Triage
Match the species and the change you see. Red symptoms should go to an emergency hospital. This explorer does not diagnose your pet.
Occasional head shaking with a bright, eating dog is often ear irritation. A head tilt, bleeding, or a dog who cannot settle needs a same-day exam.
Common causes: Ear mites, yeast, or bacterial irritation; Allergy flare or water left in the ear after swimming.
Open the full guide →Yellow bile often means an empty stomach or gut irritation. One episode in a bright adult dog can be watched for a few hours if the belly is soft and the gums are pink. Repeated vomiting, blood, a puppy, or a tight abdomen needs a clinic the same day.
Common causes: Bilious vomiting from a long gap between meals, or dietary indiscretion; Intestinal parasites or a bacterial gut infection.
Open the full guide →A dog who is quieter than usual but still drinking and walking can be assessed the same day. Collapse, pale gums, or a dog who will not rise is an emergency.
Common causes: Pain, fever, or an infection; Dehydration or an upset stomach.
Open the full guide →A mild limp that eases after rest can be checked within 12–24 hours if the dog is otherwise well. A dangling limb, bleeding, or a dog hit by a car needs an emergency hospital.
Common causes: Sprain, muscle strain, or a broken nail; A torn ligament or joint disease.
Open the full guide →A dog who falls over, paddles, or cannot be woken needs an emergency clinic now. Keep hands away from the mouth during a seizure and time how long it lasts.
Common causes: Epilepsy or a first-time seizure disorder; Low blood sugar, toxin, or heatstroke.
Open the full guide →A cat who squats often and passes little or no urine may have a urethral blockage, especially if male. That is an emergency, not constipation, until a veterinarian proves otherwise.
Common causes: Urethral obstruction from crystals, mucus, or spasm; Bladder inflammation that is painful but still letting urine pass.
Open the full guide →A cat who suddenly empties the water bowl needs a veterinary visit within a day, with a urine check. Collapse, vomiting, or straining to urinate should not wait for that appointment.
Common causes: Kidney disease or hyperthyroidism; Diabetes mellitus.
Open the full guide →A few sneezes in a cat who is eating and breathing quietly can be watched. Colored discharge, mouth ulcers, or any increase in breathing effort needs a clinic.
Common causes: A mild viral upper-respiratory irritation; Dust, litter dust, or a scent in the home.
Open the full guide →A cat who skips more than a meal or hides when they are usually social should see a veterinarian within 12–24 hours. Overweight cats can develop hepatic lipidosis if anorexia continues.
Common causes: Pain, nausea, or fever; Dental disease or a foreign body.
Open the full guide →A rhythmic tail bob with each breath means the bird is working too hard to breathe. That is an avian emergency, even if they still look alert.
Common causes: Airway or lung disease, including infection; Fume exposure, such as overheated non-stick coatings.
Open the full guide →A bird who stays fluffed, quiet, and less interested in food is often ill even without dramatic signs. Arrange an avian visit the same day, and go now if breathing changes.
Common causes: Infection or pain that the bird is hiding; A diet that is mostly seed, with vitamin deficiency over time.
Open the full guide →A gradual loss of worn feathers, with pin feathers and a normal appetite, is usually a molt. Bald patches, bleeding, or a fluffed bird on the floor are not a routine molt.
Common causes: A normal seasonal molt; Feather-destructive behavior or skin irritation.
Open the full guide →Loud teeth grinding with a hunched posture is a pain signal in rabbits, often from the gut or teeth. It needs a rabbit-savvy veterinarian now, not a wait until tomorrow.
Common causes: Gastrointestinal stasis and gas pain; Dental spurs or a tooth root abscess.
Open the full guide →Smaller or fewer fecal pellets mean the gut is slowing. If the rabbit is still eating, call a rabbit veterinarian the same day. No pellets plus pain is an emergency.
Common causes: Early gastrointestinal stasis; A low-fiber diet or not enough hay.
Open the full guide →A light, even shed in a rabbit or guinea pig who is eating hay and passing normal droppings can be groomed at home. Bald skin, scratching until it bleeds, or a hunched pet needs a clinic.
Common causes: A normal seasonal coat blow; Barbering by a cage mate.
Open the full guide →If the pet is unconscious, bleeding, seizuring, or bloated, skip the search and open the emergency guide.
