Symptom-first care
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This tool is educational support only. If your pet has severe or rapidly changing signs, seek in-person veterinary care immediately.
31 symptom references ready to browse
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Any seizure episode should be documented and triaged urgently.
Dog Seizures
Any seizure episode should be documented and triaged urgently. Start by tracking episode length and recovery time, how many episodes occur.
When to escalate: Cluster seizures, a seizure lasting more than a few minutes, or slow recovery are emergency signs.
- Episode length and recovery time
- How many episodes occur
- Exposure to toxins or missed meds
Seizure activity in cats is an urgent neurologic warning sign.
Cat Seizures
Seizure activity in cats is an urgent neurologic warning sign. Start by tracking episode length and recovery time, how many episodes occur.
When to escalate: Cluster seizures, a seizure lasting more than a few minutes, or slow recovery are emergency signs.
- Episode length and recovery time
- How many episodes occur
- Exposure to toxins or missed meds
Fast or labored breathing can be an emergency, especially at rest.
Dog Breathing Fast
Fast or labored breathing can be an emergency, especially at rest. Start by tracking breaths per minute at rest, open-mouth or abdominal breathing.
When to escalate: Rapid breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing, or abdominal effort should be treated as emergency care.
- Breaths per minute at rest
- Open-mouth or abdominal breathing
- Gum color and collapse
Open-mouth breathing or rapid respirations in cats needs emergency care.
Cat Breathing Fast
Open-mouth breathing or rapid respirations in cats needs emergency care. Start by tracking breaths per minute at rest, open-mouth or abdominal breathing.
When to escalate: Rapid breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing, or abdominal effort should be treated as emergency care.
- Breaths per minute at rest
- Open-mouth or abdominal breathing
- Gum color and collapse
Ear scratching can be allergies, infection, or mites.
Dog Ear Scratching
Ear scratching can be allergies, infection, or mites. Start by tracking odor, debris, or discharge, head shaking or tilt.
When to escalate: Persistent pain, odor, or head tilt usually needs an ear exam rather than watchful waiting.
- Odor, debris, or discharge
- Head shaking or tilt
- Pain when the ear is touched
Ear irritation in cats is often painful and may need treatment.
Cat Ear Scratching
Ear irritation in cats is often painful and may need treatment. Start by tracking odor, debris, or discharge, head shaking or tilt.
When to escalate: Persistent pain, odor, or head tilt usually needs an ear exam rather than watchful waiting.
- Odor, debris, or discharge
- Head shaking or tilt
- Pain when the ear is touched
Eye discharge can be mild irritation or a painful eye emergency.
Dog Eye Discharge
Eye discharge can be mild irritation or a painful eye emergency. Start by tracking squinting or keeping the eye closed, cloudiness or corneal haze.
When to escalate: Squinting, cloudiness, or obvious pain can point to an eye emergency and should not wait.
- Squinting or keeping the eye closed
- Cloudiness or corneal haze
- Green discharge or swelling
Eye discharge in cats can indicate infection, ulcers, or irritation.
Cat Eye Discharge
Eye discharge in cats can indicate infection, ulcers, or irritation. Start by tracking squinting or keeping the eye closed, cloudiness or corneal haze.
When to escalate: Squinting, cloudiness, or obvious pain can point to an eye emergency and should not wait.
- Squinting or keeping the eye closed
- Cloudiness or corneal haze
- Green discharge or swelling
Scooting often signals anal gland irritation, parasites, or skin inflammation.
Dog Scooting
Scooting often signals anal gland irritation, parasites, or skin inflammation. Start by tracking swelling or redness near the anus, licking, odor, or bleeding.
When to escalate: Repeated scooting, swelling, bleeding, or pain around the rear end needs an exam.
- Swelling or redness near the anus
- Licking, odor, or bleeding
- Stool consistency and parasites
Scooting in cats can be anal gland, parasite, or skin discomfort.
Cat Scooting
Scooting in cats can be anal gland, parasite, or skin discomfort. Start by tracking swelling or redness near the anus, licking, odor, or bleeding.
When to escalate: Repeated scooting, swelling, bleeding, or pain around the rear end needs an exam.
- Swelling or redness near the anus
- Licking, odor, or bleeding
- Stool consistency and parasites
Frequent urination may be infection, bladder disease, or endocrine illness.
Dog Urinating Frequently
Frequent urination may be infection, bladder disease, or endocrine illness. Start by tracking straining or pain while urinating, amount of urine passed.
When to escalate: Straining with little output, crying, or blood in urine should be escalated quickly, especially in cats.
- Straining or pain while urinating
- Amount of urine passed
- Accidents, blood, or vocalizing
Urinary changes in cats can become life-threatening quickly.
Cat Urinating Frequently
Urinary changes in cats can become life-threatening quickly. Start by tracking straining or pain while urinating, amount of urine passed.
When to escalate: Straining with little output, crying, or blood in urine should be escalated quickly, especially in cats.
- Straining or pain while urinating
- Amount of urine passed
- Accidents, blood, or vocalizing
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