01Trust the Difference Between "Off" and Alarming
Dogs and cats have an impressive talent for seeming fine right up until they aren't. Knowing which signs to monitor and which demand a call to the clinic is one of the most useful things a pet owner can develop — and it's less about a checklist than a feel for what's normal for your animal.
Start with baseline. A healthy dog or cat has steady energy for their age, a consistent appetite, normal drinking habits, and waste that follows a reliable pattern. When something shifts, that's your first signal to pay attention. A single soft stool after a rich treat is nothing. Three days of diarrhoea with a dog who's also lethargic and off their food is a vet call.
The same logic applies to appetite. Most pets skip a meal occasionally without drama. A cat that hasn't eaten in more than 24–48 hours, however, warrants attention — cats are particularly susceptible to hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition that can develop quickly once they stop eating. Don't wait it out hoping they'll come round.
02Signs That Can Wait a Day or Two
Not everything is urgent. These are worth monitoring and mentioning at a routine appointment if they persist:
Mild itching or a single small scratch. Keep an eye on it; if it spreads, weeps or the animal won't leave it alone, book sooner.
Soft stools after a dietary change. Give the gut a few days to adjust, keep water available, and hold off on more food changes while you wait.
A sneezy day or occasional clear nasal discharge. Much like a human cold, minor upper respiratory irritation often resolves. Coloured discharge, laboured breathing or a cat who can't smell their food is a different matter.
Mild limping after heavy exercise. Rest overnight. If it's no better by morning, or if the leg is swollen or hot to the touch, call the vet.
03Signs That Need Same-Day Attention
Some things shouldn't wait for a convenient slot. Contact your vet the same day — or go straight to an emergency clinic if it's out of hours — for any of these:
Vomiting or diarrhoea that's repeated, bloody, or paired with lethargy. One isolated vomit in an otherwise bouncy dog is low stakes; multiple episodes, or any blood, changes that entirely.
Difficulty breathing. Open-mouth breathing in a cat is almost always an emergency. Laboured, shallow or noisy breathing in either species needs immediate attention.
Straining to urinate — especially in a male cat. A blocked bladder can become life-threatening within hours. If your cat is visiting the litter box repeatedly and producing nothing, treat it as urgent.
Collapse, sudden weakness, or loss of coordination. These can signal anything from poisoning to cardiac events. Don't monitor from home.
Pale, white or bluish gums. Press a finger to the gum, release, and watch the colour return — it should flush pink within two seconds. Pale or oddly coloured gums signal poor circulation and need immediate evaluation.
Suspected ingestion of a toxin. Common hazards — certain plants, chocolate, xylitol, some medications — act fast. If you think they've eaten something dangerous, call the vet or a veterinary poison helpline without delay.
04The Honest Rule
When in doubt, phone. A two-minute call to your vet practice to describe what you're seeing costs nothing and rules out the thing you're quietly worrying about. Experienced nurses field these calls all day; they'd rather reassure you than have you wait too long. Your instinct that something's wrong is worth more than any list.