10 Signs Your Dog Might Be Unwell (And When to Call the Vet)

Dogs can't tell us when something feels wrong. But they can show us. Here's what to look out for, what it might mean and when to get veterinary help.

You know your dog better than anyone.

You know the way they greet you at the door, how excited they get for their favourite walk and exactly what that look means when they want another treat.

So when something changes, even slightly, it's natural to wonder whether something might be wrong.

The tricky part? Dogs can't explain how they're feeling. And some are surprisingly good at hiding discomfort.

Not every change means something serious. But recognising the signs of illness early can help you make better decisions about your dog's health.

Here are 10 things every dog owner should know.

1. They're Not Acting Like Themselves

Sometimes the first sign that something's wrong isn't physical. It's behavioural.

Perhaps your usually energetic dog suddenly wants to sleep all day. Maybe they're less interested in playing, unusually clingy or spending more time hiding away.

Changes in behaviour can have many explanations, including stress, discomfort or illness.

What to look for:

• Unusual tiredness or reluctance to play.
• Withdrawing from people or other pets.
• Restlessness or difficulty settling.
• Sudden irritability or unusual reactions to being touched.

When to call the vet: Contact your vet promptly about a sudden, unexplained change in behaviour, particularly if it persists or comes with other symptoms. Extreme lethargy, collapse or difficulty waking your dog requires emergency care.

The Riley tip: You know what's normal for your dog. Keeping track of changes can make it easier to explain your concerns to a veterinarian.

2. They've Lost Interest in Food

We all know a dog who would do absolutely anything for dinner.

So when a normally enthusiastic eater suddenly ignores their food, it's worth paying attention.

A reduced appetite can be associated with anything from stress and dental discomfort to gastrointestinal or other medical problems.

What to look for:

• Refusing meals they normally enjoy.
• Eating noticeably less than usual.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
• Changes in appetite alongside vomiting, tiredness or pain.

When to call the vet: Seek veterinary advice if your dog unexpectedly stops eating. A lack of food or water intake for 24 hours warrants immediate veterinary assessment, and puppies, very small dogs or dogs with existing conditions may need help much sooner.

Don't wait if your dog is also weak, vomiting repeatedly or showing other worrying symptoms.

The Riley tip: Record when your dog last ate normally and whether their drinking habits have changed.

3. They're Drinking Much More or Less Than Usual

Have you noticed yourself filling the water bowl more frequently?

Or perhaps your dog is barely drinking at all.

Changes in thirst can sometimes be associated with underlying health problems, including kidney disease, diabetes and other conditions.

Hot weather, exercise and diet can also affect water intake.

What to look for:

• Drinking noticeably more than normal.
• Urinating more frequently.
• Drinking less than usual.
• Changes in thirst alongside appetite or weight changes.

When to call the vet: Arrange veterinary assessment for a persistent or unexplained change in drinking or urination. If your dog cannot urinate, appears severely weak or is unable to keep water down, seek urgent veterinary care.

The Riley tip: Rather than guessing, note how often you're refilling their bowl and whether their toilet habits have changed.

4. They're Vomiting or Have Diarrhoea

An isolated episode of vomiting or a slightly upset stomach doesn't always mean an emergency.

But repeated vomiting, ongoing diarrhoea or symptoms accompanied by other changes can be more concerning.

Potential causes range from dietary upset to infections, toxins or intestinal obstruction.

What to look for:

• Repeated vomiting.
• Frequent or watery diarrhoea.
• Blood in vomit or stool.
• Unusual tiredness or abdominal discomfort.
• Difficulty keeping water down.

When to call the vet: Contact your veterinarian for repeated or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially in puppies, older dogs or those with other health conditions.

Seek emergency care for significant blood loss, collapse, severe weakness, a painful or swollen abdomen, or repeated attempts to vomit without producing anything.

The Riley tip: Record when symptoms started, how often they're happening and whether your dog might have eaten something unusual.

5. Their Breathing Sounds or Looks Different

A dog panting after a long walk is usually nothing unusual.

But breathing that looks difficult, unusually rapid at rest or noticeably different from normal should never be ignored.

What to look for:

• Laboured or noisy breathing.
• Breathing unusually fast while resting.
• Persistent coughing.
• Stretching the neck or adopting an unusual posture to breathe.
• Blue, grey or unusually pale gums.

When to call the vet: Difficulty breathing is an emergency. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog is struggling to breathe, collapses or develops blue or grey gums.

A new or persistent cough without breathing distress should also be assessed by a veterinarian.

The Riley tip: If safe to do so, take a short video of unusual breathing or coughing to show your vet. Never delay emergency care to record it.

6. They're Limping or Moving Differently

Dogs don't always cry out when something hurts.

Sometimes pain appears as a subtle change in movement.

They might hesitate before jumping onto the sofa, walk more slowly or seem reluctant to climb stairs.

What to look for:

• Limping or favouring one leg.
• Stiffness after resting.
• Reluctance to jump, run or climb stairs.
• Difficulty standing or lying down.
• Reacting unusually when touched.

When to call the vet: Sudden severe lameness, inability to bear weight, suspected fractures or significant pain require urgent veterinary assessment.

A mild limp that persists or recurs should also be checked rather than ignored.

The Riley tip: A short video of your dog's movement at home can help your vet understand symptoms that aren't always obvious during an appointment.

7. They're Scratching, Licking or Shaking Their Head More Often

An occasional scratch is perfectly normal.

But persistent itching, licking or head shaking can indicate a problem worth investigating.

Possible explanations include parasites, allergies, skin infections or ear conditions.

What to look for:

• Constant scratching or licking.
• Red, irritated or inflamed skin.
• Hair loss or sore patches.
• Repeated head shaking.
• Unusual ear discharge or odour.

When to call the vet: Arrange an appointment for persistent itching, skin irritation or head shaking. Seek more urgent advice if your dog appears very painful, develops sudden facial swelling or has breathing difficulties.

The Riley tip: Take photographs of visible skin changes over time. They can help document whether a problem is improving or getting worse.

8. Their Weight Is Changing Unexpectedly

Weight changes aren't always easy to spot, especially beneath a thick coat.

But unexplained weight loss or gain can be an important clue about your dog's health.

Weight changes may be associated with differences in food intake, activity or an underlying medical condition.

What to look for:

• Gradual or sudden unexplained weight loss.
• Noticeable weight gain without a clear reason.
• Changes in appetite alongside weight changes.
• Reduced energy or other accompanying symptoms.

When to call the vet: Book a veterinary appointment for unexplained weight changes, particularly if they're noticeable or accompanied by changes in appetite, drinking or behaviour.

The Riley tip: Tracking your dog's weight regularly gives you a useful record to discuss with your veterinarian.

9. Their Eyes, Ears or Mouth Look Different

Sometimes the smallest visible changes deserve attention.

Unusual discharge, redness, swelling or discomfort around the eyes, ears or mouth may signal a problem.

What to look for:

• Red, cloudy or painful-looking eyes.
• Squinting or keeping an eye closed.
• Ear discharge or persistent head shaking.
• Bad breath accompanied by difficulty eating.
• Swelling around the face or mouth.

When to call the vet: Eye pain, injury, sudden vision changes or significant swelling require prompt veterinary assessment, and some eye problems are emergencies.

Dental discomfort, persistent ear symptoms or unusual discharge should also be assessed.

The Riley tip: Don't use leftover medication or human eye drops without veterinary instructions.

10. Something Just Doesn't Feel Right

Not every health concern fits neatly into a checklist.

Sometimes it's a combination of small changes.

Your dog seems quieter than usual. They're eating, but not quite as enthusiastically. Their walk is shorter. They're sleeping in a different spot.

Individually, these things might not seem significant.

Together, they could be telling you something important.

When to call the vet: If you're concerned about a new or unexplained change, contacting your veterinarian is a sensible next step. You don't need to wait until your dog appears seriously ill to ask for advice.

The Riley tip: Keeping a record of symptoms, medications, previous conditions and veterinary visits helps you give your vet a clearer picture.

When Is It an Emergency?

Some symptoms shouldn't wait for a routine appointment.

Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog experiences:

• Difficulty breathing or blue, grey or very pale gums.
• Collapse, unconsciousness or inability to stand.
• Ongoing seizures or a seizure that lasts several minutes.
• A swollen, painful abdomen or repeated unsuccessful attempts to vomit.
• Severe bleeding or serious trauma.
• Suspected poisoning.
• Inability to urinate.
• Severe pain or sudden paralysis.
• Signs of heatstroke, including collapse or marked distress.

This isn't an exhaustive list. If you're unsure whether your dog is experiencing an emergency, contact a veterinary professional immediately.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Seems Unwell?

First, observe what's changed.

Consider when the symptoms started, whether they're getting worse and whether anything unusual happened beforehand.

Then:

1. Check for emergency warning signs. If any are present, seek veterinary care immediately.
2. Contact your veterinarian. Describe the symptoms and follow their advice about how quickly your dog needs to be seen.
3. Keep useful information together. Your dog's medical history, medications, previous conditions and recent symptoms can all be relevant.
4. Avoid giving human medication. Some medicines that are safe for people can be dangerous for dogs.
5. Keep monitoring. If your dog's condition worsens, seek further veterinary advice promptly.

You don't need to diagnose your dog yourself. Your job is to recognise when something may be wrong and get appropriate help.

How Ask Riley Can Help

We built Riley because worrying about your pet is stressful enough without having to search through old documents or piece together information from different places.

Ask Riley is designed to give pet owners clearer, more personalised support.

Unlike a generic internet search, Ask Riley can use the information you've saved about your pet, including medical history, medications and veterinary documents, to provide more relevant guidance.

You can use Riley to:

• Ask questions about changes you've noticed.
• Understand veterinary terminology and treatment information.
• Find important medical records when you need them.
• Keep track of your pet's health history.
• Prepare useful information before speaking with your vet.

Ask Riley is not a veterinarian and cannot diagnose your pet or replace professional veterinary care. If your dog is experiencing emergency symptoms, contact an emergency veterinary service immediately rather than waiting for an online response.

Our goal is simple: help pet owners feel better informed and more prepared when their pets need them most.

Because when something doesn't feel right, knowing what to do next matters.

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This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Symptoms can have multiple causes, and the urgency of care depends on your dog's individual circumstances.