It never ceases to amaze me how smart dogs and cats are.

I have been a veterinarian for 29 years and a pet owner for much longer. I am amazed regularly by the stories I hear and by the actions of pets I witness.

One of the more frequent topics of conversation is the uncanny ability of pets to communicate with their owners.

Veterinarians always face the difficulty of diagnosing a pet’s conditions because dogs and cats can’t speak. They can’t tell us how they feel, where it hurts or what they may have eaten in the backyard that made them sick.

Unfortunately for the pet, we often have to push and squeeze them in an attempt to get a reaction from them.

If we press a pet’s leg in a specific place or bend a particular joint and they react by pulling the leg back, yelp or try to bite, then we can assume that area is where it hurts.

Despite the natural communication breakdown between man and beast, they do try to communicate with us.

We don’t always listen. Listening may be paying attention to their vocalization, or it may watching their body language.

The problem is people are used to reading other people’s body language and don’t have any instinctual ability to understand their pets.

The more apparent ways dogs communicate with us is standing by the front door either barking or scratching the door to let us know they want to go outside.

Cats are known for standing by their food bowl meowing insistently to let their owner know their food bowl has been empty for far too long.

A noticeable limp or screaming in pain makes us know they are hurt, but it still does not localize the pain, and it doesn’t give us any clue as to what caused the injury.

It is not unusual for our pets to try to communicate with us without getting their point across. That’s why we should pay attention to their body language from the beginning.

Enrolling your new puppy in training classes can be beneficial. They learn obedience and most trainers will teach you the typical actions of a dog that is trying to tell you something.

To make matters more difficult, not all dogs behave alike. Although it is a good idea to learn the typical actions of dogs in general, many dogs will act uniquely. That is why you have to pay close attention to your dog and learn their mannerisms.

More often than not, an epileptic dog will warn its owner before having a seizure. Each dog has a unique action that is the warning alarm of their oncoming seizure. Some owners can reduce the severity of the seizure by administering seizure medication after being warned.

It may be challenging to have furry family members that can’t talk and have limited abilities to communicate with us. However, I have always considered it a blessing in disguise. You see, pets don’t talk back, argue, spread rumors or gossip.

They love their owners unconditionally and remain loyal companions. Also, you never have to worry about trusting them with confidential information. They couldn’t repeat it anyway, which means they can’t replicate it incorrectly.

Our pets communicate with us all the time.

We have to make a conscious effort to “listen” to them regardless of how they are “talking” to us.

The next time your pet tells you it is sick or injured, see your veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy and happy life.

Dr. Jeff Castle is a veterinarian at Clark County Veterinary Clinic.