Examining Your Pet At Home:

Performing a quick at-home check on your pet is one of the best ways to catch concerns early – and it helps us give you better advice during your Vetline consult. You don’t need training, equipment, or a perfectly behaved pet. Just a calm moment, a few treats, and a gentle touch. Here’s a simple, head-to-tail routine.

Before you begin:

Make sure your pet is calm and comfortable. Use treats, a leash, or have someone gently hold them if needed. Go slowly and keep sessions short. If your pet shows signs of stress, stop and let us know.

Head

Eyes: Are they clear and bright? Any redness, discharge, squinting, cloudiness, or swelling?

Ears: Look and smell. Any redness, discharge, debris, or bad smell? Is your pet scratching, rubbing, or shaking their head?

Nose: Is it moist or dry? Any nasal discharge, crusting, or sneezing?

Mouth

Gums & Teeth: Lift your pet’s lips. Are the gums pink (normal), pale, red, or blue? Any bleeding, drooling, broken teeth, or bad breath?

Capillary Refill Time: Press a finger gently on the gums and release – colour should return within 2 seconds.

Neck & Chest

Neck: Gently run your fingers along the neck and under the jawline. Any lumps, swellings, or signs of pain?

Breathing: Count breaths for 15 seconds × 4 = breaths per minute.

  • Normal: 10–30 (dogs) | 20–40 (cats)
    Any coughing, wheezing, or labored breathing?

    Body & Abdomen

    Body Condition: Can you easily feel the ribs with a light touch, or are they hard to find? Can you see or feel the top of the spine?

    Abdomen: Gently feel the belly. Is it soft or tense? Any signs of pain or bloating?

    Skin & Coat: Look for hair loss, redness, scabs, lumps, or fleas/ticks on the skin. Is the coat shiny or dull? Do you observe your pet itching or excessively licking?

    Legs & Feet

    Limbs: With your pet laying comfortably on their side, gently apply pressure down all sides of each leg. Do they vocalise or seem uncomfortable?Are there are any new lumps or bumps? Monitor their walk – any limping, stiffness, or pain? Do they walk without lameness afterwards?

    Paws: Check pads and between toes for cuts, swelling, debris, or redness.

    Nails: Are they overgrown, broken, or curling into the pads?

    Back End

    Anus & Genitals: Any asymmetry swelling, discharge, redness, or scooting? Any straining to urinate or defecate?

    Tail: Can you move the tail in all directions without pain or stiffness?

    Behaviour & Overall Health

    Appetite & Drinking: Eating and drinking normally? More or less than usual?

    Energy Levels: Normal, lethargic, or restless?

    Bathroom Habits: Urinating and defecating normally? Any diarrhoea, blood, or accidents?

    Recent Changes: Any vomiting, coughing, shaking, weight change, or change in behaviour?

    You don’t have to check everything at once – short, calm sessions work best.

    Write down or take photos/videos of anything unusual to show during your Vetline consult.

    If your pet seems painful, stressed, or you’re unsure – stop and let us know.