to recognize which yowls are related to which demands (or dissents). While explicit yowls can differ from feline to feline, there are particular kinds of whimpers that are generally connected with precise feline feelings, for example, murmuring or murmuring.
  • Recognize regular non-howling feline correspondence. While whimpering is the sound that we regularly partner with feline vocalization, felines make other basic sounds too.
  • Notice other specific vocalizations. While different sorts of vocalizations might be rarer than whimpering, murmuring, understanding them can enable you to decipher your feline’s interchanges more completely.

Talkback to your pet

This is the last and also the hardest in three ways your cat asks for help that you can learn in this article. You and the cat have different voice box and language, so to talk to him, you need a guide. Talk to your cat also helps to ignite your cat’s responses and communication.

Sass your feline

Felines are continually figuring out how to speak with us. The more that you talk with your feline, the quicker the person in question will learn.

  • Utilize a somewhat raised manner of speaking to show benevolence, and spoke with a softer tone to demonstrate disappointment or hostility.
  • Utilizing reiteration will enable your feline to figure out how to foresee predictable exercises. You might need to rehash a word, for example, rest or bed each time you head to sleep. In the long run, your feline will start to relate the redundant word sound with your activities and may even get to the room before you.

Utilize nonverbal correspondence signals

Felines can be prepared to get words, yet they will instinctually comprehend nonverbal cues. Making a warm domain with precise desires, and few amazements can help fortify your underlying bond with another feline.

  • On the off chance that you flicker gradually when looking at your feline, she will typically react by approaching be stroked. This action is a very non-undermining motion.
  • Make an effort not to gaze legitimately into a feline’s eyes. It reveals to the cat that you’re antagonistic or forceful.
  • This is the way to act if your feline needs to head off to someplace, for example, by you on the love seat, yet he appears to be uncertain. You need to pat the space and utilizes a delicate, consoling voice to welcome him to go along with you.
  • Be reliable in your aim and articulation. A typical botch many pet proprietors make is to state “no” however pet the feline simultaneously. This is exceptionally befuddling to the feline. So for instance, if you need your feline to leave, a firm “later” and a delicate push, without indicating friendship, will tell the feline that her essence isn’t wanted as of now. Most felines will attempt a few times to attack an individual’s space, frequently from various headings. When saying “Later,” be quiet.
  • Never shout at or physically discipline a feline. This startles and incenses the feline, and is counterproductive. Instead, to indicate dismay, you can add a hard edge to your voice. The feline will get on that and sense despondency.

Convey directions to your feline

Being steady with the wording, tone, and other going with a sign while giving your feline preparing directions will help both of you concur on and see precise desires.

  • Build up an instructing tone to use with your feline when the person in question is accomplishing something that you consider not to be right. Utilize a voice that works out efficiently for you and can be reproduced effectively. However, that is additionally unmistakable from your regular talking voice. On the off chance that you utilize this voice sparingly yet truly, your feline will figure out how to connect the sound with the possibility that she is disappointing you.
  • Make a fast and sharp murmur or spit sound like a “no” order. This is like the sound made as a revision or cautioning in “feline language” and utilizing it can convey your plan all the more unmistakably to your feline.
  • With tolerance, felines can be prepared to react to directions, many equivalents to for pooches. You can even show your feline to shake your hand.

In Conclusion

This post lays out for you three ways to understand the cat asks for help. It takes time and effort to master these, but there is nothing short an owner would do for the pet. I hope your friend is always healthy and lovely.

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Why Cats Bite Cat Behavior

Have you ever been sitting beside your cat petting her and suddenly she bit you?  You may think your cat didn’t give you warning before biting, but it’s possible she gave you warning signs you didn’t understand.  There are several reasons why cats bite, here are some of them

To Stop You From Petting Her  

Overstimulation

Although cats often enjoy being petted, if it’s done for too long and overstimulates them or if the area is sensitive due to arthritis, they will give warning signals, and if not heeded biting may be the end result.  Cats are very sensitive to touch, and so it doesn’t take too long for them to become overstimulated.

Certain Areas May Be Painful To Touch, or Just Doesn’t Feel Good

Sometimes, there are certain areas of the body a cat doesn’t like to have petted.  For example, a cat may be fine being petted on the head, but not enjoy being petted on her back.  Think of it like this, if you are ticklish in a certain spot on your body, and someone touches the spot, it doesn’t feel good and you will ask the person to stop.  If that person continues, don’t you usually take measures to end the tickling?  The same concept applies for cats.

A cat will give warning signs that she’s not enjoying the touch.  Usually it will be sharp flicks of the tail or ears going back.  Watch for these signs, and if you see them, stop petting the cat for a few minutes to give her a chance to relax.

Thinking Hands Are For Playing

Often, cat guardians will use their hands or fingers to play with their cat.  If this becomes a habit, the cat will come to equate hands and/or fingers will toys and bite them as they would a toy.  Rather than use your hands as playthings, redirect your cat to interactive toys so they learn what is appropriate for play.  Wand toys are recommended rather than any type of toy you might hold in your hand.  Cats get pretty excited when playing, and if you’re holding a toy and she accidentally bites your hand when trying to grab the toy, she may not understand that biting your hand was wrong.  Using the wand toy takes that confusion factor out of the picture.

Lack of Mental Stimulation

Does your cat chase and bite your feet when you’re walking?  This may be due to a lack of stimulation.  Cats are hunters at heart that like to stalk their prey.  If they don’t have appropriate outlets for that hunting instinct, they may find it by stalking your feet.  Think about it, your feet are a moving target and your toes are just the right size for a cat to think of as prey.  If your cat exhibits this behavior, try scheduling play sessions using a wand toy.  Look for a toy that resembles a small bird in size to maximize the enjoyment of the hunt for your cat.

If you’re in the midst of a play session and your cat bites you, stop play. Ignore her for a few minutes rather than reprimand her.  This will show her that biting is not good and will end play time.  If she bites you to try to renew playtime, say “no bite” and ignore her.  When she seems to be calm, reconvene the play session.  If she bites again, stop play and ignore her for a few minutes.  It won’t take her long to figure out if she bites, play will stop.  No self-respecting kitty wants play to stop!

There are many reasons why cats bite. These are some of the most frequent, but may not be all inclusive. If you watch your cat’s body language, it’s often possible to nip the bite in the bud.

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5 Things Your Senior Dog Will Thank You For Doing

Gray hair, creaky bones and lots of midday naps…aging happens to the best of us and our dogs are no exception. During this time, many of his basic needs, from diet to exercise, will begin to change. Dogs are very good at hiding their health problems so it’s our responsibility to keep an eye on our senior dogs to ensure that we’re adjusting his routine to match changes in his body and immune system. Routine exams, preventive medicine and adjustments to your dog’s lifestyle can help your pooch stay healthy even as the years creep up. These tips will help you understand what it takes to keep your senior dog happy and healthy for years to come

#5. Keep Active

Just because your dog is old in body doesn’t mean they are in mind! Your senior dog will still want to spend time with you. You might not go on backpacking trips or play frisbee as long as you used to, but keep tossing your pup’s favorite toy and going on walks as long as your dog can do so without pain. Being active will also help keep your dog’s body and mind functioning well. The more active they are, the healthier they’ll be.

#4. Increased Veterinary Care

As your dog ages, you’re likely going to be visiting your veterinarian more often. This is because so many ailments come with age. Joint pain and mobility issues, weakened immune systems and other age-related illnesses often set in during your dog’s senior years. You’ll also want to switch to regular check-ups more often if your veterinarian recommends it, as certain ailments such as cancers and organ diseases should be detected as early as possible.

#3. Weight Control

In the same way, your dog will need different nutrients in their senior years, they’re going to need different amounts of calories as well. Weight change is very common in senior dogs. They are either getting too many nutrients and calories and become overweight or are struggling to maintain a healthy weight because their muscles are weakening and they are becoming thinner. Work with your veterinarian to make sure your dog maintains the appropriate weight.

#2. More Beds

Senior dogs generally spend more time sleeping than their younger selves, so giving them some extra beds and blankets to lie on will be much appreciated. The softer the better, because as our dogs age, their bodies become stiffer with arthritis and hard surfaces will be painful to lie on.

#1. Diet Change

Just like people, a dog’s nutritional needs will change over time. Older dogs need different amounts of certain nutrients than young dogs and puppies, and they need less of others. Work with your veterinarian to decide which diet is best for your senior dog. You might not need to change your dog’s food, but you’ll likely change the amount and any supplements you’re giving them. At this age, proper dental health is vital, as your senior may already be suffering silently from periodontal disease.

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11 Signs You Should Take Your Pup To The Vet

Being a dog owner is an amazing and rewarding experience — but like many wonderful things, it comes with great responsibility.

You probably already know that a young pup should have an annual vet visit and dogs older than 8 to 10 years should have two visits each year. But an occasional extra visit might be worthwhile in certain cases.

If you identify the following symptoms in dog’s behavior, don’t panic — although a vet visit is a wise precaution, many of these ailments are entirely, and often easily, treatable.

I spoke with Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of the Animal Medical Center of NY about what dog owners should keep their eyes open for when they’re considering calling the vet.

Weight Loss or Gain

Both weight loss and weight gain could signify a problem. However, pet owners tend to not be the most astute observers of fluctuations in their pet’s weight. Hohenhaus encourages walking by the vet’s office and asking to use the scale every so often, a request she says they will happily oblige.

“Weight loss is more commonly a sign of disease in dogs than weight gain,” Hohenhaus says. “Weight gain is a little more unusual.” It can stem from retaining fluid, an under-active thyroid, a distended abdomen, or an adrenal gland disease.

Drop in Activity

A decrease in your dog’s activity could mean the dog is anemic, has joint pain, heart problems, arthritis, or just feels weak and low-energy. “Almost any disease has decreased activity associated with it — it’s a general finding, but an important one,” Hohenhaus says.

Scratching, Licking, or Chewing

Any of these three symptoms means your pet is itchy for some reason — and it’s by no means uncommon. According to Hohenhaus, allergies are the number one reason for vet visits, as reported by pet insurance companies. There is allergy medicine for dogs, and they also are sometimes prescribed allergy medicines made for humans. There are even allergy shots available.

Bad Smell

Any unusual odor your otherwise clean dog is emitting is something to examine further. If you notice a smell, Hohenhaus recommends immediately taking a look at the dog’s ears, skin, anal glands, mouth, and teeth. Still, it’s worth having a professional take a look to pinpoint where it is coming from and if it might be an infection.