Pet Symptom Self-Check Decision Trees
When your pet is vomiting, scratching constantly or breathing badly in the middle of the night, the hardest part is not finding information online — it is deciding whether it needs a vet right now. These self-check trees take you through the questions one at a time and sort the symptom into four levels: emergency, see a vet within 24 hours, monitor for 24 to 48 hours, and home care. Each level also lists what to do next and when to escalate and seek care. It currently covers 6 common symptoms in cats and dogs.
In an emergency, call your vet immediately
If you see difficulty breathing (a cat breathing with its mouth open), a swallowed foreign object or poison, continuous vomiting for more than 24 hours, seizures, retching with a bloated abdomen, or severe dehydration, do not wait for the self-check result — call your vet or a 24-hour emergency centre immediately:Hong Kong 24-hour vet list and emergency numbers
Pet symptom self-check decision trees
Pick a symptom and answer the questions to see straight away whether it falls under emergency / see a vet within 24 hours / monitor first / home care, and what to do next. The content is compiled by hand from on-site medical articles and general veterinary knowledge; the answers are not AI-generated.
Step 1: pick the closest symptom
How to use the result
- Follow the “Next steps” list on the result card first; you do not need to add any medication or supplements yourself.
- “Emergency” means it should not wait — step away from the screen now and make the call; “see a vet within 24 hours” means book an appointment today.
- Even at the monitor level, record how often the symptoms occur, how much your pet drinks and its energy level, because that record directly affects the vet’s assessment.
- If the signs change (faster breathing, refusing food, lethargy, gums turning pale or yellow), treat it as an escalation — do not wait until hour 48.
Frequently Asked Questions
This tool cannot replace a veterinary diagnosis.In an emergency, call your vet immediately (24-hour emergency centre).Content covers 6 symptoms (cats and dogs are triaged separately) and does not provide a diagnosis, medication or dosages. Content checked on 2026-10-17; if your pet has a long-term illness, is on medication or is pregnant, consult your vet first.