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Category Article Pets Animals Clinical Signs and Complaints in Dogs and Cats
Category Article Pets Animals Clinical Signs and Complaints in Dogs and Cats 
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The ability to recognize and distinguish what is normal and what is not is a critical key in determining a pet’s longevity. As one may expect, timing is of the essence when it comes to effective treatment or management of disease. The sooner a clinical sign is detected and reported to a veterinarian, the better the chances are of identifying and halting the progression of a disease. Clinical signs (symptoms) are not disease entities in themselves, but rather the outward manifestations of disease. Onset of symptoms may occur acutely (suddenly) or slowly and progressively over a period of time. In some instances, the underlying disease condition causing the clinical sign may be in advanced development before the symptom even appears. For example, pronounced weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, and other signs linked to chronic kidney failure may not become readily apparent until at least 75 percent of the kidney tissue has been rendered nonfunctional. As a result, any delays in seeking professional help once symptoms appear could turn an otherwise manageable condition into a life-threatening crisis. Note that the clinical signs and complaints presented here are not all encompassing. In addition, the possible etiologies (causes) of each are certainly not limited to those listed. As a result, proper veterinary diagnosis is essential. Abdominal Pain Tumor Bloat Torsion Constipation Granuloma or abscess Infectious gastroenteritis Intestinal foreign body and/or obstruction Kidney disease Liver disease Organ rupture Pancreatitis Poisoning Ulcers Urinary obstruction Abdominal Swelling Tumor Fluid buildup (ascites) Heart disease Constipation Bloat Urinary obstruction Granuloma or abscess Hemorrhage within the abdomen Intestinal parasites Liver disease Obesity Pregnancy Uterine infection (pyometra) Appetite: Increased Cushing’s disease Drug therapy (i.e., prednisolone) Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Hyperthyroidism (cats) Inadequate caloric intake (underfeeding) Intestinal parasitism Malabsorption or maldigestion of food Appetite: Decreased Infection Anemia Heart disease Dehydration Dietary boredom Fever Gastrointestinal disease Kidney disease Liver disease Loss of smell Nausea Neoplasia Pain Pancreatitis Trauma Upper respiratory infection Arched Back Abdominal pain Pancreatitis Intestinal foreign body Back pain Kidney disorder Breathing Difficulties Allergic bronchitis Anemia Choking Heart disease Pneumonia Heartworm disease Neoplasia Obesity Pneumothorax Respiratory foreign body Pulmonary effusions Hypothyroidism Collapsing trachea Constipation/Straining Anal sac impaction or infection Dehydration Stool impaction Fractured pelvis Intestinal parasites Intestinal neoplasia Intestinal obstruction Spinal cord trauma Urinary obstruction Coughing Allergic bronchitis Heart disease (pulmonary edema) Kennel cough Infectious rhinotracheitis Metastatic lung cancer Pneumonia Respiratory foreign body Tonsillitis Diarrhea Dietary indiscretions and changes Autoimmune disease Intestinal infections (viral, bacterial, fungal) Food allergy Intestinal parasites Intestinal neoplasia Intestinal obstruction Intestinal foreign body Kidney disease Liver disease Pancreatitis Toxins or drugs Discharge: Nose Allergies (clear) Bacterial infection (mucus, pus, blood) Fungal infection (mucus, blood) Tumor, polyp (mucus, pus, blood) Trauma (blood) Foreign body (clear, mucus, blood) Blood clotting disorder (blood) Periodontal disease (mucus, pus, blood) Open socket due to tooth loss (mucus, pus, blood) Viral infection (clear, blood) Parasitic infestation (blood) Discharge: Eyes Allergies (clear) Bacterial infection (mucus, pus) Foreign matter (clear, pus, mucus) Neoplasia or cyst (mucus, pus, blood) Trauma (blood, clear) Viral infection (clear) Discharge: Reproductive Tract Bacterial infection (mucus, pus, blood) Neoplasia or cyst (mucus, pus, blood) Tumor, polyp (mucus, pus, blood) Vaginitis or metritis (mucus, pus, blood) Discharge: Ears Bacterial infection (pus, blood) Ear mites (black, crusty) Trauma (blood) Yeast infection (brown, odorous) Discharge: Skin Bacterial infection or abscess (pus) Fungal infection (brown, blood, granular) Eye: Redness or Cloudiness Allergies Bacterial infection Cataracts Corneal pigmentation Foreign matter Glaucoma Neoplasia or cyst Trauma Uveitis Viral infection Facial Swelling Abscess Allergic reaction to insect sting Fungal infection Jaw fracture or trauma Lymphatic obstruction Oral or bone tumor Oral foreign body Snakebite Fever or Elevated Body Temperature Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal) Inflammation due to disease or injury Autoimmune disease Drug therapy (i.e., tetracycline antibiotics) Neoplasia Excitement or fear Heat stroke Overexertion Seizures Incoordination, Falling, and Circling Ear infection Viral infections Fractures Infection involving nervous system Inflammation of brain or spinal cord Poisoning Seizure Parasites Trauma involving nervous system Jaundice (Icterus) Bile duct obstruction Gallbladder disease Internal bleeding and/or destruction of red blood cells Infection Autoimmune disease Liver disease Lameness Arthritis Bruised or traumatized footpad Abscess Deep fungal infection Degenerative joint disease Foreign body penetration Torn nail Fracture Hip dislocation Hyperparathyroidism Infections involving bones, joints, or muscles Joint sprain or muscle strain Ligament tear Muscle trauma/bruising Neoplasia Odors: Breath Colitis Kidney disease Oral foreign body Oral ulcer Periodontal disease Tumors involving the oral cavity Odors: Body Colitis Ear infections Haircoat contamination Allergic dermatitis Flea allergy Seborrhea Skin infections Skin tumors Anal sac infection or inflammation Paralysis Abscess or fight wound Brain or spinal cord trauma or inflammation Ear infection (facial paralysis) Fractures Neoplasia Poisoning Heart disease Regurgitation Esophageal foreign body Megaesophagus Esophageal infection Esophageal ulcer Salivation: Excessive Esophageal obstructions Foreign body within oral cavity Jaw fractures Nausea Oral mass or tumor Periodontal disease Poisoning Rabies (rare) Reactions to noxious objects, chemicals, or medications Seizures Seizures Brain inflammation secondary to trauma Brain tumor Infection of nervous system Heat stroke Idiopathic epilepsy Kidney disease Liver disease Metabolic disease Low blood sugar Poisoning Parasites Low blood calcium (nursing mothers) Skin: Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Itching Abscess Allergies (fleas, food, inhalant) Any chronic illness Bacterial skin infections Cushing’s disease Diabetes mellitus Hypothyroidism Nutritional deficiency Self-trauma Skin parasites (fleas, mites) Stress Skin: Lumps and Masses on or Beneath Abscess Cyst Fibrous nodular scar Granuloma Hematoma or seroma Swollen lymph node(s) Tumor benign or malignant Sneezing Allergic rhinitis Nasal infection Nasal polyp or tumor Nasal foreign body Thirst: Excessive Dehydration Kidney disease Bladder infection Poisoning Uterine infection (pyometra) Urination: Excessive Cushing’s disease Diabetes mellitus Drug therapy (i.e., corticosteroids) Bladder infection Kidney infection Hyperthyroidism Increase in physical activity Kidney disease Liver disease Mineral or electrolyte imbalances Poisoning Stress Uterine infection (pyometra) Urination: Incontinence Age-related Idiopathic (cause unknown) Spinal cord injury or disease Urinary tract infection Urination: Straining (Stranguria) Bladder infection Urinary obstruction Neoplasia Spinal nerve damage Trauma to bladder or urethra Urolithiasis Vomiting Abdominal neoplasia Bacterial gastrointestinal infections Brain disorders Diabetes mellitus Dietary indiscretions or changes Viral disease Food allergies Hairballs (cats) Gastrointestinal obstruction Ingestion of a foreign body Intestinal parasites Kidney disease Liver disease Pyometra Stomach ulcers Stress Toxins or drugs Vestibular disorders Pancreatitis Weakness or Collapse Heart disease Heat stroke Trauma Poisoning Diabetes mellitus Pain Anemia Arthritis Fever Low blood sugar Neoplasia Pleural effusion Poisoning Spinal cord disease Weight Loss and Wasting (Cachexia) Chronic infections Diabetes mellitus Pancreatic disease Viral infections (Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV); Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)) Kidney disease Gastrointestinal parasites Malnutrition Heart disease Hyperthyroidism (cats) Liver disease Maldigestion of food Neoplasia Persistent fever Stomatitis Tags: Article Pets Animals Clinical Signs and Complaints in Dogs and Cats |
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