Important Symptoms Pet Owners should not Ignore

As a pet owner it is important to note when are pet isn't feeling the best and when we need to contact a veterinarian for help. With every animal there are some symptoms we should not ignore. Before getting to those it is also important to note that some animals, particularly those who are commonly prey for other animals, do a better job of hiding symptoms, as such by the time symptoms are noticed it may be too late.

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Symptoms of concern are written below in alphabetical order.

Abdominal Pain

Animals may show signs of discomfort such as not moving, kicking at their belly, they may stand with a hunched back, or be visibly bloated. In any case this is usually an emergency situation for most pets. Their movements should be restricted until a veterinarian is contacted. Horses suffering from colic, should be kept walking, as laying and kicking could make a problem worse.

Abnormal Temperature

Pets who are chilled or running a fever, may need vet attention. The normal temperature for dogs and cats is 100-102.5 Fahrenheit.

Black, Smelly Diarrhea in Dogs

This is a major symptom of the Parvo virus, a deadly killer of dogs. This is an urgent problem and should not be ignored at all.

Bloody Stool

This is often a sign of worms, bacterial, or other, infection and should not be ignored long. A stool sample can be taken to the veterinarian to confirm the cause of the problem. People may wish to short cut a veterinarian by deworming their pet themselves, however it should be noted that most over the counter wormers do not treat all types of worms. Bloody stools can also be the result of diet change or the pet eating something it should not have, but should not be ignored for long.

Breathing Abnormally

Heaving panting or shallow breathing should not be ignored when there is no known cause.

Bite Marks

A pet who was bitten needs to see a veterinarian. Ideally the offending animal should be caught and taken to the vet too. Rabies holds can be done if the history of the biter is unknown.

Collapse

A pet who suddenly collapses may be going into cardiac arrest. Note the color of their gums and contact a veterinarian immediately.

Coughing

Coughing can be a number of things and should not be ignored. In dogs it can also be a signal of heart worm. A cat owner should become familiar with the sound their cat makes when coughing up a hair ball as opposed to an unhealthy cough. It should be noted that while cats do cough up hair balls from time to time, excessive hairballs are abnormal, and may be a sign of a health concern or poor diet.

Diarrhea

Again this symptom could have other causes, such as diet change, but should not be ignored for long, especially if a cause is unknown.

Disorientation

This can be a sign that the pet has suffered a stroke or was poisoned. A pet who is not acting themselves should visit a veterinarian immediately.

Drooling Excessively

This is a concern in any animal not of a breed known for heavy drooling. Some cats may drool when happy but heavy drooling is never normal in cats otherwise and is a sign of a problem.

Itchy

This isn't usually an emergency, but should not be ignored either. Itchy ears may be a sign of ear mites, ear infection, or a bug in the ear. An owner should certainly look into the ear for signs of a problem and contact their vet. Itchy ears, paws, or elsewhere can also be a sign of food allergies.

Laceration

A pet who was cut needs to see a veterinarian, not only for stitches, but possibly for injections to protect it from infection.

Lethargy

If a pet is acting lethargic and can not be encouraged to get up an owner would be wise to contact their vet immediately, they should also note any other symptoms such as a fever or abnormal stools.

Limping

An active pet will probably injure itself at some point, if they are limping for too long or putting no pressure on an injured limb, or it shows signs of swelling, a veterinarian should be contacted.

Litter Box Problems

Cats who are not using their litter box may be suffering from a urinary tract infection or blockage. A urine sample may be taken to a vet for diagnosis. There are also some behavioral (mental) causes for this problem).

Lumps and Bumps

These may be painful or not, but should be diagnosed irregardless.

Maggots on a Pets Rump

This is more common on pet rabbits and pet sheep than other animals. It is an emergency situation, a sign of Fly Strike, likely some maggots have made their way into the pet.

Panting in Cats

Cats normally do not ever pant, as such this is a symptom that should not be ignored.

Refusal to Eat

This may be a sign of abdominal pain or another problem, a vet should be contacted if a pet refuses more than two meals. An owner can try offering a more temping food just in case there was a problem with the food offered originally (such as it is stale or old). If a pet refuses treats there is probably something wrong.

Seizures

This is an urgent situation, the pet should see the vet immediately.

Vomiting

The owner should take the time to examine the vomit for foreign bodies that the pet may have been spitting up. As a one time occurrence it may not be a problem but continued vomiting, or when blood is present, may warrant calling a vet.

Weight

An overweight or underweight pet should see a vet, particularly if the changes happened suddenly.

Summary

It is always important to note your pets normal behavior, that way any abnormal behavior can be easily spotted. In emergency situations a veterinarian can be called any time day or night. Waiting when a problem is serious may end up costing more in the long run and may be too late for the pet itself.