The symptom of abdominal pain in dogs are :lethargy, curl in a tight ball, vomit, whimper, have diarrhea, or run a fever. Some even assume a “prayer position” that is similar to a dog bowing. In some cases, you can actually see the abdomen is bloated.Cats will become lethargic, lay with their legs under them tightly, and may cry when you pick them up. Some will not jump up on things as readily. Cats can also run a fever.If your pet is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, take them to your veterinarian immediately. There is a chance that there is a benign reason for your pet’s symptoms, such as a mild gastrointestinal virus, but odds are that it is probably something more serious. Abdominal pain in any animal should never be ignored! The longer you wait, the sicker your animal will become. This equals poorer prognosis and higher medical bills.

Bad breath (halitosis) develops when tartar builds up on the teeth. Bacteria grows under the tartar and causes the gums to recede. Gingivitis is inevitable and will cause pain and bleeding. Bacteria will enter the blood stream and lodge in the heart and kidneys and cause disease. Eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out or become abscessed- both of which are quite painful for your pet.Humans are instructed to brush and floss their teeth twice daily and still need to have their teeth cleaned every 6 months. Pets never floss their teeth, and rely on their owners to brush. It is not feasible to expect to brush your pet’s teeth twice daily. If you brush them once daily, great! You are making enormous strides to keep your pet healthy. However, even if you brush them twice
weekly, you are making a huge difference.Generally, smaller dogs (Yorkies, Pomeranians, Poodles) will need to have dentals starting around 3 years of age and every 6-12 months. Larger dogs may be able to wait until they are approximately 5 years old and then yearly. Feeding a canned diet and not performing any dental preventatives above will shorten the time in between dentals and may cause your pet to need a dental earlier in their life. Anesthesia is required to perform the dental prophylaxis correctly. Every surface area of each tooth is cleaned and polished, including the area closest to the tongue. The gum line is probed to assess the presence of pockets or abscesses and radiographs are performed to assess the need for extractions. Do not be alarmed if your veterinarian recommends a tooth be extracted-it is common and can save your pet a lot of discomfort. Extractions are usually only recommended if the root is diseased or if the tooth is already loose.

Diarrhea: As with vomiting, every pet will have diarrhea in their lifetime. The vast majority of the time, they can be monitored and treated at home. However, if your pet is vomiting, lethargic, painful, or not eating, they must be examined by a veterinarian immediately.If your pet seems completely normal other than having loose stool, usually they have ingested human food, a different dog/cat food, or have contracted a virus that causes colitis. These pets will benefit from a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice or any other diet your veterinarian recommends. This diet needs to be continued for 48 hours after the stool is normal once again. Never withhold water.

Scratching: Scratching is a normal behavior for any animal. It becomes a problem when it is excessive, causes hair loss, or is causing discomfort for your pet.
Puppies and kittens will scratch excessively at their new collars and that does not require any treatment. Do not remove the collar-they will eventually get used to it. However, if your puppy or kitten is scratching anywhere else, they need to see the vet. Sarcoptes or Demodex are common in puppies.
For adult animals, the issue can become more complex. The main reason adult animals scratch are parasites, allergies, infections, or dry skin. Parasites include fleas, ticks, and mites. Allergies include food allergy, seasonal allergy, and contact allergy. Infections are generally due to fungus, bacteria, or yeast.
Adrian- Romania