Something
feels different.
You know your pet better than anyone. Changes in eating, behaviour, movement, comfort or everyday habits can be worth discussing with your veterinary team. This guide helps you organize what you’ve noticed and decide when a veterinary conversation may be appropriate.
You don’t need to know
what’s wrong to ask.
Many different conditions can cause similar changes in pets, which is why a symptom alone cannot tell you the cause. Your role at home is not to diagnose your pet. What helps is noticing changes, gathering useful information and sharing it with your veterinary team when you are concerned.
Start with
the change.
Choose the area that best matches what you’ve noticed. This does not diagnose your pet. Instead, it shows useful things to observe and communicate to your veterinary team.
Their routine can tell you a lot.
A change in appetite or drinking can happen for many different reasons. What matters is recognizing that something is different for your pet and being able to describe the change.
Notice. Observe.
Share. Assess.
You do not need to solve the problem before contacting your veterinarian. Clear observations can help your veterinary team understand what has changed.
Something changed.
Start with what looks, feels or seems different from your pet’s normal routine.
Gather the details.
Think about when you first noticed it, whether it has changed and what else is happening.
Tell your vet.
Explain what you have observed and share relevant history, medications and recent changes.
Let the vet investigate.
Veterinary assessment helps determine what the observations may mean and what, if anything, should happen next.
Help us see
the full picture.
You do not need perfect notes. A few useful details can help your veterinary team understand what has been happening at home.
Think about approximately when the change began.
Mention whether it seems different, more noticeable or less noticeable.
Appetite, drinking, toileting, activity, sleep and behaviour can all provide context.
Bring an accurate list of anything your pet currently receives.
Mention changes in food, environment, routine, travel or other relevant circumstances.
When appropriate, a photo or video of something that happens intermittently may help you explain what you observed.
Veterinary care can
start before symptoms.
Veterinary visits are also part of preventive care. Routine examinations give your veterinary team an opportunity to assess your pet, discuss preventive care and talk about changes in health, lifestyle or life stage. The appropriate visit schedule depends on the individual pet.
This isn’t a
symptom checker.
Similar signs can have very different causes.
The interactive sections on this page are designed to help pet owners organize their observations, not determine a diagnosis or treatment.
If you are worried about your pet, contact a veterinary professional who can advise you based on the individual situation and determine whether an examination is appropriate.
Still not
sure?
You do not need to be certain that something is wrong before asking your veterinary team for guidance.
About this guide
This page provides general educational information only. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace veterinary assessment or advice. The significance of any change depends on the individual pet, their health history and the circumstances. If you are concerned about your pet, contact a veterinary professional for guidance.
You know when they’re
not quite themselves.
Tell us what you’ve noticed. The First Pet veterinary team can help you understand whether a veterinary visit is appropriate.