When should you visit a veterinarian?

The first signs of illness are not always obvious, but it is important to pay attention to them, as early detection allows for more effective treatment.

You should seek veterinary care immediately if your pet:

• has a fever (their body feels warmer than usual; a rectal temperature above 39°C)

• refuses their usual food or shows a loss of appetite

• is unusually lethargic or inactive

• has blood in their urine

• has blood in their stool

• cries out in pain

• is struggling to breathe or breathing rapidly

• has difficulty urinating or defecating. In cats, this may be noticeable if they spend a long time in the litter box, visit it frequently, or urinate elsewhere in the home, often producing only a few drops. Dogs may repeatedly squat to urinate or show a constant urge to defecate.

• has blood drops, bloody discharge, or pus coming from the vulva or preputial opening

• is limping, unsteady on their feet, has difficulty getting up, or is reluctant to move, jump, or use stairs

• holds their head to one side, scratches their ear, and cries out in pain

• drinks excessive amounts of water over a prolonged period: an average-sized cat typically does not drink more than 200 ml (about 45 ml per kg of body weight), and dogs generally do not consume more than approximately 50 ml per kg of body weight

• Urinates more frequently over a prolonged period. In cats, this is often noticed when cleaning the litter box (larger urine spots than usual), while in dogs it may first appear as nighttime urination. The water bowl is often emptied more quickly than usual.

• has a persistently reduced appetite or experiences a complete loss of appetite lasting for several days

• A persistent increase in appetite may occur—while the animal may remain thin or even gain weight. However, this can also be a sign of illness!

• Persistent weight loss. The nutritional condition can be assessed most easily by palpating the chest wall: if the ribs are easily felt, the animal is underweight; if they cannot be felt at all, the animal is overweight.

• Persistently drowsy or inactive

• Repeated vomiting

• Has diarrhea, or it persists for several days. The stool has changed in color or consistency, or is bloody, streaked with blood, or contains mucus

• Scratches itself, bites or chews at its body, or licks its limbs

• Scratches its ears, shakes its head, or there is discharge visible in the ear

• shows signs of vision deterioration (dogs may bump into objects such as bins or people on the street; cats may misjudge jumps and start avoiding them)

• Holds its head tilted.

• One or both pupils are dilated

• There is more discharge than usual in the corners of the eyes, or it rubs its eyes

• Swelling, ulcers, or wounds develop on the skin

• Hair loss is increased, or patches of missing fur develop

• The abdominal circumference increases

• Shows coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, or rapid breathing even at rest

• At rest, the normal respiratory rate is about 25 breaths per minute, with a maximum of 30.

• Increased hair shedding, or areas of hair loss develop