What To Do If Your Pet Doesn't Seem Like Themselves

It doesn’t take long for you to know your pet as well as you know a member of your family. Which is why if something feels off, you will know right away. While they might not be able to tell you in words what the problem is, you might notice things such as they aren’t eating their food, they’re not making as much noise, they’re taking themselves off more, or just aren’t playing in their normal way. If your pet doesn’t seem like themselves, it’s important you pay attention. Of course, if you see anything seriously wrong such as if they’re bleeding, swollen in an area, or seem in obvious distress, you should head to an emergency vet near you. In this article we take a look at what to do if your pet doesn’t seem right and how you can hopefully help get them back to normal again as soon as possible.

Make note of what’s not right about them

Before jumping to worst-case scenarios, take a moment to properly assess what’s different. Is your pet eating less? Sleeping more? Avoiding stairs? Acting withdrawn or unusually clingy? Subtle behavioral shifts can sometimes mean they’re uncomfortable, feeling stressed or could be the early stages of illness. Make a note of when the change started and whether it’s been gradual or sudden. This information will be incredibly helpful if you need professional advice as you can just tell the vet your notes and dates.

Check them for any physical issues

Gently look for visible symptoms such as limping, swelling, discharge from the eyes or nose, changes in breathing, vomiting or diarrhea. Run your hands carefully along their body to see if they react to tenderness. For dogs and cats especially, dental pain can also cause mood changes, so check for bad breath or difficulty eating. If anything seems clearly painful or urgent, don’t wait, seek veterinary care straight away.

Think about if something has happened recently that might make them stressed

Pets can be really sensitive to environmental shifts, so while their symptoms might seem physical or bad, it could be that they’re reacting to something in their life that has changed. Have you recently moved house? Changed their food? Or perhaps had a new baby or introduced a new pet? These are all things that could cause them to feel stressed and go off things like their food or favorite toys. If you suspect stress is the cause, try returning to familiar routines and offering extra reassurance. If this doesn’t help, it can be worth getting them checked out to see if anything else is happening.

These are just a few things you should do that can help you to keep an eye on your pet and step in before it gets any worse. As mentioned, your pet can’t speak for themselves so it’s down to you to advocate for them. Your attentiveness can make all the difference both in the short and long term, so it’s important you always err on the side of caution.

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