Spotting Pain & Illness

The best early-warning system is knowing what’s normal for your dog. How much do they usually eat and drink? How often do they wee and poo, and what does it look like? How much energy do they have, and how do they sleep? Changes in any of these are clues. Watch for eating less or more, drinking noticeably more, weeing more often or having accidents, diarrhoea, vomiting, or sleeping much more than usual. One small change may be nothing. Changes that last, or that come together, are worth a call to your vet.

Dogs often hide pain, and many never yelp or cry. Instead, look for changes. They may be slower on walks, stiff after resting, or reluctant to jump into the car, climb stairs or play. They may lick or chew one spot, stand hunched, or shift about and struggle to settle. Pain shows in the face too: a tense or worried expression, ears held back, squinting or dull eyes. Mood can change. A dog who becomes grumpy when touched, growls when picked up or avoids being stroked may be sore. A sudden behaviour change should always start with a vet check.

Weight changes creep up slowly, so check regularly. Weigh your dog about once a month and record it in the app’s weight log. Then check body condition with your hands and eyes. In a healthy-weight dog you can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard. From above there’s a visible waist behind the ribs, and from the side the belly tucks up. Extra weight strains joints, the heart and breathing. Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of illness. Your vet or vet nurse can show you how to body condition score your dog.

Slowing down isn’t “just old age”. Stiffness, struggling on stairs, sleeping more or being less keen on walks are often signs of arthritis, which can usually be helped with pain relief, weight control and adjusted exercise. Older dogs are also more likely to have dental disease, lumps, changes in thirst, hearing or sight loss, and confusion such as waking at night or getting stuck in corners. Many vets suggest check-ups every six months for older dogs. Non-slip rugs, a supportive bed, shorter and more frequent walks, and ramps all make life easier. Get new lumps checked.

A simple record helps you and your vet spot patterns. Use the app’s health log to note what you saw and when, with photos or short videos, and keep weights in the weight log. Then decide how urgent it is. Call your vet the same day for vomiting or diarrhoea that keeps happening, not eating for a day, limping that isn’t easing, a sore or cloudy eye, straining, or new signs of pain. Go to a vet straight away for collapse, breathing difficulty, a swollen belly with retching, suspected poisoning, heatstroke or major bleeding. If you’re unsure, phone and ask.