Where to start
Dog symptom checker: how is your dog doing?
Start with the everyday things you already notice — eating, energy, mood, sleep — then a few questions about what specifically prompted you to check. This does not diagnose anything; it gives you a wellness snapshot and points you to the right guide, or tells you to see a vet.
Result
Wellness snapshot
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This is general information to help you decide what to read next and how urgently, not veterinary advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for an in-person exam. When in doubt, call your veterinarian — they can triage over the phone faster than any web tool.
How this checker works
- Emergency signs first. If you tick any warning sign at the top, the result is always "see a veterinarian promptly", whatever else you answer.
- Wellness snapshot. Four everyday questions (eating and drinking, energy, mood, sleep) are each scored from 1 (normal) to 4 (severely changed). The total shows how far your dog is from their usual self.
- Urgency level. How long the change has lasted and how much it affects daily life decide whether to read up, keep watching, or see a vet in the next day or two.
- What to read next. The area you pick (joints, skin, digestion, stress) links to the matching evidence guide.
Everyday signs worth keeping track of
Changes are easier to judge, and easier to describe to a vet, when you know your dog's normal. A few notes in your phone each day help when something seems off:
- Food and water: how much is eaten and how fast; drinking a lot more or less than usual.
- Stool and urine: consistency, frequency, color, straining or accidents.
- Movement: stiffness after rest, reluctance on stairs or jumping, limping.
- Skin and coat: scratching, licking paws, redness, hair loss, a dull coat.
- Behavior and sleep: restlessness at night, hiding, new fears, pacing or panting at rest.
- Weight and shape: check body condition about once a month.
Frequently asked questions
Can an online symptom checker diagnose my dog?
No. This checker never names a condition. It screens for emergency warning signs, summarizes how far your dog is from their normal self, and suggests how soon to involve a veterinarian and what to read in the meantime.
When is a dog not eating an emergency?
Call your veterinarian if an adult dog has eaten nothing for more than 24 hours, or sooner for puppies, toy breeds, senior dogs and dogs with a known health condition — or at any point if not eating comes with vomiting, weakness, a swollen belly or signs of pain.
My dog seems tired and less playful. Should I worry?
A single quiet day after a lot of exercise or a change in routine is common. Sudden severe weakness or collapse is an emergency. Low energy that lasts more than a day or two, or comes with changes in eating, drinking, stool or breathing, is worth a call to your vet.
What should I tell my vet when I call?
When the change started, what exactly changed (eating, drinking, stool, urine, energy, mood, sleep), anything your dog may have eaten, current medicines or supplements, and whether it is getting better or worse. The answers you give in this checker are a good summary to have on hand.
Can a supplement fix what my dog is showing?
Supplements are not a treatment for new or worsening symptoms. Get new symptoms checked first. Supplements are sometimes used alongside veterinary care for long-term issues such as stiffness, itchy skin, loose stool or stress, and our guides explain what the evidence does and does not show.