Pets are good at carrying on as normal. Many species instinctively mask discomfort, which means the first sign that something is wrong is often subtle: a change in routine rather than an obvious symptom.
You do not need to interpret those changes yourself. What follows is not a diagnostic checklist; no symptom below points to one specific condition. It is a guide to the changes that are generally worth a conversation with a veterinarian.
01Sudden changes in appetite
A skipped meal is common. A pet that stops eating entirely, eats noticeably less over several days, or suddenly becomes ravenous is showing a change worth discussing. Appetite is one of the most reliable everyday indicators of how an animal feels.
Contact a veterinarian if the change lasts more than a day or two, or if it comes with other changes. Seek urgent care if your pet refuses food and water together, or appears weak or collapsed.
02Vomiting or diarrhoea
An isolated episode is often self-limiting. Repeated episodes are a different matter, particularly in puppies, kittens, older animals, or pets with existing conditions, all of whom dehydrate more quickly.
Seek urgent veterinary care if you see blood, if vomiting is repeated and unproductive, if your pet may have eaten something they should not have, or if they seem lethargic alongside it.
03Unusual lethargy
Rest is normal; disinterest is not. A pet that will not get up for things they normally enjoy, whether food, a walk or greeting you at the door, is telling you something has changed.
Persistent low energy over more than a day is worth a conversation. Sudden profound weakness, collapse, or unresponsiveness needs urgent care.
04Sudden behaviour changes
Behaviour change is frequently a health signal. Hiding, unusual clinginess, new irritability, guarding part of the body, restlessness, pacing, or reacting when touched in a specific place can all relate to discomfort rather than temperament.
Sudden aggression or distress in a normally settled animal deserves prompt professional input.
05Skin and coat problems
Persistent scratching, licking or chewing at one area, hair loss, redness, scabs, an unusual smell, or a dull coat are common reasons owners seek advice, and are often manageable when addressed early rather than after weeks of self-trauma.
06Persistent coughing or breathing concerns
An occasional cough may be minor. A cough that persists, recurs, or worsens should be discussed with a veterinarian.
Breathing difficulty is different, and it is an emergency. Laboured breathing, open-mouth breathing in cats, stretching the neck to breathe, blue or very pale gums, or noisy, distressed breathing require immediate in-person veterinary care.
07Changes in drinking or urination
Noticeably increased thirst, more frequent urination, accidents in a previously reliable pet, or straining are all changes worth investigating rather than watching indefinitely.
A pet, particularly a male cat, that strains repeatedly and produces little or no urine needs urgent veterinary care.
What to observe before you get in touch
- When the change started, and whether it is constant or comes and goes
- Appetite, thirst, energy and toilet habits over the last few days
- Anything new in their environment, food or routine
- Any medications, supplements or recent treatments
- A short video, if the sign is intermittent
You are not expected to know what is wrong. Noticing that something has changed is the part that matters.
When in doubt, ask
If you are unsure whether something warrants a clinic visit, that uncertainty is itself a good reason to speak to a veterinarian. Vetline makes that first conversation easier to start, and a veterinarian will tell you plainly if your pet needs to be seen in person.
Common questions
When is vomiting or diarrhoea serious enough to call a vet?
An isolated episode is often self-limiting. Repeated episodes deserve attention, particularly in puppies, kittens, older animals, or pets with existing conditions, all of whom dehydrate more quickly.
What should I note down before contacting a veterinarian?
What changed, when it started, whether it is getting worse, and anything about appetite, drinking, toileting and energy. A short video helps for anything intermittent, since limping or coughing rarely happens on cue.
What if I am not sure it is serious enough to bother anyone?
That uncertainty is itself a good reason to ask. A veterinarian will tell you plainly whether your pet needs to be seen in person.
