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What Do Pets Really Feel?
The Difference Between Signs & Symptoms

What pets feel and what we see may be different. That's right. What we see looking at a sick pet are called signs and what pets feel are called symptoms. What's the difference? Let's look at loss of appetite (anorexia), which is common in sick pets. Anorexia is what we see, the sign of illness. But what do pets feel when they're anorexic? They feel symptoms of nausea, cramping, weakness, and pain. Here's another example-arthritis. Common signs of arthritis are limping, difficulty jumping into a car and difficulty climbing the stairs, but the symptoms pets feel are pain and stiffness.

Understanding the difference between signs and symptoms helps us appreciate illness and take better care of our pets. Check out the following chart with more examples of the differences between signs and symptoms:

Problem	Sign what we see	Symptom what our pets feel
anal sac inflammation	red, swollen anal area	anal pain, irritability, restlessness
bladder infection	urinates frequently	burning and sensation of urgency
diabetes	increased drinking and urinating	hunger
distemper	cough, runny eyes and nose	difficulty breathing, chest tightness
ear infection (otitis)	odor and discharge	earache, loss of hearing, possibly a headache
Lyme disease	lameness	stiff, painful joints
fleas	flea bites and flea dirt	itching, irritability
food allergy	smelly, chronic ear infections	itching ears and itching rears
glaucoma	dilated or constricted pupil	eye pain
gum disease (periodontitis)	foul breath and red gums	pain when eating, irritability
heatstroke	fever, rapid heart rate, and loss of consciousness	overwhelming weakness and melting sensation
heartworms	cough and rapid respirations	difficulty breathing, lethargy
hot spots (pyodermatitis)	red, moist areas—possibly with hair loss	intense itching, burning
hyperthyroidism	irritability, hyperactivity, increased appetite	mania
hypothyroidism	weight gain	weakness, mental dullness
kennel cough	unrelenting cough	dry, irritated, tickling throat
parvo infection	diarrhea and vomiting	intestinal cramping, nausea
eye with dirt trapped under the lid	red, tearing eye	pain, restlessness

Why is it important to know there is a difference in the words sign and symptom? Knowing this difference helps us train ourselves to realize that when we find a sign of a pet health problem, the sign is only part of what pets experience. Pets are actually experiencing the symptoms. For example, if we see fleas on a pet, we can realize that the pet is experiencing intense itching. If we smell an ear infection and notice ear discharge, we can realize the pet is experiencing an earache and possibly a headache.

The better able we are to recognize signs and relate them to what our pets feel, the more likely it is we will quickly seek help for our pets’ problems. We don’t want to ignore signs of disease, especially when we understand observable signs often mean that our pets are experiencing pain.

To learn more about pet health problems, including the signs and symptoms of many common pet diseases, check out all the topics www.PetHealth101.com. You’ll find the information you need to begin helping your pet immediately. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to obtain the right diagnosis and the correct prescription to alleviate your pet’s suffering.

This information is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.

The information about medications is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian.

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What Do Pets Really Feel? The Difference Between Signs & Symptoms

What Do Pets Really Feel?
The Difference Between Signs & Symptoms