Now that you’re spending more time at home with your pet you may be noticing some things and wondering if they’re normal.
Of course it’s always best to check in with your vet about any questions you have just to be sure it really is normal but here are answers to some common questions I get.
This post contains affiliate links I may earn a commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Is it normal for my dog or cat to…
Sleep a lot? Yes! Dogs and cats may sleep 20 hours or more a day. As long as they are bright and active when they are awake then there’s nothing wrong with lots of sleeping.
Twitch a lot in their sleep? Yes! Dogs and cats dream like we do and often will twitch or “sleep run” or even bark or growl in their sleep just like people talking in their sleep. How do you know it’s not a seizure? Make a video for your vet to check but you can also just call them or gently pet them to wake them up and they should stop.
Hiccup or burp? Yes! Just like us pets do get hiccups and do burp occasionally. If it really seems to be happening frequently then you could certainly check in with your vet about it but generally it’s normal.
Meow or bark at me for attention while I’m working? Yes! It’s annoying and kind of a “bad habit” but it’s normal. Our pets love us and want our attention. They don’t understand why you can’t just pay attention to them all the time.
So they’ll try out some behaviors to see if that will work to get your attention. Meowing, batting at you, barking, and whining are all common behaviors pets use to try to communicate with us and get what they want from us. The good news is you can train them not to do these behaviors! Check out my upcoming page on training tips and techniques.
Be hungry and beg for food all the time? Yes! In dogs and cats (and humans) there’s a hormone called ghrelin which causes the feeling of being hungry. In people right after we eat a whole bunch of chemical reactions happen and the end result is ghrelin levels drop and we don’t feel hungry anymore. In dogs and cats those ghrelin levels don’t really drop even after they eat.
So they truly are always hungry! Also just like us often when they’re bored they like to snack. And being fed means attention from you too. So it’s a win-win in their mind!
Don’t let them talk you into extra meals and snacks though because we don’t want them to be overweight. Fat is inflammatory and makes pre-existing diseases like allergies, IBD and arthritis worse and increases the risk of developing arthritis, torn ACLs, and cancer. Obesity can decrease a pet’s lifespan by over a year.
If you just can’t say no try these tricks instead of feeding high calorie treats: Use a treat ball or puzzle feeder so they’re entertained and have to work for the treat. Use bonito flakes for cats or freeze dried treats diced very finely so they don’t get many calories. Some dogs will go for veggie treats like broccoli, carrots, snap peas, celery or green beans. Avoid kibble even for treats!
Also you can measure out the total amount of food they should get for the whole day and then take tiny amounts out of it and add a little water so they feel more full for “snacks”. Their dinner will be a little smaller but they won’t notice the difference. That way they’re getting snacks but it’s not actually any extra calories.
So what things might you notice that might not be normal?
Overgrooming. It’s normal for cats to groom but if they’re developing spots where the hair is thin or missing that’s too much grooming. Dogs rarely do very much grooming so if they’re really licking or chewing on their paws or licking a particular spot that’s probably not normal.
Hairballs and vomiting. Hairballs are vomiting and vomiting is never normal.
Changes in bathroom habits. Accidents in the house or outside the litterbox, needing to go out more often, drinking more water and peeing more. Of course diarrhea or constipation would definitely not be normal.
Behavior changes. Things like acting more “grumpy”, not getting along well with other pets or people, and getting really panicked when you leave the room. Also changes like lethargy or less interest in usual activities aren’t normal.
Mobility changes. If your pet is reluctant to jump or hesitating before going up or down stairs that’s not normal. Slowing down on walks, lagging behind can also indicate issues. Of course any sort of limping or weakness isn’t normal.
Coughing/sneezing and “weepy eyes”. Just like us an occasional sneeze or cough is normal. And a little “sleep” in the corners of the eyes in the morning is also normal. But nasal congestion, frequent sneezing, coughing “fits” (sometimes they look like they’re trying to “cough up a hairball”) and constant weepy eyes or yellow/green eye or nose discharge aren’t normal.
Lumps, bumps, scabs, rashes. You may be spending more time petting your dog or cat and notice some weird lumps or bumps. Now before you panic both male and female dogs and cats do have nipples. So if you’re seeing a row of the same little bumps along the chest and belly it might just be that although it never hurts to check. Also they often have little bumps where whiskers grow on their face and on their legs so if there’s a whisker coming out of it again probably ok but never hurts to check. Any other new lumps, bumps, scabs, or rashes are probably not normal.
Anything that seems weird. If you’re worried it’s always best to just check with a vet. Don’t be embarrassed or shy, even if it turns out to just be a nipple we’d much rather tell you “Good news, that’s normal!” then have you wait and not treat something and the problem gets worse.
Many of the issues listed above have a stress component. So it never hurts to work on stress reduction AND reach out to your vet to be sure there’s not other potential causes or other treatments that might help.