🩺 Physical Exam Checklist for Pets – First Aid Vet Guide 2025 by Dr Duncan Houston

Recognizing what’s normal for your pet is the first step in spotting illness early. With this 2025 vet-approved checklist from Dr Duncan Houston, learn how to examine your dog or cat at home and identify when to seek urgent care. 🐕🐈💡

👀 Step 1: Observe from Afar

Before touching your pet, stand back and look:

• Posture: standing tall or hunched?
• Breathing: smooth or labored?
• Behavior: alert or withdrawn?

Changes here may signal illness. If anything feels off, it’s time to look closer or call your vet. 📞

👃 Nose

• Normal: Moist, clean
• Abnormal: Dry, cracked, bleeding, or green discharge

🐾 Skin & Coat

• Normal: Smooth coat, soft skin, minimal odor
• Abnormal: Red patches, sores, greasy or smelly skin

👁️ Eyes

• Normal: Clear, bright, equal pupil size
• Abnormal: Red/yellow sclera, unequal pupils, discharge, sunken/dry look

👂 Ears

• Normal: Smooth skin, clean, almost odorless
• Abnormal: Crust, odor, droopy ear (if not normal for breed), swelling or pain

🦷 Mouth & Gums

• Normal: White teeth, pink gums, fresh breath
• Abnormal: Tartar, bleeding, pale or red gums, foul odor

Tip: Press gums and release. Color should return in 1–2 seconds. If not, it may signal circulation issues. 💓

🫁 Breathing & Chest

• Normal: Quiet breathing, chest rises/falls easily, rate 15–60 breaths/min (cats)
• Abnormal: Noisy breathing, heavy effort, belly movement, or wide elbows

🐕 Abdomen (Tummy)

• Normal: Soft, no pain or swelling
• Abnormal: Hard, distended, painful, or lumps

💧 Skin Turgor Test (Dehydration)

Pinch and release the skin over your pet’s back. 👆

• Normal: Snaps back quickly
• Abnormal: Slow return = dehydration

❤️ Pulse & Heart Rate

Find the femoral artery on the inside of your pet’s rear leg. Count beats for 15 sec × 4.

• Dogs: 60–160 bpm
• Cats: 100–160 bpm
• Abnormal: Weak, irregular, or too fast/slow

🌡️ Temperature

Use a digital rectal thermometer (lubricated). Insert gently 1–2 inches.

• Normal: 101°F–102.5°F (38.3°C–39.2°C)
• Abnormal: < 100°F or > 103°F; blood, dark stool, or severe reaction

📝 Record Your Pet’s Normal Vitals

Keep a home chart:

• ✅ Weight
• ✅ Resting heart rate
• ✅ Respiration rate
• ✅ Temperature
• ✅ Gum color and eye appearance

Having a baseline helps you detect changes early—and that can save your pet’s life. ⏱️

⚠️ When to Call Your Vet Immediately

• 🐾 Sudden or severe limping, vomiting, or collapse
• 🌡️ High fever or low temperature
• 😵 Confusion, weakness, or difficulty breathing
• 💩 Blood in stool, urine, or from any body opening

📲 Need Help? Ask A Vet

Not sure what you’re seeing? Download the Ask A Vet app and chat with licensed veterinary professionals like Dr Duncan Houston for quick answers and peace of mind—wherever you are. 🐾📱