Subtle Signs Your Dog or Cat May Be Unwell
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By Dr Duncan Houston
A pet who stops jumping onto a favourite chair or leaves part of a meal may be showing an early change in health. Small changes are not a diagnosis, but noticing what is different from your pet's usual routine can help you seek care sooner.
Quick Answer
Changes in appetite, drinking, toileting, movement, grooming, sleep or social behaviour can signal illness or pain. Look for a pattern and contact your vet when a change persists, recurs or occurs with other symptoms. Breathing difficulty, collapse, inability to pass urine and severe distress need emergency care, even if the first signs seemed mild.
Changes worth noticing
| Change | Possible explanations | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Less food, slower chewing or food dropping | Dental pain, nausea or other illness | Amount eaten, chewing changes, vomiting and weight. |
| More drinking or larger urine clumps | Kidney, hormonal or urinary disease, among other causes | Water intake if practical and toileting frequency. |
| Hesitation on stairs or reduced jumping | Joint pain, injury or weakness | Which movements are difficult and when it started. |
| Hiding, irritability or less interaction | Pain, illness, fear or environmental stress | Triggers and whether the change happens across settings. |
| Overgrooming or an unkempt coat | Skin irritation, pain, reduced mobility or stress | Affected areas, redness, hair loss and scratching. |
| Restlessness, changed sleep or posture | Discomfort, anxiety or age-related and medical changes | Night-time pattern and ability to settle. |
Repeated head shaking, bad breath, altered stools and unexplained weight change also deserve attention. No single item identifies a specific disease. A vet combines your observations with an examination and, where appropriate, tests.
Pain does not always cause crying
A dog with sore joints may simply walk more slowly. A cat may use a lower resting place or stop grooming a difficult-to-reach area. AAHA's pain guidance includes altered movement, appetite, grooming and personality among possible signs.
Do not dismiss a new change as “just ageing” or punish irritability. Make access to beds, water and litter trays easier while arranging assessment. Never give human painkillers or leftover medication unless your vet specifically instructs you to do so.
How quickly should you act?
- Emergency now: difficult or open-mouth breathing in a cat, marked breathing effort in any pet, collapse, seizures that are prolonged or repeated without recovery, severe pain, suspected poisoning, or unsuccessful retching with abdominal swelling.
- Urinary emergency: repeated attempts to urinate with little or no urine, especially in a male cat. Do not assume this is constipation. Urethral obstruction can be fatal and requires immediate treatment, as explained in the iCatCare lower urinary tract guidelines.
- Call your vet today: a cat stops eating, a pet has repeated vomiting, new weakness, painful movement, blood in urine or a marked change in drinking. Seek advice earlier for young, frail, diabetic or otherwise medically vulnerable pets.
- Arrange a routine appointment promptly: a mild but persistent or recurring change in grooming, weight, sleep or activity without emergency signs. Escalate sooner if your pet deteriorates.
Cornell warns that appetite loss can seriously affect cats within a short time. Do not wait several days for a non-eating cat to improve, and do not force-feed without professional guidance.
What you can do before the appointment
- Write down the first change, its timing and whether it is getting worse.
- Note food intake, drinking, urine, stools and any vomiting. Keep a list of medications, supplements and possible exposures.
- Take a short video of naturally occurring movement or breathing changes if safe. Do not delay care to collect evidence.
- Keep your pet comfortable, with easy access to essentials and reduced physical demands.
- Call the clinic with the observations and follow its triage advice.
For breathing distress, minimise handling and travel directly for care after alerting the clinic. Cornell's respiratory guidance highlights abdominal effort, unusual posture and blue-tinged gums as serious signs.
Habits that make changes easier to spot
Regular weight and body-condition checks, appropriate preventive care, dental care and predictable daily routines help establish a useful baseline. Avoid changing several foods or supplements at once to troubleshoot an unexplained symptom. Online symptom lists can help you describe a problem, but cannot rule out disease.
Frequently asked questions
Can my pet be in pain while still eating?
Yes. Normal appetite does not exclude dental, joint or other pain.
Is more sleep always an illness sign?
No. Activity, weather and routine can affect rest. A new persistent change, especially with weakness or reduced engagement, needs assessment.
Should I wait until several signs appear?
No. One important sign, such as difficulty breathing or inability to urinate, is enough to require immediate care.
What if my pet seems normal at the clinic?
Your observations and videos can still be useful. Explain what changed at home and when it happens.
You do not need to identify the diagnosis before asking for help. A clear description of a change is a useful starting point.
ASK A VET™ encourages early, calm attention to changes in your pet. Your veterinarian can help decide how urgent the situation is and what assessment is needed.
