Symptom guides

What's going on with your dog?

Common dog symptoms, common causes, and whether you need a vet or not.

Itching & Scratching

Chronic scratching, licking, or biting at skin — often a signal of allergies, parasites, or a skin infection.

Persistent paw licking or chewing — almost always allergies, sometimes boredom or anxiety.

Frequent ear scratching, head shaking, or ear rubbing — usually infection, allergies, or mites.

Favoring a leg, reluctance to jump, or stiffness — could be joint, injury, or paw issue.

Strong or foul breath in dogs usually signals dental disease, sometimes GI or kidney issues.

Panting beyond what makes sense for temperature or exercise — can signal heat stress, pain, anxiety, or heart issues.

Soft or liquid stool — dietary indiscretion is most common; chronic cases point to food sensitivity or inflammatory disease.

Whining, destruction, house-soiling, or panic when left alone — a real and treatable behavioral issue.

Moist, red, painful lesions that appear quickly and spread fast — usually triggered by allergies, moisture, or minor irritation.

Noticeable weight increase, visible rib disappearance, or vet-flagged obesity — the most common preventable health issue in dogs.

Dry hacking, wet cough, or gagging — causes range from kennel cough to heart disease to collapsing trachea.

Watery eyes, crusty discharge, or colored goop — common in flat-faced and toy breeds. Usually mild but sometimes signals infection.

Dog is stiff or slow getting up from sleeping or lying down, then loosens up after moving — classic early arthritis signal.