et’s be real. Our pets are family. They’re the four-legged comedians who make us laugh, the warm, purring blankets on a cold night, and the ever-enthusiastic welcome committee when we walk through the door. But here’s the tough part: they can’t tell us when they feel awful.
They can’t say, “Hey, my stomach is in knots,” or “I’m feeling really dizzy.” Instead, they speak a different language—a language of behavior, body posture, and subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) signs. It’s our job as pet parents to learn that language.
This article isn’t meant to scare you or turn you into a hypochondriac for your dog or cat. My goal is to give you the confidence to know when a weird quirk is just a weird quirk, and when it’s a five-alarm fire that needs a vet, STAT.
Think of this as your go-to guide, written in plain English, for those heart-dropping moments when you look at your furry friend and think, “This isn’t right.”
A Night We’ll Never Forget: Buster’s Story
Last year, around 2 AM, our terrier mix, Buster, started acting… off. He wasn’t his usual, shadow-like self. Instead of sleeping on my feet, he was pacing. Then, he tried to vomit, but nothing came out. Just this unproductive, hunching gagging. He looked back at his belly, then at me, with this confused and anxious expression.
My partner and I were googling frantically: “Dog gagging but not throwing up.” The word “Bloat” kept popping up, and my blood ran cold. We knew it was serious. We threw on jackets, grabbed Buster, and raced to the 24-hour emergency vet.
The vet tech took one look at him and whisked him away. The vet later told us that his stomach had twisted—a condition called GDV. He needed emergency surgery. “You guys did the right thing coming in immediately,” she said. “Another hour or two, and we would be having a very different conversation.”
Buster is snoring beside me as I write this, a small scar on his belly the only reminder of that terrifying night. That experience drilled into me just how crucial it is to know what to look for. It’s not about being a vet; it’s about being a good detective for your pet.
So, let’s break down the top 10 symptoms that deserve your immediate attention.
The “Get to the Vet NOW” List
1. The Unproductive Dry Heave (The “Buster” Symptom)
- What it looks like: Your dog is trying to vomit but nothing, or just a little foam or mucus, is coming up. They might be restless, drooling, and have a distended or painful belly.
- What it might mean: This is the classic sign of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), or “bloat.” This is a true life-or-death emergency. The stomach fills with gas and can twist on itself, cutting off blood flow. It’s most common in large, deep-chested dogs like Great Danes and German Shepherds, but it can happen to any dog.
- What to do: Do not wait. Do not try home remedies. Go to the emergency vet immediately. Time is tissue, and in this case, it’s your dog’s stomach tissue.
2. Trouble Breathing: It’s More Than Just Panting
- What it looks like: Noisy, labored breathing (you can see their belly working hard), coughing that won’t stop, blue or purple gums/tongue, or stretching their neck out to breathe. Cats may breathe with their mouth open, which is never normal for them.
- What it might mean: Anything from asthma and heart failure to a foreign object stuck in the throat, pneumonia, or a severe allergic reaction.
- What to do: Keep yourself and your pet calm (panic makes it worse), and head straight to the vet. Do not attempt to put anything in their mouth or give them water.
3. The “I Gave Birth to a Raspberry” Gums
- How to check: Gently lift your pet’s lip and look at their gums. They should be a healthy bubblegum pink. Press lightly on the gum; the white spot should return to pink within 1-2 seconds (this is called capillary refill time).
- The Red Flags:
- Pale, White, or Blue Gums: Indicates shock, severe anemia, or internal bleeding.
- Bright Red Gums: Can indicate fever, sepsis, or poisoning.
- Yellow Gums: A sign of liver problems.
- Tacky or Dry Gums: A sign of dehydration.
- What to do: Any color other than pink is a major red flag. See a vet immediately.
4. The Sudden Collapse or Can’t Stand Up
- What it looks like: Your pet suddenly stumbles, falls over, or can’t get up on their own. They may seem weak, dazed, or unconscious.
- What it might mean: This is a big, scary symptom with many potential causes: severe internal bleeding, a neurological event (like a stroke), a heart problem, extreme pain, or severe low blood sugar.
- What to do: Try to keep them as still and calm as possible. If they are large, carefully slide them onto a blanket to use as a stretcher. Do not try to make them drink or eat. Get to the vet.
5. Seizures and Twitching
- What it looks like: Collapsing, stiffening, jerking muscles, chomping, foaming at the mouth, and loss of consciousness. They may also urinate or defecate. After the seizure, they often seem disoriented and confused (this is the “post-ictal” phase).
- What it might mean: Epilepsy, toxin ingestion, brain tumor, or metabolic disease.
- What to do:
- DO NOT put your hand in their mouth. They will not swallow their tongue, and you will get bitten.
- Clear the area around them so they don’t hurt themselves on furniture.
- Time the seizure.
- If the seizure lasts more than 2-3 minutes, or if they have multiple seizures in a row without waking up, it’s an emergency. Otherwise, keep them safe, and call your vet as soon as the seizure ends.
6. Obvious Signs of Extreme Pain
- What it looks like: Pets hide pain instinctively, so if they’re showing it, it’s severe. This includes: crying, whining, howling, aggression or biting when touched (especially in a normally sweet pet), trembling, hiding, or a hunched-back posture (like a “prayer” position in dogs).
- What it might mean: Anything from a broken bone and an internal blockage to pancreatitis or a spinal injury.
- What to do: Approach with caution to avoid being bitten. Comfort them gently and get them to the vet. Pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and it needs to be addressed.
7. Straining to Pee or Poop (With Nothing Coming Out)
- For Poop: Repeatedly trying to defecate with little or no result, along with vomiting and a painful belly.
- The Concern: A potential bowel obstruction (they ate a toy/sock) which is serious.
- For Pee (Especially in Male Cats): Frequent trips to the litter box, crying in the box, straining, and only producing small drops of blood-tinged urine.
- The Concern: This is a URINARY BLOCKAGE. This is a cat emergency. A blockage can be fatal within 24 hours as toxins build up.
- What to do: For either scenario, do not wait. An obstruction is a critical situation.
8. The Vomit/Diarrhea Double Whammy
A single bout of vomit or diarrhea might not be an emergency (think: dietary indiscretion, aka getting into the trash). But it becomes urgent when:
- It’s frequent and projectile.
- There’s blood in it (bright red or dark, coffee-ground-like).
- It’s accompanied by lethargy, pain, or a fever.
- What it might mean: Severe infection, poisoning, parvovirus (in unvaccinated dogs), or a foreign body.
- What to do: If it’s persistent and severe, or has blood, it’s time for the vet. Dehydration from fluid loss is a major risk.
9. Eye Injuries and Sudden Eye Problems
Eyes are not something to “wait and see” on.
- What it looks like: Sudden squinting, pawing at the eye, severe redness, cloudiness, a visible third eyelid across the eye, the pupil being a different size than the other, or any obvious trauma or protrusion.
- What it might mean: A scratch on the cornea, glaucoma (a painful pressure buildup), or a foreign object.
- What to do: These conditions are incredibly painful and can lead to permanent blindness very quickly. Seek veterinary care the same day.
10. Known Exposure to Toxins
- Common culprits: Human medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen), certain sugar-free gums (xylitol), antifreeze, rat poison, certain plants (lilies are HIGHLY toxic to cats), and certain human foods (grapes, raisins, chocolate).
- What to do: Do not wait for symptoms to appear! Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately. Have the packaging of the toxin ready. There’s often a small fee, but it’s worth it for lifesaving advice. They will tell you if you need to induce vomiting (NEVER do this unless instructed, as it can be dangerous for some toxins).
Your Day-to-Day Pet Detective Kit
- Know Their “Normal”: What’s their normal gum color? Their normal energy level? Their normal breathing rate while sleeping? Knowing their baseline is your superpower.
- Do a Weekly “Paw-to-Tail” Check: Make it a cuddle session. Feel for lumps, bumps, or sore spots. Check their ears, eyes, and teeth. This helps you notice subtle changes early.
- Trust Your Gut: You know your pet better than anyone. If your intuition is screaming that something is wrong, even if you can’t pinpoint it, call your vet. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
FAQs
Q: My vet is closed! What do I do?
A: Know the location and phone number of your nearest 24/7 emergency animal hospital before you have an emergency. Save it in your phone right now!
Q: Should I call the vet first or just go?
A: For clear, critical symptoms (trouble breathing, collapse, seizure), just go. For less clear situations, a quick call can help you decide. They may say, “Come in now,” or “You can monitor for the next few hours.”
Q: This is scary! Am I going to be panicking the whole time?
A: It’s natural to be scared. But knowledge is power. By reading this, you’re already ahead of the game. Take a deep breath, focus on the specific symptom you’re seeing, and take action. You can do this.
Q: Is pet insurance worth it for emergencies?
A: 100%. An emergency visit can easily cost thousands of dollars. Pet insurance allows you to make medical decisions based on what’s best for your pet, not what’s best for your bank account
