My Dog Explains
Licking, limping, vomiting. Normal or vet?
25 dog signs sorted by urgency, with a source for each one. A free printable PDF.
Get the checklist
What's inside
25 signs, 3 levels of urgency
From eating grapes or chocolate to one loose stool: what's an emergency, what needs a visit soon, and what you can watch.
A source for every sign
Each one is checked against ASPCA, AVMA, VCA Animal Hospitals or AKC, and says which.
What to write down
When it started, how often it happens, what changed, and a photo or short video. It helps your vet a lot.
Keep it where you can find it
On the fridge or on your phone, for the day your dog does something strange.
Questions
Does this replace my vet?
No. It doesn't diagnose anything. It helps you decide how fast to call, and what to tell your vet when you do.
My dog vomited once. Is that an emergency?
A single mild episode isn't automatically an emergency, but it isn't an all-clear either. Watch closely and write down what you see. If it lasts more than a day or two, keeps coming back, gets worse, or any urgent sign from the list shows up, call your vet.
Is it free?
Yes. No payment and no card. The short emails that follow are optional, and every one has an unsubscribe link.
Not veterinary advice. In an emergency, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital. Poison emergency: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).