How To Train Your Dog Without Touching It!

Trusting Your Instincts Regarding Your Dog’s Health

March 20th, 2011

Posted By:
Minette

Build a Relationship with Your Vet

I have been a vet tech on and off for over ten years! Living a lifestyle of watching animals healthy and sick come and go is a very educating and humbling experience. I have been blessed to work with several excellent veterinarians who were happy to teach us vet techs as interesting or sad cases came through our doors.

But, the most important thing I have learned is to trust your instincts when it comes to the health and care of your animals.

Many people feel as if something is wrong, but they don’t trust their judgment or their first assessment, they convince themselves that nothing is really wrong or that they are silly for worrying about something that seems trivial.

I had the opportunity to work at a prominent veterinary clinic in Denver, Colorado for several years and the vet that owned the clinic was and still is absolutely a phenomenal veterinarian. Her dog had vomited once, one morning so she had brought him to work with her. During a break between clients we were able to get some x-rays and they revealed cancer. Because she trusted her instincts and brought him in, she was able to treat him with chemo therapy and radiation and was able to get a little over a year with him because of treatment. If she had waited until more serious signs had appeared it might have been too late to make a difference.

I had the same type of experience with my dog we had noticed a lump that was removed and biopsied and the particular kind of lump was also associated with a lump that often also showed up on the kidneys. I had an ultrasound done to search for lump #2 and although it was not found, we did find a lump on his spleen and stones in his bladder. After a bladder surgery and a splenectomy, he received a clean bill of health and is now a healthy sprite 11 year old.

We also noticed my dog Snitch’s bone cancer at a very early stage, noticing that his wrist was just slightly swollen and taking x-rays to further diagnose. Because we caught it early, I was given more options for his treatment and I was able to enjoy the 6 months in between diagnosis and when he could no longer fight his battle with the disease. I am thankful for working with a vet that noticed and recommended immediate action.

Animals are hard wired for “survival of the fittest” and often they don’t show signs of distress and disease until it is too late. In the wild, if animals show signs of sickness or infection they are either left by their pack to die, or they are eaten or killed because a sick animal can bring danger to the pack.

Our dogs and cats are hard wired the same way, so often by the time they show definite signs of something being wrong it is too late to treat the ailment.

If you recognize that your dog isn’t drinking as much, is drinking more than usual, isn’t eating as much, has lost weight, or really anything about his behaviors, attitudes or health have changed, I recommend going to see your vet. Don’t discount it! Even if your vet runs tests and can’t find anything obvious you know you have done your best to provide your pet with preventative care. Build a good trusting relationship with your vet so that you will feel confident in times of need.

My sister returned home from a short weekend vacation just a few days ago to discover her cat’s skin and fur was yellow, she was in complete liver failure. There were very few signs leading up to the discovery except she had recently lost a little bit of weight. It is sad, because the cat was her 16 year old daughter’s best friend and confidant!

Preventative Medicine is the Key to a Long and Healthy Life!

Make a point to go over your dog at least once a month, perhaps when you trim his nails or give him a bath. Pay attention to any lumps or bumps, any stiffness or hair loss. Keep an eye on how much he eats or drinks or asks to go outside and if it changes contact your vet. If he is vomiting or having diarrhea call your vet. Don’t discount your feelings, even if you think his attitude or activity level is changing contact your vet!

You live with your pet each day only you know what’s normal and what is not. Trust yourself and subscribe to preventative medicine before waiting for a problem to arise. Believe me, it is worth it. Although my dog’s cancer could not be cured or changed, at least I had 6 months to spoil him silly and to enjoy each moment we spent together!

18 responses to “Trusting Your Instincts Regarding Your Dog’s Health”

Jana Rade writes:

It is always better to see a vet with a false alarm, than to neglect something serious.

Dogs are very good a hiding pain and they can’t tell us that something is bothering them. It is the little things that are important signs that something isn’t right.

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@ March 20th, 2011 at 20:04
Frank David writes:

over the years I have come to learn that Dogs are the bravest and weakest creatures. They can seem healthy and lively, always ‘smiling’ but sometimes that smile could be the very symptom of something serious. Protect the ones you love.

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@ March 22nd, 2011 at 23:21
danielle writes:

my mom’s boyfrend had a buttuful germinwire hair his name was quili loved him a lot but i just knew something was wrong the day before his dad was going to take him to the vet but he had to be put to sleep he had problems so i knew before that it was not going to be good

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 00:21
Eddy writes:

I do like to know if the food NUTRO is good food for our dogs .

How to prevent this habit of dog eating on the ground

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 01:25
Billie - Mary M Boyce writes:

Could not agree with this advice more than 120%, its something I have always done with my animals, be it my human mothering instincts, I found I watched and studied my dogs even more so than my own children, for an animal is dumb and depends upon us more so to survive. At least a child of two can tell you where it hurts.

I also have always belived firmly in Pet Insurance, vets bill like human medical bills can be terribly expensive, and again in the same way we look out for our own health and well being, so must we do it for our pets. It really annoys me when some people will not pay out a small monthly sum for Pet Insurance, yet spend three times that much often weekly on trival things they don’t really want or need. I honestly think there should be a law that enforces all pet owners to pay insurance.

Last but not least I really enjoy receiving your news letters and thank God there as people as caring such as yourselfs and all our vets.

Bless you all.

Billie – Devon, UK. xxx

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 02:31
Alice Workman writes:

Thanks for your advice. We moved back to MS from MT a few years ago. We had not had dogs for years, but soon caved in to keeping a few that we rescued (the rest were found good home or taken to a good shelter; -the way folks treat animals here is shameful). We made sure that our dogs had good vet care and began them on heartworm tablets as soon as we got them. We did not understand that they MIGHT already have heartworms and no one explained to us. As a result, we spent last spring fighting for the lives of 4 of our 5 dogs. 4 survived. Please do a column on heartworms. We thought since we had used one of the top brands, which isn’t cheap, that we were safe. We were wrong. If it had not been for the MS State Veterinary Hospital, we would a lost one more.
Thank you,
Alice- Charleston, MS

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 04:10
Jocelyn writes:

Thank you for that advice. I totally ignored the warning signs for my little Bishon Frise, sushi. Not intentionally but since she was always spritely and playful, I did not think anything serious about her occasional vomiting (greenish yellow) and eventually she deteriorated and eventually stopped eating. The vet said she had liver cancer! I was devastated when she eventually passed and blamed myself for not paying enough attention even though I religiously took her for her shots every year. She was 13 years. Needless to say I learned a good lesson and with your information I now understand the importance of paying closer attention. thanks again.

Jocelyn
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 04:49
Colleen James writes:

Hi!Chet:
Enjoy reading your e-mails, please keep them coming. Have a question-our dog is hard to leash walk, he pulls, barks, chases, etc. Also, never comes to the car when his walk is over, very hard to get him to do the above two things. And lastly, barks ferociously when some one is at the door, at times I feel the door would break. He is a German Shepherd-a very loving dog, would be better if we can train him re. the above.
Thanks

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 05:52
Nick-Matthews NC writes:

I have two golden retrievers. One morning I saw my Red lying on his side and the blond was licking his throat. His head seemed very hot and when I felt his throat there was a large lump. I immediately took him to my vet and they found a decaying piece of tree bark logged at the back of his mouth. After a couple of days of fluids and antibotics he returned home as fit and playful as ever. If it weren’t for the blond licking his throat I may not have noticed his trouble. I never thought about pet insurance before that happened but I do have it now.

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 06:20
Laura Tinoco writes:

I agree completely to go to the vet, no matter they find nothing wrong with your dog. It is better to have a false alarm than terrible news, once you cannot do anything for your dearest.
In Mexico there is still the idea that dogs can only go to the vet for vaccines, deworming or when they really, really look ill. Most of the times it is too late. The culture is changing, but money is still more important than the dog, and some people prefer to euthanize it instead of trying to safe it, because the treatment is expensive.
Greetings from Mexico City

[Reply]
Minette Reply:
March 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Well said Laura and welcome glad to have you here! I am glad things are changing!

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@ March 23rd, 2011 at 09:13
Saudi Sue writes:

Thank you for this interesting article. I wish we could get vet insurance in Saudi Arabia – I’ve tried every way I know & no one out here does it. Having said which Saudi’s do not like dogs! I’d be lost without my two little Toy Schnauzer’s.

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@ March 28th, 2011 at 21:22
Comfy Control Harness writes:

Making sure your dog is healthy is important but can be tough. Thank you for sharing these guidelines and tips.

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Ria Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Yes I agree, you should always be mindful of the changes that occurs on their behavior, might be that they’re feeling something, or wanted something..

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@ March 29th, 2011 at 11:35
Ria writes:

It is really important to pay attention to your dog’s everyday activities. You should be mindful of every changes they show, might be a symptom or warning of an illness.

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@ April 22nd, 2011 at 13:38
Vicki writes:

Hi Chuck, I realy enjoy your column, I have a question about my dog. She was diagnosed with a torn ligament in the bend of her rear leg. It seems to be quite painful and she is not moving around like she used to and has stopped eating like she used to. I am worried about her and wondered if you had any advise to help. She is only 2 yrs. old and was always quite active and playful. now all she does is lay around. Do you think this might improve with time. The vet said surgery probably would’nt help.

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Minette Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I would seek a second opinion by seeing an orthopedic surgeon which can be found at most veterinary schools!

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Erin Reply:
May 21st, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Seek another opinion asap! My dog tore her curciate,sp, ligament in both legs. The first one I had to wait because I was moving out of state. Once I arrived to my new home I took her to the Vets and had it checked to verify what my old Vet said. Because of the wait she lost muscle mass in that leg. The other leg I had fixed within a few days with much less muscle loss. I have never heard of a tear healing on it’s own. I hope she heals and feels back to her old self soon.

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@ May 16th, 2011 at 12:37