My Dog Explains
Is it normal, or time for the vet?
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30-Day Calm Dog Workbook
30-Day Calm Dog Workbook · $7.99A simple daily plan and tracker for barking, pulling and panic when you leave. Printable PDF, 22 pages.Get it now → How much does your dog shed? Free 1-minute checkThree questions, then the brush, vacuum or roller that fits your answer. No email needed to see the result.Check now →
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Things that help
The things dog owners reach for, sorted by the problem they solve.
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How we choose
We pick everyday things, from makers with a long track record, for problems that have an honest everyday answer. We list nothing for a sign whose right answer may be a vet, and no supplements, ear cleaners or anything that can mask a symptom. We show no prices, because Amazon prices change; the link takes you to the current one. We may earn a commission, and it never changes an urgency level — the level comes from the source data before any product is shown. Full editorial policy.
Every sign in the check
All 15 signs, sorted by urgency
These are the 15 signs the free check covers. The level below is where a sign starts; ticking a red flag moves it up. There are also 4 signs that override everything and mean an emergency on their own.
- Ate something forbiddenVet now
- Drinking or peeing moreVet in 24 to 48 hoursRed flag that makes it an emergency: Straining to pee but little or nothing comes out
- Bad breath or teethWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Something is stuck in the mouth, or the mouth is bleeding after chewing
- CoughingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Breathing fast or hard while resting or asleep
- DiarrheaWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Black, tarry poop, or a lot of blood (looks like raspberry jam)
- Eating grassWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Trying to vomit but nothing comes up, or a swollen, hard belly
- Itching or licking pawsWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Sudden swelling of the face or muzzle, or hives all over
- LimpingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Hit by a car, fell from a height, or was attacked by another animal
- Low energy / lethargyWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: It’s hot or after exercise, with heavy panting, drooling or wobbling
- Not eatingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Trying to vomit but nothing comes up, or a swollen, hard belly
- Scooting (dragging bottom)Watch and log
- Scratching ear or shaking headWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Head tilt, loss of balance, walking in circles, or eyes flicking side to side
- Shaking or tremblingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: May have eaten something toxic (xylitol, chocolate, medications, moldy food, slug pellets)
- Sneezing or reverse sneezingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Struggles to breathe between episodes, or an episode won’t stop
- VomitingWatch and logRed flag that makes it an emergency: Trying to vomit but nothing comes up, or a swollen, hard belly
4 signs that are an emergency on their own
- Struggling to breathe, or gums look pale, white, blue or gray
- Collapsed, can’t stand up, or is unusually unresponsive
- Having or just had a seizure (stiff body, paddling legs, not responding)
- In severe pain: crying out, or can’t get comfortable
Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet clinic now. Don’t wait to see if it passes.
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.
Free email challenge
Barking, pulling, panic when you leave? 7 days to a calmer dog.
One 5-minute exercise a day, built on positive-reinforcement methods from AKC and ASPCA. Bonus: the printable Normal or Vet? 25 Signs checklist.
Want a look first? Read Day 1 of the 7-Day Calm Dog Challenge right now.
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).