Signs That Your Dog Is Crying For Help
Dogs, when they're not violently attacking you or dropping a hot turd on your carpet, are pretty much perfect. If they have one flaw, it's that they've never learned how to speak English, causing two problems: the inexplicable popularity of movies about talking pets, and an inability to let us know when something is horribly wrong. Sure, they can inform us of the dangers of approaching mailmen and religious missionaries at the door by going full conniption, but what about when something more subtle is happening? How does man's best friend tell us about the metaphorical religious missionaries? The ones, say, causing inescapable ennui or indigestion?
Dog communication that you might have missed
Generally, the answer to "how do I know when something is wrong with my dog?" is right there in the question: they're your dog. You know them, theoretically, better than anybody, so you'll be able to tell if something seems amiss. Is your pup suddenly being more or less affectionate than usual? According to PetCareRx, a dramatic shift in either direction can be a sign that dog needs help, as a sudden aversion to pats and scratches could indicate that they're trying to avoid being touched in sensitive areas, while a boost in a need for attention might be your pet trying to get you to help.
Nobody's dog is Colgate fresh, but nasty breath can be a bad sign. Combine that with a lack of appetite or a sudden tendency to chew with one side of their mouth and your pet could be signaling that they're suffering from tooth decay. If your furry bundle of joy grows a beer belly or you notice that their gums are a blue or yellow hue, that can be a sign of developing heart disease. Get them to a vet and have them checked out.
Worst case scenario
Truly, your best bet when looking for potential problems is just to pay attention. You know your pet, and you'll notice when something goes awry. The one thing that you should absolutely keep an eye open for is a dog suddenly developing Peter Boyle's voice and the drive to catch his killer, which can be a sign that you're living in the failed Poochinski pilot from the early 90s. There's no known cure for that.