Situation guide
Sleeping more than usual — tired vs sick, and what to check first.
Snakes have no internal thermostat, so they cannot run a fever and there is no useful temperature to take at home. What they do have is behavioural fever, which means a sick snake seeks heat, so a snake refusing its warm end is a worse sign than one glued to it. This guide gives the check order for a flat snake startin
A hot dry nose tells you nothing; only a rectal reading does. This guide explains the difference between fever, where the body raises its own thermostat, and hyperthermia, where it cannot shed heat, because the first aid is opposite. It covers how to take a dog's temperature so the number means something, the causes of
Turtles are ectothermic and cannot run a fever, so low energy is a temperature and lighting question first. How to verify water and basking temperatures, tell seasonal slowdown from illness, and recognise the signs, including lopsided swimming, that need same-day veterinary care.
Reptiles are ectothermic and do not run a fever, so low energy is a temperature question before it is a disease question. How to verify basking and cool-end temperatures, tell a normal seasonal slowdown from illness, and recognise the signs that need a reptile vet.
A wild insectivore takes most of its water from prey, so a hedgehog on dry kibble depends entirely on the bowl. This guide covers why bowls beat bottles and how bottles fail silently, the indirect monitoring that works in a nocturnal animal, how cold and dehydration reinforce each other, the causes of reduced and of in
Pneumonia is a leading killer of pet guinea pigs and it rarely produces a cough. This guide explains why home temperature taking is misleading in a species that runs cold when critical, gives weight and resting breathing rate as the measurements that work, covers the ammonia and vitamin C mechanisms behind most cases,
You cannot measure a cat's fever reliably at home, so watch hiding, flatness and appetite instead. A cat that has not eaten for around a day is a medical priority because of the liver risk that follows, and overweight cats are most at risk. Age-by-age causes, how to measure appetite properly, and why human painkillers
Birds do not give you a fever you can measure, and by the time one looks ill the illness is usually advanced. This guide covers the postures that matter, fluffing, sleeping on both feet, tail bobbing and lost appetite, why weight on a gram scale finds problems first, and which signs mean go now.
Fish cannot run a fever, because their temperature is the water temperature. Low energy is still a real and useful sign. This guide explains what lethargy means in juvenile, adult and older fish, and which combinations need action today.
Lizards have no mammalian fever, so lethargy is a thermal question before it is a disease question. Measure the basking surface and cool end first, then check UVB, photoperiod, hydration, shedding, and weight in order before escalating to a reptile vet.
A quiet, hiding, off-food hedgehog is usually unwell, and the most urgent thing to rule out is not a fever but cold: a chilly, sluggish African pygmy hedgehog may be attempting a hibernation it cannot survive. This guide covers reading the early signs and acting fast.
You cannot measure a hamster's temperature at home, and warm ears do not mean fever. Illness shows in behaviour: a hunched, fluffed, flat hamster that stops eating and foraging. Learn what healthy versus sick looks like, why not-eating and wet tail are emergencies, and how to recognise cold-induced torpor, where a livi
An insulinoma keeps releasing insulin whether the ferret needs it or not, and no treatment removes it permanently. This guide explains why sugar deepens the next crash rather than preventing it, why food must be constantly available rather than given as meals, what surgery and each drug class actually do, the triggers
Cats hide to feel safe, and a lot of hiding is completely normal. But sudden, new or extreme hiding , especially with changes in eating, litter use or breathing , can signal illness. Learn how to tell everyday hiding from a warning sign, and when to call your vet.
Is your older dog slowing down, or are they in pain? Many owners assume a dog who is still eating is comfortable, but dogs hide pain masterfully. Learn the subtle behavioral, postural, and facial indicators of canine discomfort, and discover how to assess your dog at home.
As dogs age, their appetite, metabolism and dental health change. Thoughtful diet adjustments , right calories, easy-to-eat textures, good protein and joint support , help senior dogs stay comfortable and maintain muscle. Here is a practical, step-by-step guide to feeding an older dog well.
Panting is how dogs cool down, but heavy panting at rest, in cool conditions, or with other symptoms can signal pain, heatstroke, heart or breathing problems. This FAQ helps you tell normal from worrying panting and know exactly when to get emergency veterinary care.
Arthritis creeps up slowly in older dogs and is easy to mistake for simply slowing down. This guide helps you spot the early signs of joint pain, make practical changes at home, and work with your vet on a multi-part plan that keeps your senior dog comfortable and mobile.
Arthritis is common in older cats but easy to miss because cats hide pain. This article explains the subtle signs , reluctance to jump, changed grooming, hiding , how vets diagnose it, and the home changes and vet-guided treatments that can dramatically improve an achy cat's comfort.
A parrot losing its sight looks clumsy rather than ill, and the mammalian pupil test does not work on a bird because the avian iris is voluntary muscle. How to read the eye in a monthly photograph, tell a maturing grey iris from a cataract, recognise the behavioural signs in order, and set up a cage a partially sighted
Cats are evolutionary masters at hiding pain to avoid showing vulnerability. Learn how to spot the 15 subtle signs of feline pain, use the Feline Grimace Scale, and know when to seek veterinary care.
