Call promptly Vomiting Understand what happened, what to document, and when vomiting becomes urgent. Call promptly Diarrhea Check hydration, frequency, blood and the animal’s overall condition. Call promptly Not eating Appetite loss can signal pain, nausea, dental disease or an emergency. Call promptly Coughing Look for breathing effort, exposure history and whether the cough follows exercise or eating. Call promptly Limping Check weight bearing, swelling, injury history and whether more than one limb is affected. Monitor + call if persistent Itching Check where the animal itches, whether the skin is broken and whether other animals are affected. Call promptly Ear problems Look for head shaking, odor, discharge, pain and changes in balance. Call promptly Eye problems Eye pain and sudden appearance changes can become sight-threatening quickly. Call promptly Increased drinking or urination Measure the change without restricting water, and consider endocrine and kidney disease. Emergency Difficulty urinating Repeated attempts with little or no urine are a veterinary emergency. Emergency Seizures Protect the animal, time the event and know when immediate emergency care is needed. Emergency Collapse or fainting A collapse is an emergency even if the animal seems to recover quickly. Emergency Trouble breathing Breathing difficulty is an emergency; minimize stress and seek care immediately. Emergency Bloated abdomen Sudden abdominal enlargement, pain or repeated retching can be life-threatening. Emergency Pale, blue or yellow gums Gum color changes can signal shock, low oxygen, anemia or liver disease. Call promptly Blood in urine, stool or vomit Document where the blood appears and escalate quickly when bleeding is substantial or persistent. Call promptly Sudden behavior changes New hiding, aggression, confusion or agitation may be a sign of pain or illness. Call promptly Sneezing or nasal discharge Note discharge, breathing, exposure and whether one or both nostrils are affected. Call promptly Unexplained weight loss Track actual body weight, appetite, muscle condition and how quickly the change occurred. Monitor + call if persistent Unexpected weight gain Distinguish gradual body-fat gain from sudden abdominal enlargement or fluid accumulation. Call promptly Lethargy or unusual tiredness A meaningful change in alertness, movement or interaction can signal pain or systemic illness. Call promptly Signs of pain or discomfort Pain may appear as hiding, posture changes, reduced movement, guarding or new behavior. Call promptly Head shaking or ear scratching Look for odor, redness, discharge, head tilt, balance changes and pain around the ears. Call promptly Abnormal stool or droppings Changes in color, frequency, shape, mucus, blood or quantity can provide useful clues. Call promptly Abnormal urine Notice color, odor, frequency, accidents, straining and whether urine is actually produced. Call promptly Drinking more than usual Changes in water intake deserve attention, especially when urination, appetite or weight also changes. Call promptly Urinating more than usual Separate larger urine volumes from frequent small attempts, which can signal a different urgency. Emergency Pale or white gums Gums that suddenly look unusually pale or white can signal anemia, blood loss, poor circulation or shock and need immediate veterinary assessment. Emergency Blue or purple gums Blue, gray or purple gums can indicate dangerously inadequate oxygen delivery and require emergency veterinary care now. Call promptly Yellow gums or yellowing of the eyes Yellow discoloration may indicate jaundice and can be associated with liver, gallbladder, blood-cell or other serious systemic problems. Emergency Bleeding or uncontrolled blood loss Visible or suspected internal bleeding requires attention to volume, location, weakness, gum color and the possibility of trauma or poisoning.
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Choose a symptom to see what to do. We will show the urgency, species-specific concerns, warning signs and a link to the full guide.
If the animal is struggling to breathe, collapsing, actively seizing, unable to urinate or bleeding heavily, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.