How to understand that a cat or dog urgently needs to be shown to the veterinarian

The pet should be checked regularly by a veterinarian. It is recommended to show kittens and puppies to a specialist monthly, adult pets - annually, older animals - twice a year. And this is in the event that they do not experience health problems. However, there are signs that you should not postpone a visit to the veterinarian when they appear.

1. Refusal to eat

Good appetite is one of the main indicators of the health of any living creature. But a long (more than a day) ignoring of food and water is an alarming and serious indicator that something is wrong with the pet.

Perhaps the animal develops a dental disease and it physically hurts to eat dry food. Other options are difficulties with digestion, infection with helminths, liver disease, urinary tract disease, and more. Only a veterinarian can determine the exact reason for the abstinence of an animal from food, and it is better to contact him as soon as possible.

2. Vomiting

If the pet vomits once, this can be attributed to the body's natural reaction to any stimulus. But regular getting rid of absorbed food (once every 20 days and more often) is definitely one of the alarming factors.

Most likely, the matter is in parasites, but intestinal obstruction, oncology, gastritis, pancreatitis are also not excluded. Be that as it may, self-medication is categorically excluded here. As well as refusal to eat, vomiting and diarrhea are a reason to immediately contact your veterinarian.

3. Apathy

The animal may look tired after a long walk or play. But when a pet is apathetic for several days, this is already a reason to pay attention to the state of his health. This symptom can be expressed by a decrease in activity, refusal of favorite games, drowsiness. The animal can hide in secluded places and avoid human contact.

4. Unusual behavior

Other changes in the pet's behavior also indicate a probable illness. For example, he loses his cheerfulness, hides from the owners, does not allow himself to be touched, or rushes around the house. In general, it does not behave as usual.

The following situations are also potentially dangerous: the pet cannot stand on its paws or is clearly limping, it is disoriented, suffocating, it has convulsions, and the like. These symptoms are already related to problems with the central nervous system. If you notice them with your pet, immediately consult a doctor.

5. Problems with stool or urination

They can be different. Diarrhea lasting more than two days, equally prolonged constipation, the appearance of blood in the urine, difficulty in trying to go small or, conversely, too frequent urination.

The reasons for such phenomena are even more varied. Stool problems can be the result of an overly sensitive digestive system, viral infection, parasite infestation, or even stress. In turn, difficulty in urinating occurs due to inflammation of the genitourinary system, cystitis, and kidney problems. The vet will figure it out.

6. Weight loss

It is necessary to ensure that the cat or dog does not overeat, control the pet's weight and especially pay attention to its unreasonable decrease. If the animal continues to lose weight for a couple of weeks, you need to see a specialist.

There are many reasons for weight loss: parasites, ailments of the liver or thyroid gland, problems with the pancreas or chronic diseases of the digestive system.

7. Unpresentable appearance

A qualitative indicator of the general health of a pet is the skin situation. It should be smooth, slightly pink or black. But if the skin is peeling, and the animal suffers from itching, this is already a mess.

Also, the eyes, nose and ears can indicate the presence of health problems. The former may watery, be red, or have discharge. The nose shows ill health by flowing. As for the ears, they should be clean, without excessive accumulations of sulfur, and they should not interfere with the animal. If the pet is constantly scratching its ears, experiencing obvious anxiety, this is a reason to contact the veterinarian.

8. Abnormal temperature

This is another important indicator. When an animal is healthy, its temperature ranges from 37.5 to 39 ° C. In young pets, it can be half a degree higher.

Please note that it is impossible to determine the temperature of an animal by the nose, this is a myth.

It is best to use an electronic thermometer. To take a measurement, you need to lubricate the tip of the thermometer with oil or petroleum jelly and insert it into the anus.

The temperature coming out of the designated corridor is a sign of health problems, and they can be quite serious. If the owner ruled out the relatively harmless causes of temperature changes - overheating, hypothermia, stress - and could not bring it back to normal, it's time to visit the veterinarian.

The causes of all of these symptoms are very diverse. What you should definitely not do is make diagnoses based on articles from the Internet and self-medicate. Unlike a person, an animal cannot tell when it got sick and where it hurts. Therefore, it is extremely important to treat our four-legged friends with great attention and, if necessary, trust a specialist.