Pets can behave in truly odd ways at times, but those odd behaviors do not always indicate an underlying problem. Still, anything out of the ordinary for your pet could be a cause for concern, as medical issues can manifest in different ways for different pets. At West Vets ER, we’re familiar with the many physical and behavioral signs that indicate your pet needs veterinary care, so we share signs that could indicate a problem that means you should reach out to our team.

Normal pet behaviors

Some things pets do are simply odd, but may still alarm pet owners who have never seen or experienced such behaviors before. However, you can rest assured about the following, which are normal in most pets and seldom cause for alarm, unless they occur frequently or seem to bother your pet:

  • Reverse sneezing — Sometimes, instead of sneezing outward, pets will forcefully inhale several times in quick succession to clear an irritant from their nasal passages or the back of their throat. 
  • Nail grooming in cats — Cats have an outer nail husk that they periodically shed to reveal new, sharp nails underneath. If you see your cat pull off a nail or find one around the house—don’t worry. 
  • Flehmen response — When dogs or cats smell or taste something intriguing, they may have a flehmen response, which looks like teeth chattering or lip smacking and helps transport smells to the vomeronasal organ on the roof of the mouth. 

When to call about wellness veterinary care

Wellness care is appropriate when your pet is healthy and you have no major concerns, but you want them checked and the opportunity to discuss their overall care. All pets should visit the veterinarian at least once yearly, preferably twice yearly for seniors or pets with existing medical conditions. Wellness visits are important to help us detect subtle disease signs you may not have noticed at home, because early detection facilitates early intervention and better treatment outcomes for many chronic or aging diseases. Annual visits are also crucial to update vaccinations, control parasites, and provide preventive care.

When to schedule a sick veterinary visit

Sick veterinary visits are scheduled appointments for a sick pet to be checked during regular hours. Most of your pet’s health concerns will fall into this category—concerning signs that you notice at home, but are not life-threatening emergencies. We do our best to accommodate all sick pets a few days after your call and will prioritize the sickest pets whenever possible. 

Some of the most common clinical illness signs that warrant calling us to schedule a sick visit include:

  • Vomiting or diarrhea in pets who continue to eat and act normally otherwise
  • Sneezing or coughing
  • Eye discharge or redness
  • Increased thirst or urine production
  • Increased or decreased appetite or weight
  • Limping
  • Itchy skin or ears
  • Hair loss
  • Urinary accidents or urgency
  • Scooting

When to seek emergency veterinary care

Emergency veterinary visits are our West Vets ER team’s truly shining moments. An emergency visit is warranted if your pet’s problem can’t wait until the next available regular appointment, or when the problem is immediately life-threatening. Contact our team if you notice any of the following clinical signs, which all warrant an emergency veterinary examination:

  • Bleeding
  • Persistent or severe vomiting or diarrhea
  • Extreme lethargy
  • Disorientation, weakness, or confusion
  • New seizures or tremors, or more than one seizure in a 24-hour period
  • Trauma, including falls, fights, bites, or vehicle accidents
  • Eye squinting or injury
  • Toxin ingestion
  • Weakness or paralysis
  • Collapse
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Bloated or swollen abdomen
  • Severe pain
  • Broken bones
  • Straining or inability to urinate

When in doubt, consult a veterinary professional

Sometimes, whether your pet is truly sick, or how sick, is not clear, but whenever you are concerned about your pet for any reason, reach out to a team member for help and advice. 

You know your pet best, so if your gut tells you something is wrong, you should reach out to a West Vets ER or Westerville Veterinary Clinic team member. Our daytime and emergency staff will provide seamless, compassionate care for your pet around the clock. Do not hesitate to contact us if you think your pet is experiencing an emergency, or if you’re unsure about their condition.