Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Head Shaking

by Jana Rade

You might have noticed that when talking about symptoms, sometimes a qualifying word is included, such as excessive panting, excessive drinking, excessive head shaking. That is because these are normal behaviors and whether or not there is a problem is a question of degree.

Dogs will shake their heads in response to any irritation, such as pain, an itch, a tickle or a bug bite.

If your dog is shaking their head persistently, you need to pay attention and look for a cause.

On our summer walks, JD will shake his head quite often, to fend off bugs. Deer flies in particular seem to like him. I think they know they can drive him nuts. Jasmine was much less concerned about them, she was a bush dog at heart. It was me who was following her around and chasing them off. She didn’t seem to care.

The other day, on the way from the farm, JD kept shaking his head.

This was cause for concern and we were going to check his ears when we got home. He kept shaking and shaking … and then we saw an ant waltz out of his ear. There was our culprit. The shaking stopped.

When an especially mean stray tick got on Jasmine’s ear, her instinct was to shake her head. 

(Stray tick because it was one of the only two we ever found at the ranch.)

The bite was painful for Jasmine though, so every time she started to shake her head she’d cry a little, stop and hold her head down, tilted towards the affected ear.

This immediately alerted us to a problem and we found and removed the invader.

When your dog starts shaking their head like that, examine the ears, eyes, head, neck and skin carefully. Pay particularly close attention to the ears.

Some culprits are obvious and easy to deal with. Some require attention of your veterinarian.

A common cause of head shaking is otitis, inflammation of the ear canal. Grass awns, ear mites and other things might be at play but, allergies are also very common causes of ear inflammation.

An inflamed ear makes a great playground for bacteria or yeast. Infection often follows.

If there is redness, swelling, discharge or bad odor to the ears, it’s time to see your veterinarian. If pain is involved, see your veterinarian right away. If you have a reason to suspect a foxtail, also don’t delay. Those nasty little things can travel throughout your dog’s body and cause serious damage.

Some breeds are also susceptible to ear vasculitis, which is inflammation of the blood vessels in the ear flap.

This condition typically comes with thickening of the ear margins, which eventually ulcerate and crust over.

Dogs with balance issues, be it from trauma, stroke, inner ear infection or vestibular syndrome, might shake their heads in an attempt to relieve their symptoms.

Not only is excessive head shaking a symptom of a problem, it can actually be a cause for one as well.

Sometimes a dog can shake their head so much that it will cause the blood vessels in the ear flap to rupture, resulting in a hematoma.

This will look like a swelling of the ear flap. It really is a pocket of blood and it will cause your dog to shake their head even more. Ear hematomas require veterinary attention if they are to heal without permanent disfigurement.

All this refers to voluntary head shaking.

This is what we typically picture as a head shake. There are such  things as involuntary head tremors, which are another story all together.

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Further reading:
Head shaking – an ear of an issue!
Why Does My Dog . . . Shake His Head All of the Time?
My Dog is Shaking His Head

Related articles:
Symptoms: Recognition, Acknowledgement And Denial
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor 
Symptoms to Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drooling  
What Can Your Dog’s Gums And Tongue Tell You? 
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Coughing

Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting

Dogs pant. They pant when they exercise, when they are hot, they pant when they are excited. Panting is your dog’s way to cool their body. Because dogs don’t sweat like we do the only effective way they can cool themselves is by panting. All dogs do that and it is perfectly normal.

So if panting is normal, why should you worry about it?

If your dog is panting more heavily than usual, or without an obvious reason, he might be in trouble! You share your life with your dog and nobody knows him better than you do. That’s why it is so important for you to know when to start worrying. Excessive or unexplained panting can be a symptom of a serious health issue.

Obesity

Obesity is a common cause of excessive panting in dogs. An obese dog is more likely to over heat. Activity is also more exhausting for an overweight dog. Before you rejoice that you don’t have anything to worry about, please note that obesity can lead to a number of health problems including heart and cardiovascular disorders, pancreatitis, joint disease, liver disease and other conditions. Please consider obesity a serious health risk and keep your dog slim!

Hyperthermia/Heatstroke

Heatstroke is another common cause of heavy panting. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous! Heatstroke can cause catastrophic damage to your dog’s body and can lead to brain damage and even death.

If your dog is panting heavily and you have a reason to suspect heatstroke, check for other signs. If your dog’s  gums and tongue are deep red, purple or blue with thick sticky saliva, move your dog to a cool place and spray him with cool (not cold) water or place wet rags or towels over him, particularly near the stomach and inside of legs. Do not immerse your dog in cold water! If your dog’s temperature is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) take your dog to a vet immediately.

Fever

A heatstroke is hyperthermia due to environmental causes. Fever is caused by your dog’s immune response. Your dog might get a fever as a response to infection or other illness. Fever can be accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in behavior and other signs. If your dog has a fever see a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause. As with heatstroke, temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit is an emergency and needs immediate medical attention.

Respiratory or cardiovascular disorders

There are a number or respiratory and cardiovascular disorders than can cause unexplained panting in your dog. If your dog is panting for no obvious reason, or continues to pant longer than ten minutes after exercise, talk to your veterinarian.

Pain

Your dog can be panting as a response to pain. If your dog is panting and salivating excessively, retching and has a distended abdomen, he might be suffering from bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening condition, take your dog to a vet immediately!

Other causes of pain can include pancreatitis or joint pain. Have your dog checked by a veterinarian to determine underlying cause.

Hormonal imbalances

Excessive panting can be a sign of some hormonal disorders, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease. In these cases panting could be accompanied by other symptoms, such as weight gain, excessive drinking, coat changes, changes in appetite or behavioral changes.

Bottom Line

These are just some of the causes of excessive panting in dogs. If your dog is panting excessively, or without an obvious reason, take it seriously and consult your veterinarian. Excessive panting is an important symptom to keep in mind.

Jana

Panting in Dogs
Panting in Dogs – Is it Normal?
How to Determine When Dog Panting is a Bad Sign
Causes of Panting in Dogs
Excessive Panting in Dogs

Related Articles:
Know Your Dog’s Enemies: Overweight
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia
A Word on Pain
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperthyroid
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperadrenocorticism

Did I miss something? Have a question? Leave a comment.

Kennel Cough Symptoms to Watch Out For

We keep dogs for different reasons. Some keep as pets, while some keep them for protection purposes. Whatever your reason for having a pet, the health concerns of your animal are very important. Not a single individual would want to see his pet suffer from any ailment. In addition to this, pet illnesses are very costly, as medical care for dogs and other animals typically come directly out of a pet owner’s pocket book.

It is therefore important for pet owners to ensure that they are vigilant in protecting their pets from being infected. An illness like kennel cough is one that may sound horrific to pet owners, but is actually not very serious in nature. Because of this, knowing the proper treatment for kennel cough and kennel cough symptoms can save you a lot of money over the long term.

Kennel cough symptoms in dogs can be detected within three days after your pet has contracted this disease. Some of these symptoms include:

• Dry and callous cough


• Snorting and retching after exercise


• Sneezing


• Eye discharge


• Runny noses

The above symptoms usually last for a period of ten to twenty days. Fevers can be detected in some dogs especially those infected at a young age. Research indicates that the infection that causes kennel cough may also put dogs at high risk of contracting pneumonia. It is because of these reasons that dog owners are advised to ensure that their dogs are provided with extra care.

In addition, it is important to provide your dog with the right treatment to prevent them from being vulnerable to other illness.

Kennel cough symptoms in dogs should not be a source of fear among dog owners. These symptoms are never fatal if the underlying illness is infected in time.

Lack of knowledge about this disease has led to some people believing that it can lead to death. The only fear about this disease should be based on the fact that, it makes dogs vulnerable to other ailments. Kennel cough itself does not lead to death. This does not mean that it should not be taken seriously. Learning about different home remedies now can be used for preventing and curing this disease.

One reason why dog owners should not overly worried about kennel cough symptoms in their pets is because very rarely do they need medical attention.

Appropriate use of antibiotics help in minimizing these symptoms. In most cases dogs recover from kennel cough within the first three weeks. Dogs with weaker immune systems may take a little longer to heal, however.

While antibiotics can be an effective pain reliever and lessen kennel cough symptoms, dog owners are generally advised to stick to home remedies such as steam treatments. Another option would be to use Vitamin C in order to help boost those immune systems, use or using raw honey or peppermint tea. All these methods help in doing away with dry cough in dogs.

Listlessness and rapid breathing are some of the more serious kennel cough symptoms that dog owners should observe. These symptoms typically appear after an individual has failed to provide their dog proper medical care after an extended period of time. If you encounter serious symptoms like these, our best recommendation is to contact you vet as soon as possible.

For More Info Click Here

Good Luck!!!
Charlene

Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking

Dogs cannot tell us when something is bothering them, and I doubt that they would even if they could. Dogs are just not the type to go around complaining about things.

Photo by ucumari

That’s why it’s important that we watch for signs and symptoms of disease. Generally, any change in your dog’s body, behavior, actions or routine is telling you something. Some of the signs can be quite subtle and easily overlooked or dismissed. Paying attention to early symptoms can save your dog a lot of suffering and give him the best chance for a successful recovery.

Today we’ll take a look at excessive thirst/drinking.

I was talking to a friend about post-op issues her dog was having after an extracapsular repair of her ACL. During our discussion she mentioned that in the snow they noticed that her dog’s urine was clear, with no color to it at all, and she asked whether it was something to worry about.

I asked if her dog was drinking a lot. It turned out that her dog had been unusually thirsty and drinking large amounts of water since her surgery three months ago!

Excessive drinking is a symptom that should be taken seriously.

What constitutes excessive drinking?

Any change in your dog’s drinking or eating habits should be noted. Drinking more than usual without an obvious explanation—such as hot weather or exercise—should not be dismissed. Do you have to fill the water bowl more often lately? Does your dog urinate more frequently? Talk to your veterinarian.

Take it seriously. Depending on other symptoms, excessive drinking can be a sign of a number of conditions, including

• Diabetes mellitus


• Cushing’s syndrome


• Addison’s disease


• Liver or kidney disease


• A potentially life-threatening uterine infection


• and other serious conditions

When in doubt, err on the side of caution. 

Early diagnosis  can mean the difference between treatment success or failure.

Jana

Further reading: What’s the Differential Diagnosis of Polydipsia and Polyuria in Dogs and Cats?

Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Coughing

by Jana Rade

Unlike some of the signs of illness that can be subtle or creep up on you, coughing isn’t exactly an easily missed symptom.

A dog is either coughing or they’re not.

Sometimes, a dog will cough a few times and that is the end of it. Our guys might cough a couple times when drinking from a bottle and not getting the water down quite right. Inhaled irritants and food particles or even pressure from a tight collar can all cause a bout of coughing.

When there are only a few coughs, following a clear cause, I never worry about it.

Once Jasmine started coughing after a bark-off session with a new dog in the neighborhood. Her rules were clear. Come out and meet up with me when I’m walking outside, or come through the front door like everybody else. Sneaking around the yard is not proper behavior and you’ll get told. So he got told.

At first we thought she had irritated her throat with all that barking. 

But it wasn’t going away. I never liked taking chances with Jasmine and so we ended up at the vets that afternoon. It turned out that her lymph nodes were swollen and she was running a bit of a fever. The vet checked her out and said that it’s either lymphoma or infection and that we should try antibiotics first to see what happens. Uh-huh? You don’t spring words like lymphoma at people at random! And other than the coughing there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with her?!

However, trying the antibiotics first made sense to us and so we did that. Fortunately, the cough cleared right up and all was good.

When your dog coughs persistently, don’t take chances, see a vet. 

Coughing accompanied by labored breathing, lethargy or bloody sputum is a potential emergency and should be treated immediately.

So what could cause your dog to cough? 

Coughing is a reflex caused by an irritation in the airways. There is actually quite a long list of possible reasons why your dog might be coughing

• Respiratory infections (bacterial, viral or fungal)


• Inflammatory or immune conditions (e.g., chronic bronchitis or allergies)


• Parasites


• Heart disease


• Tracheal collapse


• Foreign bodies (e.g., inhaled grass seed or chunks of food)


• Cancer


• Fluid accumulation in or around the lungs including blood, pus, or chyle (a fatty fluid)

Kennel cough is a well known and common cause of coughing.

Kennel cough is caused by viral and/or bacterial infections (sometimes in combination). This results in a deep, dry, hacking cough that sometimes ends with a gagging sound. Kennel cough often gets worse with exercise or excitement.

In contrast, a high, weak gagging cough suggests tonsillitis and sore throat. 

If your dog is coughing from tonsillitis, they may also swallow a lot and lick their lips.

Canine distemper starts with runny nose and eyes, fever, lack of appetite, and, you guessed it, coughing  But is seen almost exclusively in young dogs that are not up to date on their vaccines.

Chronic bronchitis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the bronchi or smaller airways. 

To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a dog has to have been coughing for two months or longer and other possible causes of coughing need to be ruled out. The typical cough is harsh and dry, followed by retching and gagging. If left unchecked, it can lead to irreversible damage of the airways.

Pneumonia is a serious illness that requires immediate medical attention. 

It can be caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection. Your dog can get pneumonia as a complication of chronic bronchitis, collapsing trachea or foreign bodies. Aspiration pneumonia results from inhalation of foreign matter, particularly gastric contents. With pneumonia, cough is accompanied by fever, depression and rapid breathing. The cough is often moist and bubbling.

Parasites, like heartworms, lungworms, and the larvae of some intestinal parasites, can also cause coughing.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) causes fluid to accumulate in (pulmonary congestion) or around (pleural effusion) the lungs.

Result, quite obviously, is a cough. An enlarged heart can also lead to coughing. Your dog can cough for prolonged periods of time, particularly at night while he’s resting. 

There are other conditions that can cause pleural effusion, such as liver disease, kidney failure, pancreatitis, lung tumors, and it can be a complication of bacterial pneumonia. Coughing is accompanied by rapid, labored breathing and your dog’s mucus membranes may appear blue.

Collapsing trachea is a condition during which the wall of the trachea (windpipe) narrows as your dog inhales.

It is quite obvious why that would make your dog cough. The principal symptom of collapsing trachea is a characteristic goose-honk cough.

As much as we hate to think about it, cancer can also cause coughing, particularly in middle aged to older dogs. Tumors may originate in the lungs (primary lung cancer) or spread (metastasize) from other parts of the body. Lymph nodes in the chest may enlarge with lymphoma and press on a dog’s airways causing coughing.

As you can see, a cough should by no means be underestimated. 

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Related articles:
Symptoms: Recognition, Acknowledgement And Denial
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor 
Symptoms to Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drooling  
What Can Your Dog’s Gums And Tongue Tell You? 
The Kennel Cough Cock Up: Kupo’s Story
Kolchak And Kennel Cough
Stress And Crowded Places Might Mean Kennel Cough

Further reading:
Coughing in Dogs: Causes and Treatments
11 Reasons Your Dog Is Coughing