Vet visits5 min read
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats: questions after the finding
HCM means hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition involving thickened heart muscle in cats.
Read the guideTHE VET VISITS COLLECTION
A little less guesswork.
From the first hello to questions about symptoms, tests and procedures. Understand what to bring, what to ask and when not to wait.
A few things to keep in mind.
- Write down changes in appetite, behaviour and routine.
- Bring records and medicines, including supplements.
- Call an open hospital straight away for urgent symptoms.
A GOOD QUESTION IS A GOOD PLACE TO START
101 source-backed guidesExplore vet visits.
Showing 73–90 of 101 guides
Vet visits5 min read
Pyometra in dogs: why an unwell unspayed dog needs urgent care
Pyometra is a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Bloat and GDV in dogs: do not wait for the belly to look worse
Repeated retching without bringing anything up, restlessness, drooling or a painful, enlarging abdomen can indicate an emergency such as GDV.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
My dog swallowed a toy or object: what the clinic needs to know
If your dog swallowed a toy, sock, bone or another object, call a vet promptly even if they seem comfortable.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
A cat swallowing string: why pulling it is not the answer
Suspected swallowed string, yarn, ribbon or floss warrants immediate veterinary contact.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Cruciate ligament disease: understanding the diagnosis before choosing treatment
Cranial cruciate ligament disease affects an important stabiliser inside a dog’s knee.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Luxating patella: what a skipping step can mean
A luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal groove.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Hip dysplasia in dogs: assessment before a treatment decision
Hip dysplasia involves abnormal hip development and looseness that can contribute to pain and arthritis.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
IVDD and back pain: signs that should not wait
Sudden back or neck pain, wobbliness, dragging feet or inability to stand needs prompt veterinary advice.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
BOAS: when flat-faced breathing needs a proper assessment
BOAS means brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, a breathing problem associated with shortened facial anatomy.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
Tracheal collapse: a cough needs a diagnosis, not a collar guess
A honking cough can occur with tracheal collapse, but its sound alone cannot diagnose the problem.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
Cherry eye in dogs: what the red corner swelling needs
A pink or red swelling at the inner corner of a dog’s eye may be cherry eye, a prolapse of the third-eyelid gland.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Corneal ulcers: why a sore, squinting eye needs prompt assessment
A squinting, closed, rubbing or suddenly cloudy eye needs prompt veterinary assessment.
Read the guide
Vet visits5 min read
Glaucoma in pets: pressure, pain and urgent eye care
Glaucoma involves raised pressure inside the eye that can cause pain and damage vision.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
Bladder stones: the stone type changes the plan
Bladder stones are not all the same, and their location and composition change the plan.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
Scooting and anal-gland problems: when to ask the vet
Scooting, persistent licking around the bottom, a fishy smell or painful defecation can accompany anal-sac problems, but they do not identify the cause on their own.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
Cats and lilies: call now, even before symptoms appear
If your cat may have chewed a lily, licked its pollen or drunk water from a lily vase, contact an emergency vet immediately.
Read the guide
Vet visits4 min read
My dog ate chocolate: take the wrapper and call the vet
Call a vet promptly if your dog has eaten chocolate or a cocoa-containing product.
Read the guide