Medical conditions in dogs and cats
This section covers conditions that are not single-event injuries — poisonings, bloat, blocked bladder, seizures, diabetes, kidney disease, allergic reactions. Some are minute-by-minute emergencies; others are chronic conditions where early recognition matters.
Every page leads with the action to take, the warning signs, and the breeds at higher risk.
Emergency — phone the vet now
- DogCat
Acute allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in dogs and cats
Severe allergic reactions can kill within minutes — head straight to the emergency vet at the first sign of facial swelling, hives, vomiting after a sting/injection, or breathing difficulty.
- Dog
Addisonian crisis in dogs
Sudden weakness, vomiting, and collapse in a young-to-middle-aged dog can be Addison's crisis — phone the vet now; this is life-threatening but very treatable.
- Cat
Cat exposed to permethrin (dog flea spot-on)
Permethrin is highly toxic to cats — never use dog flea spot-ons on cats; if exposed, do not wait, phone the vet now and head to the practice.
- Cat
Cat has been exposed to lily (plant or pollen)
All true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are deadly to cats — even pollen on the fur can cause fatal kidney failure; phone the vet now even if the cat seems fine.
- Cat
Cat has eaten paracetamol
Paracetamol kills cats — even one tablet is potentially fatal; phone the vet now and head straight to the practice.
- Cat
Cat having an asthma attack
An asthma attack in a cat is a breathing emergency.
- Cat
Cat unable to urinate (blocked bladder)
Get to an emergency vet now — a fully blocked male cat can die within 24–48 hours.
- Cat
Cat with sudden hindleg paralysis (saddle thrombus)
Sudden hindleg weakness and crying out in a cat is almost always saddle thrombus — phone the emergency vet now; this is one of the most painful feline emergencies.
- Cat
Diabetic emergency in cats
Diabetic cat that's vomiting, breathing fast, weak, or off food — phone the vet now; ketoacidosis is a life-threatening emergency.
- Dog
Diabetic emergency in dogs
Vomiting, weakness, fast or laboured breathing in a diabetic dog can be ketoacidosis or hypoglycaemia — phone the vet now.
- Dog
Dog has eaten cannabis or marijuana edibles
Wobbliness, dilated pupils, urinating uncontrollably, hypersensitivity to noise after suspected cannabis ingestion — phone the vet, be honest about what was eaten.
- Dog
Dog has eaten coffee, tea, or caffeine
Caffeine is highly toxic to dogs — phone the vet for any meaningful ingestion of coffee, tea, energy drinks, or caffeine pills.
- Dog
Dog has eaten grapes, raisins, or sultanas
Treat any grape, raisin, sultana, or currant ingestion as a vet emergency — toxic dose is unpredictable and acute kidney failure can follow within 72 hours.
- Dog
Dog has eaten ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin
Phone the vet immediately for any human painkiller ingestion — small amounts can cause severe stomach ulceration, kidney failure, or liver damage.
- Dog
Dog has eaten mouldy food (mycotoxin poisoning)
Mouldy food can contain tremorgenic mycotoxins — phone the vet; tremors and seizures can develop within hours.
- Dog
Dog has eaten rat poison (rodenticide)
Phone the vet immediately with the product name and active ingredient — the antidote depends on the chemical and works only within a defined window.
- Dog
Dog has eaten xylitol (sugar-free sweetener)
Xylitol causes life-threatening low blood sugar within minutes and liver failure within 24–72 hours — phone the vet immediately, even for tiny amounts.
- DogCat
Dog or cat antifreeze poisoning (ethylene glycol)
Antifreeze is rapidly fatal — phone the vet and Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) immediately even if the pet seems fine; the antidote works only in a narrow window.
- Dog
Dog poisoning from foxglove or other garden plants
Phone the vet or Animal PoisonLine if your dog has eaten foxglove, yew, lily of the valley, daffodil bulbs, oleander, rhododendron, azalea, or other suspected toxic plants.
- Dog
Dog with bloat or suspected GDV (twisted stomach)
Suspected bloat is a true minutes-count emergency — drive to a 24/7 vet now, do not wait.
- Dog
Dog with low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Rub a teaspoon of honey, golden syrup, or glucose gel onto the gums of a wobbly or collapsing toy-breed puppy, diabetic, or working dog, then phone the vet immediately.
- Dog
Eclampsia in nursing female dogs
Restlessness, panting, tremors, then seizures in a recently whelped or nursing bitch is eclampsia (low blood calcium) — emergency vet now.
- Dog
Laryngeal paralysis in older dogs
Older Labrador or Golden Retriever with noisy breathing, exercise intolerance, gagging, or sudden severe breathing distress in heat — emergency vet.
- Dog
Male dog unable to urinate (urinary obstruction)
Straining with no urine production in a male dog is an emergency — phone the vet now; bladder blockage can be fatal within 24–48 hours.
- Cat
Newborn kitten not feeding or fading
A weak, cold, or non-feeding newborn kitten needs warming and immediate vet contact — fading kitten syndrome kills within hours.
- Dog
Newborn puppy not feeding or fading
A weak, cold, or non-feeding newborn puppy can die within hours — warm gradually and phone the vet immediately.
- Dog
Postnatal emergencies in dogs (after whelping)
After whelping: foul vaginal discharge, fever, off food, mastitis (red painful mammary gland), or eclampsia signs — phone the vet now.
- Cat
Pregnancy and queening emergencies in cats
Queen in active labour over 2 hours without producing a kitten, or over 2 hours between kittens, or any green/black discharge before the first kitten — emergency vet.
- Dog
Pregnancy and whelping emergencies in dogs
Bitch in labour for over 2 hours without producing a puppy, more than 2 hours between puppies, or any green/black discharge before the first puppy — phone the vet now.
- Dog
Pyometra in unspayed female dogs (womb infection)
An unspayed female dog showing illness in the weeks after a season needs urgent vet review — pyometra is a life-threatening womb infection.
- DogCat
Recognising and managing shock in dogs and cats
Shock is a circulatory collapse that kills — pale gums, weak pulse, fast breathing, cold extremities; keep warm, lay flat, head slightly low, and drive to the vet now.
- Dog
Sudden back pain or inability to walk in dogs (suspected disc disease)
Sudden back arching, reluctance to move, or weakness in back legs — emergency vet today; intervertebral disc disease has a tight surgical window.
- Dog
Suspected leptospirosis in dogs
Sudden lethargy, fever, vomiting, jaundice, or red urine after suspected exposure to rat-infested water or wildlife — phone the vet now; lepto can be rapidly fatal but treatable.
- Dog
Suspected pancreatitis in dogs
Vomiting and a hunched, painful belly after a fatty meal — phone the vet today; pancreatitis ranges from mild to fatal and needs prompt treatment.
- Dog
Suspected parvovirus in a puppy
Bloody diarrhoea and vomiting in an unvaccinated puppy is a parvo emergency — phone the vet now and warn them; isolation and intensive care give the best chance.
- DogCat
Suspected poisoning in a dog or cat
Phone Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 and your vet — bring the packaging or a sample, do not wait for symptoms.
Urgent — same day vet contact
- Dog
Allergic reaction in dogs
For mild reactions (hives, facial swelling, itching without breathing difficulty): phone your vet for same-day advice.
- Cat
Aural polyp in cats
If your cat has a persistent ear discharge, head shaking, a drooping eyelid, or breathing noise, see your vet — nasopharyngeal polyps require early diagnosis and surgical treatment.
- Cat
Cat flu (upper respiratory infection)
Sneezing, runny eyes, runny nose, off food in a cat — phone the vet today; cats can lose smell and stop eating dangerously fast.
- Dog
Corneal ulcer in dogs
Contact your vet today.
- Dog
Dog has eaten a cooked bone
Phone the vet or Animal PoisonLine — cooked bones can splinter and cause choking, throat or gut tears, and obstruction; do not induce vomiting.
- Dog
Dog has eaten chocolate
Phone the vet or Animal PoisonLine with the chocolate type, weight, and your dog's weight — toxicity depends on cocoa content; dark and cooking chocolate are far more dangerous than milk.
- Dog
Dog has eaten onion, garlic, leeks, or chives
Onion, garlic, leek, and chive (Allium family) cause delayed red blood cell damage in dogs — phone the vet for any meaningful ingestion.
- Dog
Dog has swallowed a foreign object
Phone the vet for any swallowed object — toys, socks, stones, batteries; some pass safely with monitoring, others need urgent decontamination or surgery.
- Dog
Dog vomiting or unwell after vaccination
Mild dullness 24 hours after vaccination is common; vomiting, facial swelling, hives, breathing difficulty, or collapse is allergic reaction — phone the vet today.
- Cat
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)
Any male cat straining to urinate must be seen by a vet today — a blocked bladder is life-threatening.
- Dog
Heart disease in dogs
If your dog has a resting respiratory rate above 30 breaths per minute, is coughing repeatedly, or shows difficulty breathing, contact your vet today.
- Dog
Kidney disease in dogs
If your dog is showing signs of kidney disease — increased thirst, weight loss, vomiting, or bad breath — contact your vet today for blood and urine tests.
- Dog
Lungworm in dogs
If you suspect your dog has lungworm, contact your vet today.
- Dog
Lyme disease in dogs
Shifting lameness, fever, lethargy, off food in the weeks after a tick bite — phone the vet for Lyme testing.
- Cat
Managing a FLUTD flare-up in cats
If your cat with known FLUTD is straining again — especially a male cat producing no urine — contact your vet today.
- DogCat
Vaccine reaction in dogs and cats
Mild post-vaccination lethargy and a small lump are normal.
- Dog
Vestibular disease in dogs
See a vet today — vestibular disease looks like a stroke and must be assessed by a vet, but the good news is that most dogs recover fully within 2–4 weeks without specific treatment.
Monitor — routine vet appointment
- Cat
Cat has fleas
Treat your cat with a vet-approved product licensed for cats — NEVER use dog flea treatments on cats.
- Cat
Chronic kidney disease in cats
Older cats drinking more, urinating more, losing weight, and eating less often have kidney disease — book a vet appointment for bloods and urine testing.
- Dog
Cushing's disease in dogs
Older dog with pot belly, increased thirst, hair loss, and ravenous appetite — book a vet appointment to test for Cushing's disease.
- Cat
Dental disease in cats
If your cat is drooling, dropping food, pawing at their mouth, or has lost weight — dental disease may be severe.
- Dog
Dog has fleas
Treat your dog with a vet-recommended flea product, treat ALL pets in the household simultaneously, and treat your home environment with a household flea spray.
- Cat
Ear mites in cats
If your cat is scratching its ears intensely or you see dark crumbly debris like coffee grounds in the ear canal, see your vet for a confirmed diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
- Cat
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) in cats
An FIV diagnosis is not a death sentence.
- Dog
Food allergy or intolerance in dogs
If your dog has chronic itching, recurring ear infections, or persistent skin or gut problems, book a vet appointment to discuss an exclusion diet trial.
- Dog
Hip dysplasia in dogs
If your dog is showing signs of hip pain, stiffness, or abnormal gait, book a veterinary appointment.
- Cat
Hyperthyroidism in older cats
Older cat eating ravenously but losing weight, drinking more, or restless and vocal — book a vet appointment for thyroid testing.
- Dog
Kennel cough in dogs
Isolate your dog from other dogs immediately and contact your vet if symptoms worsen or persist beyond two weeks.
- Cat
Managing arthritis in cats
Cats hide arthritis well — reduced jumping, less grooming, sleeping more in older cats often signals treatable joint pain; book a vet check.
- Dog
Managing arthritis in dogs
Stiffness after rest, slow on walks, reluctant to jump — book a vet appointment; arthritis is treatable and quality of life can be restored substantially.
- Dog
Noise phobia in dogs (fireworks, thunder)
Create a safe den, minimise exposure to noise, and speak to your vet in advance of fireworks season about prescription options if your dog is severely affected.
- Dog
Older dog confused, anxious, or disoriented (cognitive decline)
Pacing at night, getting lost in the house, anxiety in older dogs may be canine cognitive dysfunction (dementia) — treatment can help; book a vet review.
- Cat
Overweight cat — health risks and what to do
Overweight cats face diabetes, arthritis, and fatty liver risk — vet weight check and structured plan; never crash-diet a cat (hepatic lipidosis risk).
- Dog
Overweight dog — health risks and what to do
Overweight dogs face shorter lives and higher disease risk — book a weight check with the vet nurse for a structured plan.
- Dog
Separation anxiety in dogs
Do not punish anxious behaviours — contact your vet and seek a referral to a qualified behaviourist for a structured treatment programme.
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