Greenbriar Animal Hospital

Decreased activity level, pet is more passive, or is actually lethargic.

Change in appetite or change in usual attitude towards food.

Change in amount of barking/meowing, or change in the sound of their voice.

Accidents in house and/or outside litter box (stools, urine, or both).

Weight gain or weight loss, unexplained by changes in food and exercise levels.

Any new lumps, bumps, or growths, or obvious changes in old lumps.

Changes in hair coat (thinner hair, hair loss, dull, dry hair, knots in coat, etc.).

(Cats) Any coughing and/or wheezing (you can hear noisy breathing)?

(Dogs) Daily coughing and/or sneezing episodes, especially if ‘stuff’ comes out.

Bad breath and/or red gums (this is never normal for cats or dogs).

(Cats) Used to bury stool in litter, but now leaves them on top.

(Dogs) Frequent unexplained bouts of shivering and/or panting, not from being tired, scared, or overheated.

(Cats) Vomiting (even if almost always hairballs) more than 1-2 times per month.

Loose or inconsistent stools (normal stools should be firm “logs”), or less frequent, hard stools. Cats and dogs should have one or more stools per day.

Change in drinking and/or urinating, especially if drinking more.

Stiffness when getting up, slow or reluctant on stairs.

(Dogs) Less interested on walks, or wants to go home early.

(Cats) Rarely or no longer jumping up onto furniture and/or counters.