Do you know the eight common signs of illness for your animal friends? Things can go wrong in big or subtle ways, so be sure you are paying attention. The most distressing consultations are the ones where I am called in as the Hail Mary, the desperate plea of last resort, to help people or their animals who are suffering a health “emergency.” In almost every case, there were signs for weeks or months before things became acute. Our animal friends show signs in every way they can, but are often ignored, mistreated, misdiagnosed or misunderstood – they got “missed”, often until it’s too late. Animal communication can help discover problems brewing long before things get really bad, giving us time to address them. Among other things, I have pinpointed spinal misalignments, diet problems, allergies, brain dysfunction, broken bones, vaccination reactions, vision loss and hearing problems.
Lucky Lady, a warmblood mare, told me about a pain in her right hind hoof. It was the reason she wasn’t able to jump well anymore. She was hurting and unable to push off with her hind leg.
Recently I worked with a wonderful therapy dog named Dougie. His owner wanted to know why he was behaving aggressively and growling a lot even though she’d been punishing him for it. It turned out he has a serious back and hip injury, and that he is eaten up with cancer. When she took him to the vet, they discovered a tumor in his anal sacs…
Then there was Percy, a Persian cat. He’d had a pressure and pain sensation behind his eyes for almost a year before they finally found the cancer tumor. By then, it had grown so large they were unable to surgically remove it.
Our animals do what makes sense to them from their viewpoint, and they always communicate what they are thinking and feeling. Listening to them allows us to take appropriate action on their behalf by discovering from their viewpoint where the real problems are coming from, what the triggers are, and if there are other unknown factors we don’t know yet which are critical to resolving things.
Many signs of illness are nonspecific and can be associated with many different diseases. Each one is significant and should prompt your attention.
- Lack of appetite is often the very first sign of illness. This can be difficult to determine if you let them ‘graze’ all day and just keep their bowl full. I recommend scheduled feedings at the same time every day so that you can accurately assess their appetite.
- Less activity can be a real important clue too. Many times this “”less active”” sign is mistaken for “”getting older””. We shouldn’t lose our zest for life, playfulness, or ability to move just because we are ‘older’! If we do, then something is definitely wrong.
- Weakness can show up as being “”less active”” or by displaying a loss of balance and coordination. These are potentially serious and you should seek immediate evaluation by your veterinarian.
- Lethargy is a general lack of interest in their environment. This common symptom sometimes is mistaken for depression or sadness, and can show up early or as a late sign of illness depending on the severity.
- Losing weight can be an indication of disease or illness. Be careful as this is sometimes difficult to notice, especially in longhaired animals that you see every day. It’s easy to miss subtle changes. If they feel bonier, lighter, or you can easily feel the ribs, pay attention.
- Drinking more water is often associated with certain diseases including kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Not drinking enough water is also a problem clue, and can lead to dehydration or renal failure.
- Animals that don’t feel well don’t groom themselves, or you may notice a dull lusterless coat. If your animal’s coat quality or color changes, have them evaluated. This can also be a sign of nutritional deficiency.
- Bad breath (halitosis) can result from dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders, such as tummy trouble, toxic buildup or kidney problems.
Your biggest job as your animal friend’s caretaker is to educate yourself. Prevention is the best cure for any problem, so choose to feed your animals a high quality diet, give them plenty of exercise, and pay attention if you see any of these signs.
Remember, a vet visit is always a good idea if you notice any of these signs of illness. But if you or your vet have trouble figuring out how to resolve things, then it’s time to communicate with your animals directly. After all, who knows better how they are feeling? Where they hurt? What helps or doesn’t? When it started and how? Why they are doing what they are doing?
If you are ill, please ask for the support you need. If your animals are ill, please give them the gift of an animal communicator so they can have a voice in what happens to them.
Don’t let things get to the Hail Mary stage before you notice. Chances are that by then, it might be too late.
By: Val Heart
Article source: Expert Articles
