It’s natural to want to keep your pets as healthy and happy as possible. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be tough to figure out exactly how your pet is feeling and when they may need medical care.
INSIDER spoke with veterinarians to identify a few signs that your pet may need to see a vet.
Keep in mind that although knowing these symptoms can be useful, if you are concerned about your pet’s health at any time, you may want to visit a veterinarian for a professional evaluation.
Their bathroom habits are abnormal
If you notice that your pet’s bathroom habits have changed significantly or that their feces looks different than normal, it might be time to make an appointment with your vet.
“Change in the color, consistency, odor, or regularity of bowel movements can all be indicative of anything from inappropriate food, allergies, viruses, bacteria, intestinal parasites, or organ problems,” Jessica Trimble, chief veterinary officer for Fuzzy Pet Health, told INSIDER.
Diarrhea, blood in the stool, and constipation are all reasons to contact your veterinarian. If you’re not able to bring in a stool sample to be tested, be sure to snap a photo of your pet’s feces to show your vet if needed.
Your pet is drinking way more water than usual
Believe it or not, humans and animals can develop many of the same diseases. Veterinarian Sara Ochoa told INSIDER that excessive water drinking may be a sign that your furry pal has diabetes or kidney disease.
Both of these conditions can be potentially life-threatening, so it’s important to contact your vet for screening if you notice your pet seems unusually thirsty. If caught in time, both animal diabetes and kidney disease can be managed or possibly corrected with medical treatment.
They vomit more than once in 12 hours
If your pet vomits, it could be that they just have an upset stomach or ate food that didn’t agree with them — but it can also be a sign of something more serious.
“A single episode of either vomiting or diarrhea may not be significant but pay attention when vomiting occurs with other symptoms like lethargy and lack of appetite,” said Trimble. “In some cases, continuous vomiting may signal a virus, pancreatitis, organ failure, intestinal obstructions, and endocrine diseases.”
Animals experiencing continuous vomiting and diarrhea can also be at risk of dehydration. Pets with these symptoms often need supportive care, like fluids and anti-nausea medications, and in severe cases, surgery.
They’re eating less than usual
Not all pets have huge appetites, but most animals should be eating regular meals and have an interest in food.
A loss of appetite or avoidance of food might be a sign of illness or mouth injury, Travis Arndt, veterinarian and director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America, told INSIDER. Keep an eye on your pet’s eating habits and make a vet appointment if its been more than a day or two since your animal has eaten.
Your cat seems to be panting
Although some cats will pant very briefly after a chase or intense playtime, continuous panting in a cat could be a sign of breathing troubles.
“If your cat is ever open-mouth breathing, especially at rest, you should consider taking it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Prolonged open-mouth breathing in cats is almost always a sign of respiratory distress from a condition like asthma or heart disease,” Dr. Oscar E. Chavez, veterinarian and chief medical director at Just Food For Dogs, told INSIDER.
Your dog is licking the air
“When a dog looks like it’s licking the air, it may be feeling nauseated. There may also be something stuck in the roof of their mouth or a very loose tooth that is bothering them,” explained Ochoa.
Give your pet’s mouth a quick peek to make sure there isn’t anything lodged in there and call your vet if they begin to vomit or the air-licking behavior doesn’t stop.
“Dogs and cats should have a normal resting or sleeping respiratory rate of less than 30 breaths per minute,” said Trimble. “Faster resting respiratory rates can be a sign of fluid buildup in the lungs or decreased lung capacity, which can be caused by heart disease, pneumonia, cancer, or other respiratory diseases.”
X-rays and bloodwork are often needed to diagnose lung conditions. Breathing changes in combination with lethargy, weight loss, and coughing is especially concerning and often require an immediate visit to the vet.
Their eyes look unusual
Any noticeable changes in your pet’s eyes typically warrant medical attention, especially if you can’t isolate the cause.
“Dilated pupils, constricted pupils, or one pupil that is dilated and the other is constricted can all be a sign of illness,” said Arndt. “Other indications you need to see a veterinarian include eye discharge, droopy eyes, or the third eyelid covering part of the eye.”
