How do I know when my pet is sick?

Your pet may not verbally tell you when they feel sick or painful, but changes in routine can mean illness.  Be vigilant about noticing subtle behavior changes, as they can be significant.  If your dog is eating less but gaining weight, or your cat is ravenous but losing weight, a thyroid disease may be the cause.  If your pet is drinking and urinating more, endocrine diseases like diabetes or Cushing’s could be the culprit, or it could be kidney dysfunction.  Out of box urination amongst cats is often their way of communicating a problem; crystals, stones or infection in the bladder are often to blame.  Don’t make the assumption that lack of spunk or lethargy is due to laziness or age - our companions often slow down due to an underlying medical condition.  At Upper Arlington and Northstar Animal Care, we will discuss your pet’s history and symptoms thoroughly.   Your pet’s history, along with a complete physical examination, will allow us to provide the best diagnostic and treatment options for your pet.

Upper Arlington Veterinary Hospital is located at 2447 North Star Rd. and can be reached by calling 481.8014.  Northstar Animal Care is located at 1600 W. 5^th Ave. and can be contacted at 488.4121.  At both facilities, we can run Thyroid levels, Comprehensive Chemistry panels, and Urinalyses in-house.  Several “snap” test are also available that will determine in 10 minutes if your pet has Heartworm disease, Pancreatitis, Feline Leukemia/FIV, Parvovirus or Giardia.  Radiographs, ECG and blood pressure can also be performed at either clinic.  If you have observed changes in your pet’s behavior that concern you, contact us for an examination today.

PS Coughing may be a sign of heart disease.  Excessive panting in dogs may indicate pain.

P.S. Go to www.natvetlab.com for complete and emerging information about Bartonella. This is home to the National Veterinary Laboratory, which Northstar uses for all Bartonella testing.