1. Pacing and restlessness. In dogs, pacing and restlessness can indicate pain, discomfort or distress. Restlessness can be associated with a life-threatening condition call “bloat” in which the stomach becomes distended and twisted. Left untreated, it results in death. Pacing and restless can be an indicator of a serious problem, so be on the lookout.
2. Unproductive retching. Another common sign of “bloat” is when a dog attempts to vomit but is unable to bring anything up. If your dog does this you should call your veterinarian immediately.
3. Collapse or fainting. Acute collapse is a sudden loss of strength that causes your dog to fall and be unable to rise. Some dogs will actually lose consciousness (this is called fainting or syncope). Some dogs recover very quickly and look essentially normal just seconds to minutes after collapsing, whereas others stay in the collapsed state until they get assistance. There are many reasons that a dog may collapse or faint, and all are serious. If this happens to your dog, see your veterinarian immediately
4. Pale gums . Paleness in the gums or mucous membranes can indicate blood loss or “shock”. The possible causes for blood loss or shock are life threatening so you need to act quickly. Have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian immediately.
5. Lethargy or weakness . Lethargy is a state of drowsiness, inactivity or indifference in which the dog shows delayed responses to external stimuli like sound, sight or touch. Lethargy is a nonspecific sign that can be associated with many possible conditions. Sometimes it will have little to no impact on the dog’s health but sometimes it can be a sign of a severe or life-threatening illness. There’s no way to know without an exam. Lethargy of more than a day’s duration should not be ignored, especially if it persists.
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