Cold nose, warm heart: the health benefits to humans of owning and loving a pet are many. But sometimes, domesticated animals have health issues needing immediate attention. Here are some common indications that your favorite furry friend should visit the vet.

Recognizing Signs of Illness in Your Pet

Whenever I ask someone, "How can you tell if your pet isn't well?" I'm inevitably met with the same response: diarrhea, constipation, vomiting. While these are certainly causes for concern, there are many other subtle and not-so-subtle ways your precious pooch or cute kitty is telling you he or she's feeling under the weather. Do you know what to look for?

Remember that, in many ways, our four-legged companions are like children. They don't have the ability to verbalize the problem, yet they're completely dependent on us to alleviate what ails them. With pets, there's an added complication. Dogs might cry out when they are in pain, but for the most part cats will do their best to conceal any crisis.

Hidden by Instinct

Despite thousands of years of domestication, cats still rely heavily on instinct. Displaying the effects of any disease is a dead giveaway that they're easy prey for their enemies in the wild. Masquerading maladies is a survival instinct very much alive and practiced by felines. They'll not show signs until they are really, really sick. So for what does a concerned human companion look?

I recently spoke with Bash Halow, practice manager at New York City's Heart of Chelsea, a first-rate animal hospital that offers both Western and Eastern treatments (including herbs and acupuncture), allopathy, and homeopathy, not to mention an incredibly caring and knowledgeable staff. Bash answered my questions in very simple terms: "Pets tend not to differ in their daily routine, so look for any change in behavior."

Three Important Parameters

There are three parameters of which he especially asks us to be aware: thirst/eating habits; metabolism (body weight or behavior); and urine or bowel activity. Is kitty suddenly eating more or less than usual? Did doggy stop eating altogether? Is the pet terribly thirsty or suddenly drinking from new sources such as the sink or tub? If your cat normally does this, it's nothing to be alarmed about. On the other hand, if kitty--who only drinks from her favorite bowl--is suddenly lying in the bathtub, mouth open under a dripping tap, this could spell trouble.

"Excessive thirst can indicate the presence of diabetes or a renal problem," Halow says. "Excessive drinking can also lead to excessive urination." Speaking of urinating, any change in elimination including frequency, color, and consistency is a red flag, as are changes in litter box habits for cats like missing the box or not using the box. "If there's no change in twelve hours, the results could be devastating. Bladder and urinary problems can come on acutely. Cystitis and bacterial infections work synergistically, creating a horrible downward spiral." This is particularly harmful in males since they have a smaller urethra and are more prone to being blocked. "If a cat is not urinating at all, he can die within a day or two." Clearly this is not a wait-and-see situation. Pull out the cat carrier and get moving! Oddly enough, dogs are not as likely to succumb to urinary difficulties.

Dog Years

"With dogs, illnesses are more age- and size-related," reports Halow. "If a 20-100 pound dog has an incidence of diarrhea, it's okay to wait. It could be 'garbage gut.' Who knows what he may have gotten into? With a smaller dog, 8-10 pounds, his body can't handle it and he will feel the effects sooner, meaning he should be seen sooner."

The smaller the dog, the more immediate his need for care. Animals are not like people. Where a human body might not be terribly taxed by a short spell of diarrhea, constipation, or even painful urination, animals' bodies can't handle it. This point cannot be stressed enough. "Dry stools and constipation, in general, are not good. It often is a secondary indication of an undiagnosed primary condition."

Vomiting could signify the presence of a foreign body. Unless we're talking about the dog who gobbles up his food before the bowl hits the floor and then just as quickly loses it, vomiting should be monitored: "Once is okay. A second time, pay attention." Bash states. "If it happens three times--for either a cat or dog--bring him in immediately. We triage this as a NOW visit."

Eyes and Coats

Filmy eyes and a dry coat could mean dehydration, which is a symptom of many illnesses, all of them serious. Try this simple test: Lift up a small part of the skin and let go of it quickly. If it drops back to normal right away, all's fine. If it moves back slowly, your pet is dehydrated and in need of veterinary care.

Dandruff is often due to a fatty acid deficiency, which can be corrected with a better diet or supplements. Cloudy eyes might be cataracts; bulging of the eyes could be glaucoma or high blood pressure. Kitties are susceptible to this, too. "Any fussing, winking, blinking, or discharge is a NOW visit," Halow says.

A simple problem can become a big problem very easily. Scratching can cause a torn cornea. Eyes draining could be an ear or nose problem. There's a rule for the head's orifices: the eyes, mouth, ears, and nose are all connected. What looks like an ear problem could actually be a mouth problem. A bloody nose could signal an infected tooth or something else. One thing is clear; the more time you wait, the more organs could eventually be affected.

Mouth

"Another wonderful barometer for health is the mucous membranes," says Halow. "They should be moist, not sticky. If the dog can't work up any spit, this is bad. The mouth (tongue, saliva, gums) should be glistening."

Here's another test you can try at home: If you quickly press your finger against the gums, they should go white and then red again. This is called the CRT or Capillary Refill Time Test. If the gums stay white for any period of time, this is not good.

"Head tilting, body shaking, or eye blinking are not normal. Another NOW visit." Halow warns.

Nose

What about an animal's nose? Should it be warm, cold, wet, dry? "The whole thing about noses is an old wives' tale," insists Harlow. "Healthy is not necessarily warm or cold. It's the same as with people. If it is excessively dry or scaly, there's a problem. Check that there's no discharge. There should not be oozing from any orifice."

If the animal isn't grooming, there's trouble. Stinky breath could be an infection in the mouth. Changes in a cat's nail size to thickened whitish nails could be hyperthyroidism. Dogs' symptoms are not as obvious.

Panting 

"Panting is normal for dogs, but not cats. Cats generally do not demonstrate their pain. In fact, they'll purr when they are very ill. Dogs in chronic pain look tense and breathe in short, agitated pants. Cats, on the other hand, may pant when they are nervous for a very short time (15-20 seconds). Prolonged panting means they are in respiratory distress. Open-mouth breathing in a cat is not good. Same with drooling which usually shows the presence of nausea."

If your pet ingests any kind of poison, bring him and it immediately to the vet. Beware, rat poison could take 4-5 days before symptoms appear, and by then the outcome is fatal.

Be Prepared

It's a good idea to keep your vet's info and the local 24-hour emergency hospital (if not the same) handy--say on the fridge. Also post the number for the ASPCA's National Poison Control (888-426-4435.) The time you might actually need it is when you don't have time to be rummaging through the junk drawer looking for the number.

How can you be proactive when it comes to your pet's health care? Feed it a proper, nutritious diet and bypass junk food (good advice for pet owners as well). Spending a few cents more on quality food now will save you plenty in vet bills later. Make sure your pet lives in a stress-free environment since they are very perceptive of the moods of their human companions. "Cats are like canaries in the coal mine," Halow says. "They're very sensitive to their environment."

Be sure they get plenty of exercise. Avoid the couch potato syndrome, and remember, overfeeding and feeding junk are not ways to show you love your furry friend. The exact opposite is true.

If you suspect something is amiss, err on the side of caution. Some people put off bringing their pet in to the vet for financial reasons. They fail to realize that early detection and treatment is much more cost efficient than waiting until the problem has advanced. But more important, the animal may be suffering unnecessarily because of his or her human companion's neglect.

The love between a pet and its human companion can be strong and satisfying. By keeping both parties well and happy, that love will be enjoyed for years and years to come.

NOTE: This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any animal. Please consult your veterinarian.

Kathy Nizzari writes from New York City. The Heart of Chelsea has a Senior Wellness Program which offers discounts on pet lab work, another incentive for people to be more proactive about preventative visits. For more information, visit their website at www.heartofchelsea.com.