A dog will typically show symptoms of problems when it is not in ideal health. Symptoms of an issue can range anywhere from the dog scratching its skin and rubbing its head on the floor, to not eating and labored breathing. Each symptom is indicative of a potential issue going on within the dog. While the symptoms are often easy to identify, sometimes the cause is not. Therefore, it is always best to take your dog to the veterinarian, as the doctor can perform tests to diagnose what is ailing your pooch.
Things You'll Need
- Blood, urine and fecal samples
- Flea comb
Instructions
Allow your veterinarian to take blood tests on your dog. Blood is an excellent indicator of the health of your pooch and will often show abnormalities when the dog isn't feeling good. Blood tests are useful in diagnosing almost every symptom, including vomiting, poor appetite, hair loss and even bad breath. Blood tests monitor most all of your dog's vital organs, as well as check for infections.
Collect a urine sample from your dog and take it to the veterinarian if your pooch is showing symptoms of urinary distress. If your dog is urinating frequently or passes blood while doing so, it could be a urinary infection. The doctor can check for infection and also monitor certain organs by performing tests on the dog's urine.
Obtain a fecal sample from your dog if it is showing intestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, loose stool and worms in the feces. The doctor can check for certain types of bacteria and blood by looking at the sample. The vet can also test for worms, including roundworms, hookworms and whipworms in your dog. Internal parasites can cause a variety of symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea.
Check your dog for fleas and dry skin if it is scratching itself. Brush your dog using a flea comb and look for the pests between the teeth of the comb. Your dog may also have fleas if you notice black specks that look like pepper on its skin---this is flea feces. If you see spots of hair loss or inflamed skin, these could be symptoms of more severe skin problems, such as ringworm or mange. The veterinarian can perform tests on your dog to identify the causes of these symptoms.
Look inside your dog's ears for signs of infection if it scratches its ears or rubs them on the floor or furniture. An infected ear may have lots of discharge and ear tissue that is red and inflamed. Your vet can prescribe medication to alleviate the infection, based upon what is causing the issue.