Symptoms A–Z
Not sure what a symptom means? Start with what you’re noticing.
Browse common signs in dogs and cats, understand when they may need attention, and find the right PetWellness guide.
A
Abdominal pain
A sore or tender belly can have many causes, from mild upset to something serious.
Guide in veterinary reviewAbdominal swelling / bloating
A suddenly swollen, hard or bloated belly — especially with retching — can be a life-threatening emergency.
Guide in veterinary reviewAbnormal breathing
Fast, laboured or noisy breathing, or breathing with the mouth open, needs urgent attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewAggression / behaviour change
A sudden change in temperament can be behavioural or a sign of pain or illness.
Guide in veterinary reviewAnxiety / restlessness
Pacing, hiding or being unable to settle can reflect stress, discomfort or illness.
Guide in veterinary reviewB
Bad breath
Persistent bad breath often points to dental disease or, less often, other illness.
Guide in veterinary reviewBleeding
Active bleeding that won't stop, or heavy bleeding, needs prompt veterinary care.
Guide in veterinary reviewBleeding gums
Bleeding from the gums can signal dental disease or a clotting problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewBlood in stool
Blood in the stool ranges from a minor issue to something needing prompt care.
Guide in veterinary reviewBlood in urine
Blood in the urine should be checked — and in a cat that can't pass urine, treat as an emergency.
Guide in veterinary reviewBlood in vomit
Vomiting blood, or material like coffee grounds, needs prompt veterinary attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewBlue or grey gums
Blue, grey or purple gums can mean your pet isn't getting enough oxygen — an emergency.
Guide in veterinary reviewC
Can't stand
A pet that suddenly can't stand or bear weight needs prompt veterinary care.
Guide in veterinary reviewCan't urinate / straining to urinate
Straining with little or no urine — especially in male cats — can be a life-threatening emergency.
Read guideCat vomiting
Cats vomit for many reasons; frequent or repeated vomiting, or a cat also off food, needs a vet. A cat-specific guide is in review.
Guide in veterinary reviewChange in snoring / noisy breathing
New snoring or noisy breathing is worth mentioning, especially in flat-faced breeds.
Guide in veterinary reviewChoking
Choking or something stuck in the airway is an immediate emergency — seek help now.
Guide in veterinary reviewCircling
Repeatedly circling or turning one way can point to a neurological or ear problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewCloudy eyes
A cloudy, hazy or bluish eye should be examined, especially if sudden or painful.
Guide in veterinary reviewCollapse / fainting
Collapse or fainting is an emergency, even if your pet recovers quickly.
Guide in veterinary reviewConstipation
Difficulty passing stool, or going less often, is worth checking — and don't confuse it with urinary straining.
Guide in veterinary reviewCoughing
A cough can be mild or important, especially with breathing changes or lethargy.
Guide in veterinary reviewCrying / vocalising
Unusual crying, whimpering or yowling can signal pain, stress or disorientation.
Guide in veterinary reviewD
Dandruff / flaky skin
Flaky or scaly skin is common and usually not urgent, but persistent cases warrant a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewDark or tarry stool
Black, tarry stool can mean digested blood from higher in the gut and needs prompt care.
Guide in veterinary reviewDehydration
Tacky gums, sunken eyes or skin that stays tented suggest dehydration.
Guide in veterinary reviewDiarrhoea
Loose or watery stool is often short-lived, but blood, duration and your pet's state matter.
Read guideDifficulty chewing
Dropping food or chewing on one side often points to dental or mouth pain.
Guide in veterinary reviewDifficulty swallowing
Repeated swallowing, gulping or trouble getting food down should be checked.
Guide in veterinary reviewDisorientation
Confusion, staring or seeming lost can signal a neurological or metabolic problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewDrooling
Excess drooling can reflect nausea, mouth pain, or something stuck — context matters.
Guide in veterinary reviewDry / cracked paw pads
Rough, dry or cracked paw pads can come from heat, surfaces or a skin condition.
Guide in veterinary reviewE
Ear problems
Head-shaking, odour, discharge or scratching usually point to an ear-canal problem.
Read guideExcessive barking
A change in barking can be behavioural or a response to discomfort or stress.
Guide in veterinary reviewExcessive licking / overgrooming
Constant licking or grooming can signal itch, pain, or stress — cats may create bald patches.
Guide in veterinary reviewExcessive panting
Panting is normal after activity or heat, but heavy panting at rest is worth checking.
Guide in veterinary reviewExcessive thirst / drinking a lot
Drinking noticeably more than usual is worth checking with your vet.
Guide in veterinary reviewExcessive urination
Passing much more urine than usual can point to several treatable conditions.
Guide in veterinary reviewEye discharge / watery eyes
Weepy or goopy eyes are common; persistent, coloured or painful discharge needs a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewEye redness
A red or bloodshot eye can be irritation or something needing prompt care.
Guide in veterinary reviewEye swelling
A swollen or puffy eye or eyelid should be examined.
Guide in veterinary reviewF
Face swelling
Sudden facial swelling can be an allergic reaction and needs prompt attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewFever
A pet that feels hot, dull and off-colour may have a fever worth checking.
Guide in veterinary reviewFlatulence / gas
Occasional wind is normal; persistent gas with other signs may need a diet review.
Guide in veterinary reviewFleas / flea dirt
Fleas cause itching and skin disease; check with a flea comb and treat pet and home.
Read guideG
Gagging / retching
Occasional gagging or retching is common; persistent or repeated episodes, or with distress, should be checked.
Guide in veterinary reviewGum colour change
Pale, blue or very red gums can signal a serious problem — check urgently.
Guide in veterinary reviewGum swelling
Swollen or inflamed gums often point to dental disease.
Guide in veterinary reviewH
Hair loss / bald patches
Thinning fur or bald patches can come from parasites, allergies or skin infection.
Guide in veterinary reviewHead tilt
A persistent head tilt can signal an inner-ear or neurological problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewHearing changes
Not responding to sound, or apparent deafness, is worth checking.
Guide in veterinary reviewHeat intolerance
Struggling in the heat needs care — overheating can become an emergency quickly.
Guide in veterinary reviewHind-leg weakness
Weak, wobbly or dragging back legs can signal a spinal or neurological problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewHives
Sudden hives or welts can be an allergic reaction — watch for facial or breathing changes.
Guide in veterinary reviewI
Incontinence
Leaking urine or dribbling, or wetting the bed, should be checked.
Guide in veterinary reviewIncreased appetite
Eating much more than usual can point to several treatable conditions.
Guide in veterinary reviewIrritated / red skin
Red, sore or inflamed skin can come from allergies, infection or irritation.
Guide in veterinary reviewItching / scratching
Constant scratching usually means fleas, allergies, mites or skin infection.
Read guideJ
Jaw pain
Pain around the jaw or reluctance to open the mouth should be examined.
Guide in veterinary reviewJaw swelling
A swelling or lump around the jaw needs a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewJoint pain
Sore, stiff or achy joints are common, especially with age — a vet can help with comfort.
Guide in veterinary reviewJoint swelling
A swollen or puffy joint should be examined.
Guide in veterinary reviewK
Knuckling over on paws
Walking on the top of the paw (knuckling) can signal a nerve or spinal problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewL
Lethargy
Unusual tiredness, dullness or low energy is a common, non-specific sign of illness.
Guide in veterinary reviewLimping / lameness
Limping means something hurts in the leg — mild cases may rest, but some need a vet now.
Read guideLoss of balance
Wobbliness, falling or an unsteady gait can signal an ear or neurological problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewLoss of coordination
Stumbling or clumsy movement can point to a neurological problem and needs a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewLump / swelling
Any new lump, mass or swelling should be examined — most are checked to be safe.
Guide in veterinary reviewM
Mouth pain
Signs of a sore mouth — pawing at the face, dropping food — need a dental check.
Guide in veterinary reviewMouth ulcers
Ulcers or sores in the mouth should be examined.
Guide in veterinary reviewMucus in stool
A little mucus or slime in the stool is common with mild upsets; persistent cases need a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewMuscle weakness
Generalised weakness can have many causes and is worth investigating.
Guide in veterinary reviewN
Nail / claw injury
A torn, broken or bleeding nail is common and usually treatable — keep it clean.
Guide in veterinary reviewNasal discharge
A runny nose can be minor; thick, coloured or one-sided discharge needs a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewNausea signs
Drooling, lip-licking or repeated swallowing can signal nausea.
Guide in veterinary reviewNose bleeding
A nosebleed should be checked, especially if repeated or heavy.
Guide in veterinary reviewNose dryness / crusting
A dry or crusty nose is often minor, but persistent crusting is worth a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewNot eating / loss of appetite
Appetite loss is a common sign of illness — and in cats it becomes urgent quickly.
Read guideO
Oily coat
A greasy or oily coat can reflect a skin condition and is worth a check if persistent.
Guide in veterinary reviewOpen-mouth breathing at rest / breathing distress
In cats, open-mouth breathing at rest is a serious emergency. In dogs, panting is normal — but genuine breathing distress (not routine panting) needs urgent care.
Guide in veterinary reviewP
Painful urination
Signs of pain when urinating need a check — and if little or no urine passes, treat as urgent.
Guide in veterinary reviewPale gums
Very pale or white gums can indicate blood loss or shock and needs urgent care.
Guide in veterinary reviewParalysis / sudden weakness
Sudden inability to move the legs, or dragging limbs, is an emergency.
Guide in veterinary reviewPaw swelling
A swollen paw or foot can come from injury, infection or a foreign object.
Guide in veterinary reviewPot belly
A distended 'pot-bellied' look can come from parasites (in pups/kittens) or other causes.
Guide in veterinary reviewPus / discharge
Pus or discharge from a wound or the body signals infection and needs a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewQ
Quiet / withdrawn
A pet that's unusually quiet, withdrawn or hiding may be unwell — watch other signs.
Guide in veterinary reviewR
Rash
A skin rash, red bumps or spots can come from allergies, parasites or infection.
Guide in veterinary reviewReduced responsiveness
A dull, unresponsive pet that's hard to rouse needs prompt attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewReluctance to jump
Jumping less, or hesitating to jump, often signals joint pain — common and treatable.
Guide in veterinary reviewRepeated swallowing
Frequent gulping or swallowing can signal nausea or throat irritation.
Guide in veterinary reviewRestlessness
Being unable to settle can reflect discomfort, stress or illness.
Guide in veterinary reviewReverse sneezing
Sudden snorting 'reverse sneezing' is usually harmless but worth mentioning if frequent.
Guide in veterinary reviewS
Scooting
Dragging the bottom along the ground often points to anal-gland irritation or itch.
Guide in veterinary reviewSeizures
A seizure or fit is an emergency, especially if it's the first, prolonged or repeated.
Guide in veterinary reviewShaking / trembling
Trembling can come from cold, fear, pain or, sometimes, a toxin — context matters.
Guide in veterinary reviewSkin sores
Raw, weeping or crusted skin sores (hot spots) usually need treatment.
Guide in veterinary reviewSneezing
Occasional sneezing is common; frequent sneezing or discharge is worth a check.
Guide in veterinary reviewStiffness
Stiffness or being slow to rise often signals joint pain, common with age.
Guide in veterinary reviewStraining to defecate
Straining to pass stool needs a check — and shouldn't be confused with urinary straining.
Guide in veterinary reviewSudden altered awareness
Sudden episodes of altered awareness or unresponsiveness need prompt attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewSudden weakness
Sudden weakness or collapse-like episodes need prompt veterinary care.
Guide in veterinary reviewT
Ticks
Found a tick? Remove it promptly and correctly, then watch for signs of illness.
Read guideTrouble walking
Difficulty walking, stumbling or wobbling can signal pain or a neurological problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewTwitching
Muscle or facial twitching is worth checking, especially if repeated.
Guide in veterinary reviewU
Unusual urine colour
Dark, orange, cloudy or bloody urine should be checked.
Guide in veterinary reviewUrinating in the wrong place
New indoor accidents, or a cat avoiding the litter tray, can be medical or behavioural.
Guide in veterinary reviewV
Very dry / flaky skin
Very dry, flaky skin is usually manageable; persistent cases warrant a skin check.
Guide in veterinary reviewVoice / bark or meow change
A hoarse or changed bark or meow can follow strain or, sometimes, a throat problem.
Guide in veterinary reviewVomiting (dog)
Occasional vomiting is common; repeated vomiting, blood, or a dull dog needs a vet. This guide is dog-specific.
Read guideW
Weakness after exercise
Tiring quickly or weakness after activity is worth investigating.
Guide in veterinary reviewWeight gain
Unplanned weight gain affects joints and health and is worth reviewing with your vet.
Guide in veterinary reviewWeight loss
Unintended weight loss is a clinical clue — in older cats especially, don't ignore it.
Guide in veterinary reviewWheezing
Wheezing or whistling breathing needs a check, promptly if your pet seems distressed.
Guide in veterinary reviewWorms visible in stool
Visible worms or rice-like segments mean it's time for a vet-guided worming plan.
Read guideWounds
Clean minor wounds and monitor; deep, dirty, bleeding or painful wounds need a vet.
Guide in veterinary reviewY
Yellow discharge
Thick yellow discharge from the eyes, nose or a wound suggests infection.
Guide in veterinary reviewYellow gums, skin or eyes
A yellow tinge (jaundice) to the gums, eyes or skin needs prompt veterinary attention.
Guide in veterinary reviewZ
Zoning out / staring episodes
Brief staring or 'zoning out' episodes can be a form of seizure and should be checked.
Guide in veterinary reviewNo symptom matches that yet. Try another word, or if your pet is unwell, start with Emergency.