How do I know if my dog is healthy and when should I see a vet?

Hello. If Simba's stomach appears bigger than before and it is hard, you need to get him to a vet immediately as he could have a twisted stomach. Otherwise, if he is drinking more and has weight loss you should have him seen and bloodwork performed. I would have him seen by a vet as soon as possible. Good luck with Simba.

Hi there! I am so sorry Simba is not feeling well. From the picture, it looks like the white part of his eye (called the sclera) is very red. There are many reasons why his eye could be red. He could have a corneal ulcer (a scratch on his eye caused my trauma or dry eye), his could have conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissue around the eye, caused by allergies or bacteria) or glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye) or something systemic causing these issues. I recommend going to the Emergency Clinic and seeing a veterinarian sooner rather than later if you are worried. Typically, a veterinarian will performed a full physical exam and ophthalmic (eye) exam. This includes a schirmer tear test (to determine if he has dry eye), a fluorescein stain test ( to determine if he has a corneal ulcer), sometimes the vet will check the pressure in the eye too. I also recommend seeing a vet ASAP if Simba has change in color or texture of the eye, any increase of green or yellow mucus discharge (may indicate infection), an increased pain, holding eye shut or a sudden squirt of clear liquid may indicate a ruptured ulcer. If so, this can be an emergency and should be evaluated at your earliest convenience. You can also start a consultation with, if you would like to talk more about this! Good luck and I hope Simba feels better!

Simba could have blood pressure or blood sugar issue and I think giving him corn syrup was a good start. That said, Simba could be suffering from balance issues. One condition that could explain what is going on is called vestibular syndrome. You veterinarian could confirm it by doing a full physical exam or discovery what else could be going on. I hope Simba feels better.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He does look beautiful and well-muscled at least in these pictures. However, determining if he is healthy takes much more than that such as an examination and general lab work. I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian for the yearly exams and have them examine him. Good luck and have a great day!

Since those are very general symptoms that something isn't right, it's a good idea to bring Simba into your vet for care. They can examine him and perform some bloodwork and X-rays to check for issues such as metabolic disease, illness, arthritis, etc that could be causing his accidents and hair loss.

It sounds like Simba is being lethargic. Unfortunately lethargy is a very general sign of many illnesses, such as an injury, an infection, inflammation, or a systemic illness. Because she has been quieter than usual lately for a long period of time, I do think a visit with the vet is a good idea for a health check. Give your vet a call to set up an appointment for her. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Simba. None of the pictures were available to view. Based on what you have told me, I would advise that you have him evaluated as soon as you can. Sounds like he is very weak and possibly in pain from some problem. If he goes outside, he may have gotten into a fight and has a abscess or infection brewing somewhere. Your vet can evaluate him and then advise tests that would be appropriate to diagnose what is going on. Blood tests, X-Rays, Physical exam and other tests may be needed to determine what is wrong. I sure hope that Simba is able to see a vet and that he starts feeling much better.