When do you know you have to take your pet to the veterinarian? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then the time is immediately. There might be other signs, but these are the basic ones experts insist you must pay attention to:
- Has your pet lost its appetite for more than two days?
- Has your pet vomited more than twice?
- Has your pet had diarrhea for more than two days?
- Does your pet vomit and have diarrhea?
- Is your pet behaving with unusual listlessness - brooding, hiding in the bushes, lacking enthusiasm for its favorite activities?
- Has your pet collapsed?
- Has your pet had a seizure or an uncontrolled muscle spasm?
- Does your pet seem confused or disoriented?
- Is your pet walking into things or circling without apparent reason?
- Is your pet's body temperature more than 103F?
- Is your pet having problems with breathing?
- Does your pet have discharges from mouth and/or nose and is it breathing fast?
- Is your pet bleeding from the mouth, nose, ears, anus, vulva or penis?
- Have you observed blood in your pet's stool or vomit?
- Does your pet flinch in pain when touched, when getting up or lying down? Does it display other signs of pain?
- Is your pet suffering from a bite, large cut, or cut that bleeds so profusely you cannot stop it?
- Do you suspect a broken bone?
- Have you any cause to think that your pet has eaten poison?
- Does your pet drink abnormal amounts of water? Is it urinating excessively?
- Is your cat acting strangely in the litter box?
- Is your pet's ear inflamed or discharging?
- Is your pet's eye swollen, glazed, protruding, or discharging purulent material? Is the pupil unusually dilated?
Take your pet to the vet as soon as you can if you pet has any of the following signs of illness:
- Lack of alertness and interest in the world.
- Discharges.
- Scratching.
- Dull coat, hair loss, or irritated, unhealthy skin.
- Lameness.
- Overweight or unexplained weight loss.
- Coughing or sneezing.
- Swellings.
- Constipation or incontinence.
- Bad breath, abnormal teeth or gums.
- Scooting rear end on the ground.
Note about pet birds: See your vet if the bird acts sick, sneezes, or vomits. Observe stools for diarrhea or constipation. Separate the bird from other birds, and keep it warm.
