Things that indicate your pet needs to see a vet

[Catherine]

It is not always easy to know when a pet needs medical help. They can't actually tell us. We have to recognize the signs of trouble. It helps to know what things are signs of trouble.
Fortunately there are people out there creating lists of signs for us to make it easier.

https://www.insider.com/should-i-bring-m...vet-2019-7

It is always better to be safe than sorry. It is just that easy to know what to look for. 
You can always call your vet a describe what you are seeing. Anything on the list is a warning sign. 
Your vet will know how to judge how urgent it is. Anything that effects the breathing is a special concern. 
Hopefully we can all make the right choice when a pet is not well and get the help they need while there is till time.
Our pets are precious to us. We don't want  to miss an important sign if it can help our pet get well.

[Tobi]

That is a good list.
Yes, some signs can be missed, even by people who know the usual behaviour of their animals.
Or sometimes people can use excuses.....such as the warm weather....or some other things -instead of seeing the signs that the animal is not feeling well.
"Getting older" is another one. Sometimes an animal will display signs of pain, and it can be put down to "getting on in years".
We have to be ready to observe any changes, gradual or sudden, and get them checked out, because they can't talk and tell us how they feel.
Many animals also try to hide their pain or weakness as much as they are able. Cats are notorious for this, but dogs will do it too.
But we should be on alert for any unusual signs from them.

[Catherine]

You are right, cats and dogs will hide their illnesses from us. We have to be aware of warning signs and know when to get help.
It is like the warning signs of heat stress or frost bite. We have to watch out because our pets can't tell us they are in trouble.
Our pets slow down as they age. However they should not be in pain or have trouble breathing. They might eat a little less, but they should still be eating. Being aware of the warning signs can make a big difference. If we get to a vet soon enough many things can be treated. I hope a list like this will help someone make a good decision when it comes to their pet's care.