Signs that Your Pet Might Need a Vet
Last updated May 2025
Because many health problems are subtle and easily overlooked, you should regularly evaluate your pet’s general health with a nose-to-tail inspection. The following checklist, excerpted from a Humane Society of the United States publication, includes warning signs of possible problems. Keep in mind that this list applies generally to both dogs and cats, and that the best measure of your pet’s health is whether or not the animal’s appearance and behavior are normal.
General Good Signs
- Animal is bright, alert, and responsive
- Animal is balanced and coordinated
- Body temperature is normal
- Animal is interested in/oriented to surroundings
General Warning Signs
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Wounds or abscesses
- Any swelling, lumps, or bumps
- Animal is losing or gaining weight
- Mammary glands are swollen or discharging fluid
- Coughing, sneezing, or wheezing
- Animal appears uncoordinated or disoriented
- Animal tilts head
- Animal repeatedly walks in circles
- Abdomen is bloated
- Abnormal body temperature
- Hyperactive or lethargic activity
- Excessive water drinking or urination
Breathing/Respiration Good Signs
- Respiration sounds clear and rate is normal
Breathing/Respiration Warning Signs
- Breathing is irregular, rapid, shallow, or labored
- Animal is sneezing, coughing, or wheezing excessively
- Breathing is through open mouth
Nose Good Signs
- Clean
- Free of discharge
Nose Warning Signs
- Tissue is scabbed, crusty, or cracked
- Showing discharge
- Congested or blocked
Eyes Good Signs
- Clean, clear, and bright
- Responsive to visual stimuli
Eyes Warning Signs
- Watery
- Red, inflamed, or swollen
- Filmy, cloudy, or discolored
- Dry
- Hypersensitive to light
- Pupils unequal in size or overly dilated or constricted
- Third (or middle) eyelid showing
- Itchy (animal rubbing at eyes)
- Painful (animal squinting)
Ears Good signs
- Both outer ear and canal are clean and canal is pink
- Responsive to noise
Ears Warning signs
- Showing discharge
- Crusty or scabbed tissue
- Red, inflamed, or swollen
- Hair around ear is matted
- Scratching ear or shaking head
- Unusual smells
- Painful (animal cries or winces when ear is touched)
Mouth Good signs
- Free of odor
- Teeth are clean
- Gums are pink—after being pressed with finger, pink gum color returns within one to two seconds
Mouth Warning signs
- Trouble eating or swallowing
- Pale, red, or purple gums
- Dry
- Excessive salivating
- Foul odor not caused by food
- Showing discharge
- Swollen or inflamed
- Teeth are loose, pitted, broken, or tartar-covered
- Animal is pawing at or rubbing mouth
Skin/Hair Good signs
- Skin is elastic (springs back immediately after being raised between the shoulder blades)
- Coat is bright and glossy
- Skin is clean and free of oil
- Skin is free of swelling, lumps, mats, or lesions
Skin/Hair Warning signs
- Coat is dull, oily, or dirty
- Coat has areas of hair loss or thinning
- Hair is matted
- Skin is dry, flaky, scabby, or shows swelling, lumps, or lesions
- Skin is red or irritated
- Fleas, ticks, lice, or other parasites
Legs & Paws Good signs
- Legs support weight evenly (no limping)
- Pads are clean and smooth
- Nails are healthy-looking
Legs & Paws Warning signs
- Animal favors one leg
- Animal has limited motion, or is weak or uncoordinated
- Joints feel tender
- Pads are cracked or hard
- Pads have matted hair between them
- Nails are long, short, or ingrown
- Swelling, lumps, or lesions
Anal/Genital Good signs
- Clean and free of discharge
- Stool is normal in appearance, color, and consistency
Anal/Genital Warning signs
- Increased or decreased urination or bowel movements
- Stool is watery or bloody
- Area around anus shows swelling or lumps
- Swollen testicles
- Foul odor
- Animal is dragging rear end on the ground
- Animal is excessively licking one area of its body
