How Do You Know if Your Dog or Cat Should See a Veterinarian?

As you and your pet move through life together, you may wonder at times, "How do I know if my pet is healthy?" After all, they're the pal you come home to, who stays by your side through thick and thin — wondering about their health is natural because you want them around for as long as possible.

A healthy pet shows consistent physical and behavioral patterns. In this guide, we'll cover how to distinguish between what's considered healthy and what's concerning, focusing on what to look for and when to know if a vet visit is necessary.

What does a healthy dog or cat actually look like?

The signs of a healthy dog or cat aren't just physical — they encompass a wide range of factors, from how they look to how they act. Just as with us human pet parents, who have a plethora of elements contributing to overall health, dogs and cats do, too!

The foundation of dog and cat health is physical and behavioral (including their level of stress or any changes in temperament). It's important for pet parents to not only notice specific signs or symptoms but also take a holistic view of their pet's overall health, including all the subtle and not-so-subtle factors contributing to their quality of life.

Physical signs of a healthy pet

So, you're wondering if your pet is healthy. Let's start with the physical signs of a healthy cat or dog:

• Clear eyes. Your pet's eyes should be bright, clear, and free of redness or discharge.
• Clean ears. Ears should also be free of discharge and have no odor, redness, or swelling.
• Moist nose. Healthy dog and cat noses are usually moist (not excessively wet) and slightly cool.
• Healthy mouth. Good pet dental hygiene means that their gums should generally be light pink with no bleeding, teeth shouldn't be discolored or loose or have any accumulation of dental tartar, and breath shouldn't have a bad odor.
• Healthy coat and skin. Your dog or cat's coat should be glossy, not matted or tangled, and without any bald spots or excessive shedding (unless it's due to seasonal shedding). Their skin shouldn't have any redness, hot spots, or wounds.
• Stable weight. Your pet's ribs or hip bones should not be clearly visible, but you should be able to feel their ribs when touching their area. Dogs and cats at a healthy weight shouldn't have sagging tummies, but they should have a defined waistline. (Keep in mind that cats have a primordial pouch, a loose flap of skin hanging down on their underside.)
• Good appetite, hydration, and bathroom routine. They should be eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom at frequencies recommended/approved by their vet.
• Grooming themselves normally. Their grooming routine should be consistent. Cats especially should exhibit typical, routine self-cleaning behaviors.
• Normal breathing. Breathing and heart rate should be normal given the environment and/or conditions. For example, while they may have a higher heart rate and breathe more heavily after exercise, your dog or cat shouldn't exhibit these signs during rest time. Additionally, panting is common in dogs but uncommon in cats, potentially indicating a health concern.

Behavioral signs of a healthy pet

Next up in the pet health checklist are behavioral and emotional signs that your pet is healthy:

• Normal energy levels. Your dog or cat should show consistent levels of energy. Maybe your dog breed needs lots and lots of exercise (and asks for it), or perhaps your cat has a balance of energy bursts and cuddle time.
• Engagement and responsiveness. How does your pet respond to you on a daily basis? If they feel comfortable and safe, your dog or cat should engage with you (whether with a wagging tail or a relaxed purr), respond to your initiation of playtime, and generally show trust of you and the home.
• Stable temperament. All pets — even those within the same breed — have different personalities and temperaments. Your dog or cat should show consistency and stability with their usual temperament.

Subtle signs something might be off

The following are some subtle signs and symptoms that your pet may be in pain or have a health issue that needs closer monitoring and evaluation:

• Appetite changes. Is your pet eating more or less than usual? Are they refusing meals or eating rapidly when kibble hits the bowl? Even subtle changes in their appetite may indicate that something is off.
• Minor weight shifts. If your pet seems to be unintentionally gaining or losing weight, this could be a sign of underlying health issues, over- or under-feeding, or too much or too little exercise. Every pet's ideal weight is different, so talk with your vet about what the ideal number is for your pet.
• Energy dips. If your dog or cat seems less energetic than usual, they may or may not be dealing with a health issue.
• Changes in bathroom patterns. Notice any changes in your cat's litter box routine and your dog's bathroom routine. Increases or decreases in urination frequency or volume or changes in bowel movements could be a sign of digestive or other health issues.
• Changes in sleep patterns. Look for out-of-the-ordinary sleep behaviors, such as your dog or cat sleeping more or less than usual, snoring or breathing irregularly while they sleep, or appearing to be in discomfort during sleep.
• Difficulty moving. If your pet suddenly has difficulty getting up from the floor, walking, or doing the activities they usually do with ease, this may be a sign that they have a physical health issue. Similarly, moving more slowly or refusing to make a particular movement could be a sign that something is amiss.
• New anxiety or aggression. If your furry pal exhibits new signs of anxiety, such as hiding or clinginess, or shows aggression that isn't normal behavior for them, this could indicate that something else is going on.

When to check in with a veterinarian

Even with subtle signs that your pet might be dealing with something out of the ordinary, you could very well still wonder, "How do I know if my pet is healthy?" Subtle signs and symptoms don't necessarily scream "take action," so it's important to understand when a vet visit is warranted. Here are some tips.

Subtle changes

Subtle changes in their physical health, patterns/routines, and behaviors, such as some of those listed in the previous section, may not lead you to believe that something is amiss with your pet. While that may very well be true (for example, maybe you've added a new pet to the household and your current dog is a bit anxious with their new environment), even subtle differences in their "normal" can be budding health issues that need attention.

Sudden, significant changes or emergencies

Some changes may be more sudden and/or more noticeable, such as pet ear infections, limping, lethargy, wounds or injuries, vomiting, diarrhea, and so on. Any significant issues and emergency situations should be dealt with immediately. Call your vet or take your pet to an emergency pet clinic, if needed, to have your dog or cat evaluated and treated promptly.

When in doubt, call the vet

Your pet's level of health might not be obvious at times, so wondering "Is my dog healthy? Is my cat healthy? How do I really know?" is normal, especially for new pet parents. Some conditions may be slow in development, so changes could be gradual — and therefore less likely to notice until something is really wrong. In these cases, pet parents may normalize the gradual changes as their dog or cat's new baseline.

Additionally, dogs and cats both tend to hide pain and illness. This is instinctual behavior, likely originating from when they needed to protect themselves in the wild. This makes it even more important for pet parents to take note of changes in behavior, routine, and temperament over time, as these could be indications that your pet is struggling with an underlying health issue.

If you're concerned about a new behavior or physical issue, the safest bet is to schedule a vet visit to ensure that your furry companion can get a professional diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

How preventative care helps keep pets healthy

Taking your dog or cat for annual vet checkups is crucial for keeping them healthy and happy. Establishing care from the minute you bring your pet home gives you and your vet a detailed look at your pet's health baseline and allows you to see their medical history over time. This allows your vet to notice health trends and identify if further evaluations, at-home care, or treatments need to be implemented.

Preventative care and routine veterinary exams are important for early detection of health issues, which can create more successful long-term outcomes.

If you're curious how often to take your pet to the vet, chat with your veterinarian about ideal time frames. For instance, younger and older pets, and those with certain medical conditions, likely need routine checkups more often than healthy adult pets.

How pet insurance supports ongoing health

Along with preventative care at home and routine vet visits, pet insurance can play an important role in your pet's health. That's because pet insurance helps you pay for the cost of covered medications, treatments, and more for your pet — all to ensure that they get the necessary treatment they need to improve their health.

When you sign up for a Trupanion pet insurance policy, you'll get access to robust coverage for covered conditions, injuries, illnesses, diagnostic tests, and more.