Many people, in effort to save money, often turn to the Internet for free veterinary advice. You will often see the comment in forums “I cannot afford to take my pet to the veterinarian…. Please help.”. My immediate response is “If you can afford a computer and Internet, you can afford to go to a vet, you just selected to spend your money elsewhere.”. As a person who kept 4 cats while working only part time on minimum wage, I see no excuses other than choice (I had no Internet, no cable TV, and no cell phone, but my cats where healthy and my vet bills were paid).
Similarly, no self respecting veterinarian would offer a diagnosis over the Internet without seeing the pet in person. It would be like a person trying to get a medical diagnosis for cancer without seeing a doctor. Not only is it irresponsible but also means they are giving away their knowledge and training for free.
There is no substitution for a visit to the vet. Here are some common pet health concerns and tips to help you decide if your pet needs a vet. You can see that this poor dog clearly should have seen a vet long ago.
Failure to use the Litter Box (Cats)
This is one of the most common searches for free veterinarian advice in cats. There are many causes, from human error to health. For more information on solutions click here, and if the link fails to offer a solution, please see your veterinarian.
Itchy Skin (Dogs)
A lot of dog owners fail to recognize that obsessive itching may be a sign of a problem. One of the biggest causes is poor ingredients in food, or food allergies. To learn more about what ingredients cause problems click here. Itchy skin might also be an indication of fleas, mites, ringworm, or ticks. Fleas and ticks will be visible, but mites (mange) and ring worm may require a vet to diagnose through a skin sample. If the link on food does not suggest a problem ingredient, an owner is wise to take their pet to the vet for proper diagnosis.
Smelly Ears (Dogs)
Ear infections can have many causes, and therefore many different solutions. An odor coming from the ear is an indication of a problem. Infections may be yeast, bacteria, or a combination of both. Ear mites generally do not cause oder and are often misdiagnosed by owners. Only a vet can tell you for certain.
Click here for more information on smelly ears in dogs.
Abnormal Bumps
These should be diagnosed. They may be an infection, injury, or cancerous growth. Below we see a horse with a Bowed Tendon. Your pet might be tender when the bump is touched, or might not be sore at all.
Gas
Sometimes people do nothing more than make fun of a pet with an odor problem, but abnormal gas can be a sign of a health problem or low quality food. Switch to a food gentle on a pets stomach, and if the problem persists, see a vet. Here is a link on help for cats with gas.
Bad Breath
Bad breath can be a warning sign of many problems. Often it is an indication of poor teeth. It must be noted that if a pet has a rotten tooth the infection can spread to their brain, as such treatment is important. Bad breath may merely indicate the food is not agreeing with the pet, or be a sign of an internal health concern. You guessed it… see a veterinarian.
Tummy Pains
The cause of stomach pains is hard to diagnose without veterinary help. Pets may stand hunched, horses may roll and kick at their stomachs. Usually though, pets with upset stomachs may try to vomit (note that horses cannot vomit) or will refuse to eat. Stomach pains can be mild to severe, non-concerning, to dire emergencies. Horse should be kept moving and not allowed to roll, a vet should be contacted at once. In other pets a person needs to access the situation. Did the pet eat poison, rotten food, or swallow a toy? Call a vet!
Diarrhea
This can be a simple reaction to eating the wrong thing, or may be a sign of a huge problem. Bloody diarrhea can indicate worms or a bacterial infection. Dark or extra smelly stool in dogs can indicate Parvo, a quick and deadly virus. Please note even vaccinated pets can have health problems.
Coughing
Dog owners probably think that coughing may just be kennel cough, but heartworm (a deadly problem) often shows coughing as an early symptom, particularly after exercise. If an owner cannot attribute an occasional cough to dust, or something normal, they should consider a visit to their veterinarian.
Pregnant Pets
Few people even know what they are getting into when they allow their pet to get pregnant. Most fail to get a veterinarian to look at their pet at any time throughout the pregnancy. Some owners do not make correct changes in a pets diet to help the pet produce enough milk following the birth. For the record, here is link on how to care for a pregnant pet. As an added note it is possible for a veterinarian to spay a pregnant animal (thus aborting the litter) although some will not do this if the pet is in the advanced stages of pregnancy. Also it is important to get a vet to help immediately if the delivery goes slow. If you are concerned you can always call them and they will tell you how much time to wait before bringing the pet in if nothing changes.
Here is a link on help with pregnant pets.
Accidents
My pet has been hit by a car… what should I do? Go to a VET! Internal injuries are hard to spot, internal bleeding can be a slow killer. Neglecting possible bone fractures may result in permanent pain for the pet as the bones may not heal properly on their own. If you hit somebody else’s pet, that pet should be taken to a vet. If you do not know who the owner is or feel unsafe about approaching an injured animal (they can be dangerous), call the city police and/or local animal shelter/rescue. If the pet is not your own you are generally not responsible for the vet costs unless you offer to pay.
Facts to Remember
- Most veterinarians have a 24 hour emergency service. Yes, they charge more after hours, but failure to call could mean life or death to your pet, or may mean they are far worse off when you do finally call, resulting in higher veterinarian bills. You can always call them and tell them the symptoms and decide if you want to bring the pet in at that time or wait until morning.
- If your vet knows your pet from regular visits, you will get better help in emergencies as they will know your pets history, particularly its vaccination records.
- Be aware that in some areas not talking a suffering animal to a vet may constitute neglect, a criminal offense.
- Veterinary expenses can be high. Insurance is available, but an owner can do many things to prevent visits to their vet through proper feeding, vaccination, and keeping the pet indoors or in a secure yard. Additionally it is up to a person to decide to put money aside, prior to getting a pet, for emergencies.
- Use common sense, thinking you know what is wrong with your pet is not the same as knowing what is wrong with your pet.
- Very few people give their labor/knowledge/time away for free, so why expect that from a vet?
- The Internet is a place of anonymity, any one can say they are a veterinarian and offer free advice.
- For the record, I am not a Veterinarian.
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User Comments
Sound and Lights
On October 20, 2009 at 8:16 am
Very nice information…
Petalm
On October 20, 2009 at 8:21 am
I’m going to pass this article on to some pet owners I know.
ken bultman
On October 20, 2009 at 8:46 am
Very good article. I have a cocker spaniel. There is such a thing as “cocker ears.” Don’t wait for odors. There are preventatives as well as cures. Also, if you have a regular vet, don’t be afraid to ask for a waiver of office visit fees. It worked for us. All they can do is say no. It can save a bundle over time.
CA Johnson
On October 20, 2009 at 1:08 pm
This was a very interesting article. My friend has some pets so I will have to show her this article.
PR Mace
On October 20, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Great and well needed information. My rule of thumb is to only have as many pets as you can afford to take care of, that is why I only have two dogs and one bird.
Victor Harlan
On October 21, 2009 at 12:31 am
i have a puppy 5-6 weeks old and he’s is very bloated i gave him dewormer 30 min. ago he was bloated before i gave it to him i dont think it’s worms its seems like some type of inflammation around his rib cage he used to live in filth you know fecies and stuff. i have also fed him a mixture of garlic and cilantro with water and a bit of lemon with dogfood
pam fahey
On October 21, 2009 at 11:19 am
I have a cat who is 12 years old who is a house cat, My
problem is, lately he will e on my bed when he has
a clean litter box. Is he doing this to get back at me, or
could there be a health problem brewing that I need to
be aware of. Help, what can I do to stop this behavior problem
with my cat.
Katie
On October 23, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I have a rat that is around a 1 year old. She seems to be having trouble with her back legs. She drags them and every now and then walks in a circle. But like usual when i go to pick her up she is still scared of me so she corrects her legs and moves away and when i stop she goes back to dragging them. I don’t see nor feel any bumps or brakes….what could it possibly be?
B Nelson
On October 23, 2009 at 11:28 pm
to Katie (above)
your little pet is definatly having some problems, it could be an injury or sign of a pinched nerve, you really should take her to a vet
B Nelson
On October 23, 2009 at 11:41 pm
to Victor (above) please do NOT medicate when you do not know the problem – SEE A VET!
to Pam (above) here
http://therealowner.com/cats/litter-box-training-problems-in-cats/
a great link for anyone whose cats are having litter box issues. and if the link cannot help then you need to SEE A VET
Daisy Peasblossom
On October 25, 2009 at 9:33 am
Pam, you are right on all counts. As one who struggles to pay the vet bills (yes, they are paid, and my babies do go–just not as often as I could wish), I can say that too frequently people acquire animals without thinking. Were this not so, I would not have most of mine since they are all rescues.
msterious13
On November 1, 2009 at 5:21 am
I work as a Vet. Asst. and sure liked this article! you could make this into a pamphlet and give it to some veterinary offices… or humane societies who need help with getting messages out to the public!
diane edwards
On November 11, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I have a 14 year old female rat terrier. She just had her checkup and everything was fine. Now she is coughing on and off like trying to clear her throat but nothing comes out. I called the vet and she said to massage her throat and make sure she had plenty of water. That didnt work. What can I do and what do you think is wrong with her?
B Nelson
On November 12, 2009 at 12:49 pm
to diane (above)
did the vet check the dog for heart worm, or growths in the throat? is she a fast eater? if so put a large rock in her bowl, this will slow down her eating because she will have to push the rock around to get the food. Alternatively you can always visit a different vet.
Jade
On November 20, 2009 at 10:49 am
my 4 month old german shepherd puppy has a problem with her hind legs. They seem to be quite weak, she sometimes falls over when she is walking and has problems getting up stairs etc. She still runs and plays as normal but uses both legs together to run and limps slightly on the left one when she walks.
When i first noticed it at about 10 weeks of age, i took her to the vet and they said it was just because she is young and growing.
It usually dosent bother her but lately after walks she has been limping alot more and finds it hard to walk at all for a while after. I have noticed it is a little swolen around the hip and one leg seems to bend in.
She is at the vets again tomorow to get it seen however i just want to know what to expect. Shes my baby !!
B Nelson
On November 20, 2009 at 9:46 pm
to Jade
have you talked to her breeder? This would be the first thing I would do. I would also make sure she is on large breed puppy formula. But remember – the point of this link is actually that the best vet advice, is not FREE, its the advice you get from seen a vet – feel free to see a different vet, but also talk to the breeder. Good Luck.
Donna
On November 23, 2009 at 2:35 pm
my dog urinatin freuently she has been to a vet and is still on amoxicillin 400mg 1 every 12 hours she only has about 2 day left and she is still urinating frequent and still has blood.
carrie
On November 27, 2009 at 7:53 pm
i had a kitten and she has lttle ari bubble under her skin on her head, does that mean her skull is not grown in to her skin or is it more seriouse
BonM
On December 10, 2009 at 4:25 pm
My miniture yorkie has a rash on her belly. The vets says it’s a skin infection starting. She gave me Novsauv to use to wash the area. She didn’t say anything to me about when I am done the wash to use water to wash the suds off and I don’t know if I should be doing that or not. Can you help me please!!
B Nelson
On December 12, 2009 at 12:41 pm
to BonM
if your Vet didnt give full instructions, you should call them back to clarify. Treat the cause of the rash too, not just the rash itself.
Robert Chiarini
On January 3, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Will a Vet put an animal down (cat) just because an owner does not want it anymore? I have a friend whos sister is about to do this. The cat is about 14 ears old and still active.
Thanks,
Robert
B Nelson
On January 3, 2010 at 11:02 pm
to Robert
YES a vet will put an animal down if the owner requests it for no reason. Some may try to talk the owner into placing the pet for adoption particularly if the know somebody is looking for that type of pet. But they do have to follow the owners wishes.
lynz09
On March 20, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Hi Name is Lindsey. I have a 5 mo. old minature pincher named mya. We Live in an apt and my boyfriend was bringing her up the stairs. Shes Quick and likes to walk under your feet and my boyfriend accadently steped on her back paw. I can touch her leg and bottom of her foot and she is fine i can also put presser on the entire foot. The thing is on top of her foot like were her toes are is swellon and she has some pain in it when i squeeze it not major she dont bite at me just a small whine/whimper But whats got me worried is that she has not walked on it sence Friday Morning it happend thurday night (she seemed fine was walking on it then). Is it ok just like if we got our toes steped on or can this be major plse let me kno any information if i can do any thing at home for my tiny min pin i just wanna make sure she is ok
B Nelson
On March 21, 2010 at 8:00 pm
to lynz09
If the swelling does not go down with applied ice.. or if she isnt walking on the foot -you should go to a vet.
apple
On March 24, 2010 at 2:00 am
how would a med tech degree help me in a veterinary career?
Desygirot
On April 24, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I have shih-Tzu female dog of 8 yrs old had a stone removed from her bladder 2 weeks ago, 4 days after her surgery she had a bladder rupture and i went to the vet to had an emergency surgery to get her bladder all close up again then 5 days after her bladder rupture she had another bladder rupture after sending her to emergency again for another surgery they had to put a drainage on her tummy so she can get rid of all the liquid accumulation it has passed 4 days that she still on the veterinary in observation because her bladder just won\’t heal, i was wondering is there any remedies or medicine to make her bladder heal faster and to have her bladder muscles and tissues get strong??? my email is desiree.girot@hotmail.com please i really need some orientation. thanks
Desygirot
On April 24, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I have shih-Tzu female dog of 8 yrs old had a stone removed from her bladder 2 weeks ago, 4 days after her surgery she had a bladder rupture and i went to the vet to had an emergency surgery to get her bladder all close up again then 5 days after her bladder rupture she had another bladder rupture after sending her to emergency again for another surgery they had to put a drainage on her tummy so she can get rid of all the liquid accumulation it has passed 4 days that she still on the veterinary in observation because her bladder just won’t heal, i was wondering is there any remedies or medicine to make her bladder heal faster and to have her bladder muscles and tissues get strong??? my email is desiree.girot@hotmail.com please i really need some orientation. thanks
bethany
On April 24, 2010 at 11:23 pm
hi my dog is coughing like he is trying to hack something up but nothing comes up he will cough for several minutes at a time and nothing will work to help him stop coughing he is about 10 years old
Erica
On April 29, 2010 at 12:49 pm
My puppy and my older dogs both have a red left eye. It didnt start until the puppy came home. First my older dog got a red eye n then it went away after 2 days and now my puppy has a red eye. Shoudl I go to the vet? My older dogs eyes are fine now? should I be concerned? I also have a tree that has these like sap leave things that are falling off n sticky to the dogs and making them smell awful. I cant get them off. Is this why their eyes are red? Please HELP! I WILL TAKE THEM TO THE VET IF I NEED TOO JUST DONT KNOW IF I NEED TO OR NOT…. I dont even go to the doctors when im sick but my dogs are my children and I’ll take care of them at whatever cost.
PS> that picture of that dog up there OMG the owners of that dog should be in jail. SO SO SAD!
PLS HELP
annonymous
On April 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Bethany
Coughing
Dog owners probably think that coughing may just be kennel cough, but heartworm (a deadly problem) often shows coughing as an early symptom, particularly after exercise. If an owner cannot attribute an occasional cough to dust, or something normal, they should consider a visit to their veterinarian.
Listed on this page.
Erica
On April 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm
by the time I get advise I will have already been to the vet i bet
B Nelson
On May 1, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Erica the whole point is that you CANNOT find help on line for free – you are best to take your pet to the real expert who can see it and take proper care for it.
B Nelson
On May 1, 2010 at 9:53 pm
to Extend my point to Erica
suppose I had a dog with a similar problem and it cleared up on its own, so I told you the dog didnt need a vet, and you didnt take it to a vet, but it turned out to be an infection and your dog went blind…
paul dauphin
On May 23, 2010 at 7:25 pm
i have a 7-8 mionth old pit bull and for about a month she has been getting sores all over her body like the neck,lower back,under arms etc.. it first started on her lower back as parts of her fur got stuck together in patches and it hurt her for me to touch it. she started biteing the patches of stuck together fur and she started looseing her fur in those patches. the skin was very red so i put vaseline(gell) on it and it seemed like the skin wasnt red anymore then it started back agin in two more patches on her lower back. now in those patches the fur is gone but the skin looks fine. recently she has been getting small sores all over when some heal others pop up. before any of this started i was batheing her with ace shampoo and body wash. i was told this was not good to do so i stopped. people have told me that it looked like allergies and mange but no one was sure. please help me im very worried about her
B Nelson
On May 24, 2010 at 10:58 am
to Paul
The point of this article is that you CANNOT find safe online vet info for free, it is not a replacement for real vet help.
Pits are prone to all kinds of skin prolems, but only your vet will know for sure what it is.
Dogs do get acne so that might be it – and this would be the right age too.. look into food quality, and do not use a plastic food dish.
Faith
On June 10, 2010 at 6:59 am
my dog ‘bigfoot’ is four years old. HE HAS BEEN TO THE VET. unfortuanely he doesn’t seem to be getting much better. The vet said he has some parasite or ‘worm.’ The vet suiad it could be heartworm, but all three of my dogs are on heartworm preventative. He is on amoxillian, and a water pill. Here are his symptoms is order of when we noticed:
1.boated belly, but losing waght everywhere else. This could be cause by 2.
2. lack of appitite. Bigfoot has never been a robust eater so this might have been first symptom
3.lack of energy. as a young german shepard dog he is usually rather energetic(ie bringing us toys or sticks to throw). Lately he bearly walks. This started after he was put on axoxillian
4. the other day as I was forcing the pill(i know bad but it was the only way) down he throught his mouth smelled like rotten eggs, also he has been spitting up a clear mucus.
5. Just this morning I noticed his back legs were swollen.
I know you guys are not experts but what do you think. I’m so worried that my youngest dog is gonna die.
Ashley
On June 12, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I have a cat shes a little over a year old and she has broke her back leg and she started eating at it.I don’t have enough money to take my cat to the vet.what should i do to the rest of her leg that is just hanging.
Kayla
On June 12, 2010 at 8:08 pm
i have a female rat. we hve had her around three years. she has grown a large \”tumor\” under her left front arm. Why did she get one and what can i do???
B Nelson
On June 13, 2010 at 10:23 am
both Ashley and Kayla
your pets NEED to go to the vet. If you cannot afford vet care then sign the rights of your pet over to your local animal shelter so they can cover the care the animal needs. Neglecting a pet in pain, particularly Ashleys cat is cruel and there is no excuse for it, not even money. Sell your computer and pay for your cat or sign over your rights as an owner.
Faith
On June 15, 2010 at 11:58 pm
bigfoot died. We took him to the vet today, but he died anyway.We still don\’t know exactly what he had. but some kind of liver infection. Just thought You guys might want to know.
Ashley he is right. We are lucky our vet lets us make payments.(We now owe about $600 for bigfoot) I realize this is extremely rare, but you might want to call arround to varous vets so see. They didn\’t become vets \’cause they like to see pets suffer. because that is an emergency situation they may be more willing. Whatever you do you cannot simply let your pet go on suffering because of your finanial situation.
Kayla, My dog Jimmy(beagle also has tumors under and arround his legs my vet suggested vitamin d.However this is not a cure all he said that vitamin d can help tumors but, if it is maligant(ie cancer) there is no cheap fix. See your vet!
aly
On June 19, 2010 at 3:58 pm
hi i’m aly and my cat Sox goes to the bathroom out of the litter box because he has these crystals in his body. we have to put him down! my question is,is there somethingvets can do to make him not pee out of the litter box? e-mail me fast!!!!!
B Nelson
On June 19, 2010 at 9:29 pm
to aly
Crystals can be treated. Having a cat drink more water also helps, as you can mix water with their canned food to make a soup. But really this is only in combination with proper treatment. Read
http://therealowner.com/cats/litter-box-training-problems-in-cats/
is your cat neutered if not that can also be part of the problem, but the link will give more help
Karran
On June 22, 2010 at 8:33 pm
For the record…. you CAN access the internet from the LIBRARY and other public places, so to assume that the person chosen to spend their money elsewhere is just dumb. I am looking for help with my cat for behavioral problems that the vet will just give a cardboard answer and charge me for it. I dont have the money to take my cat to the vet when he get a wild hair, so I ask for help from people who may have gone throught the same problem and can me some assistance. I think it is arrogant of you to assume that all people who look for cheaper ways to help thier pets are doing it so they can spend their money elsewhere. I would like enough money to by food for me and my cat, let alone pay a vet.
Dvaid Goulding
On June 28, 2010 at 12:27 pm
could you please advise on the correct way to care for a kitten born to a wild cat which was discovered in my backyard two days ago. The mother has been killed by a passing car and I am worried about the welfare of the kitten. It is approx 2-3 weeks old and has been eating milk mixed with bread. It looks in fine health at the moment Thank you
David Goulding
On June 29, 2010 at 4:21 am
In my earlier comment about helping a newborn kitten I said it was 2-3 wks old, it is more in the region of 5-6 wks old.
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