Petting A Dog by Chendongshan | www.shutterstock.com
Petting A Dog by Chendongshan | www.shutterstock.com

There are various medical problems that impersonate behavioural changes in dogs and it becomes tough for pet parents to figure it out. The majority of the time when pets are taken to a vet for a check-up, they act as normal as they can, so it becomes vital for the owners to observe their pets closely.

This is when platforms like Practo come to the rescue for all the medical help one may need for their furry friends from the comfort of their homes. In a bid to create equitable healthcare access for all, Practo also launched a veterinary telemedicine service on their platform. They have teamed with licensed veterinarians across the country and will be offering 24*7 online consultation services for pets!

And so, we got in touch with Dr Prachi Kshatriya, a veterinarian who also consults on Practo to understand more about the typical behavioural changes in pets that require prompt actions and here’s what she had to say:

1. Aggression/Calmness/Panic/Fear

Panicked Dog By dezy | www.shutterstock.com
Panicked Dog By dezy | www.shutterstock.com

All of a sudden, if your pet becomes aggressive, sits alone in one corner of the room or avoids communicating with you then he needs to be shown to an expert as it could be a result of a tragic encounter with an aggressive dog or it could be due to an intolerable pain!

2. Vocalisation

Changes in howling or barking patterns can be as simple as sore throat or can be as serious as rabies infection, laryngitis, etc. Pay attention to it and consult your vet when you notice a change in their vocalisation.

3. Social Behaviour

Usually, dogs are part and parcel of a family and they prove the same by their love and affection. But when they start behaving unusually and require space, now that calls for attention! There could be something bothering them that they’re not able to communicate to you.

4. Feeding & Excreting Disturbances

Dog Eating Food By ThamKC | www.shutterstock.com
Dog Eating Food By ThamKC | www.shutterstock.com

If your pet has improper eating patterns and you notice changes in stool or urine like its recurrence, colour and excreting in unusual locations or the like, it can be systemic failures like gastric problems, anal gland problems, urinary tract infections, stones in the urinary passage or any cancerous state.

5. Gait Changes

These are very crucial to make out if not detected attentively! If there is any sort of limping or inefficiency to put weight on legs then it could be an accidental trauma, general weakness, parasitic infection or arthritis which could be alarming.

6. Water Uptake

Any increased or decreased water intake can be seasonal. But it can also be due to hormonal problems, which definitely needs to be examined!

7. Excessive Grooming/Licking/Scratching

Dog Scratching By mylisa | www.shutterstock.com
Dog Scratching By mylisa | www.shutterstock.com

This change could be a result of parasitism, anal gland disorders, allergies, skin infection which can be severe. Instead of just saying a stern ‘no’ to stop them from excessive scratching, grooming or licking, take them to a vet and get them examined.

8. Sleeping Patterns

Many times, your dog may experience disturbed sleeping patterns which might be because of systemic pain, hormonal problems, allergies or any sort of irritation, etc.

We hope these signs help you notice the need for a vet check-up for your pupper, now that you know the reason behind them! For more such content, don’t forget to follow @missmalinilifestyle!