Signs that need a call today

Older dogs hide illness. AAHA's senior guidelines list the changes owners should report rather than watch: malaise, progressive lethargy, behaviour changes, reduced or absent appetite, a change in thirst, weight loss over time, mobility changes, and wounds that do not heal¹. Those are the slow signs, and they justify booking a visit this week.

The same-day signs are different in kind. Call now for: trouble breathing or blue gums, collapse or fainting, a swollen or hard belly with retching that brings nothing up, sudden weakness or paralysis of the back legs, a seizure lasting more than a few minutes or seizures in a row, repeated vomiting with a hunched painful belly, straining to urinate with nothing passing, a red, cloudy or bulging eye, pale gums, or a bleed that does not stop²³⁴⁵.

Between those extremes, a sudden change from the dog's normal is the rule of thumb. Oldie's history export puts recent weights, medications and completed care in one document for the clinic, which saves time on the phone and at the desk. The AVMA's guidance is simple: senior pets benefit from being seen twice a year and sooner when anything changes⁶.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.

Sources

1. 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines: Evaluating the Unhealthy Senior Pet. American Animal Hospital Association. Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. Degenerative Diseases of the Spinal Column and Cord in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
4. Glaucoma in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
5. Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
6. Caring for senior cats and dogs. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed 2026-09-22.