Small complaints decoded

A sudden fit of loud snorting inward that looks alarming and usually is not. It is a throat spasm, common in small and flat-faced breeds, and typically lasts under a minute. Gently covering the nostrils for a second, or stroking the throat, often ends it. Frequent or worsening episodes deserve a look.

Common in puppies, harmless, and they grow out of them. No action needed.

One paw, persistently, is usually a local problem — a cut, a grass seed, a nail issue, or joint pain referring down. ALL paws is usually allergy. Stained rust-red fur between the toes is saliva from chronic licking, which tells you it has been going on longer than you thought.

Usually anal glands, sometimes worms, occasionally allergy. Glands can be expressed by a vet or groomer, but repeated scooting points at the cause rather than the symptom — often diet or allergy. A tapeworm segment looks like a grain of rice near the tail.

Dry skin, over-bathing, poor diet, or a sign of something else including parasites. 'Walking dandruff' that appears to move is cheyletiella mites and is contagious, including to people.

It bleeds dramatically and is not dangerous. Styptic powder, cornflour or plain flour pressed firmly stops it. Keep them quiet for ten minutes so the clot holds. Then cut less next time and more often — frequent small trims make the quick recede.

The thumb-like nail higher on the leg. It does not wear down naturally, so it is the one most likely to grow into the pad. Check it every time you check the others. Rear dewclaws, common in some breeds, can be loosely attached and catch.

A limp, painful tail after heavy swimming, a cold bath or a lot of hard wagging. It is a muscle strain, it is genuinely painful, and it usually resolves in a few days with rest and anti-inflammatories. Distinct from a broken tail, which needs an x-ray.

Not a worm — a fungus. Circular patches of hair loss, often crusty, and contagious to people and other pets. It needs diagnosis and treatment, and thorough environmental cleaning, because spores persist.

Two kinds and they are not the same. Demodex is not contagious and often appears in puppies with immature immune systems; localized cases frequently resolve. Sarcoptic mange — scabies — is intensely itchy, highly contagious, and transmissible to people. Both need a vet; the treatments differ.

A honking, goose-like cough, typically in small breeds and often worse with excitement or pressure on the throat. Use a harness rather than a collar, keep them lean, and get it assessed — it is progressive and manageable.

Any of these lasting more than a few days, worsening, or accompanied by lethargy, appetite loss or fever is a call rather than a wait.

· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu)
· American College of Veterinary Dermatology (acvd.org)
· American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org)

Most of this page is reassurance, which is free, plus knowing which few need a phone call.

Eyes darting rapidly side to side or up and down. In an older dog, usually alongside a sudden head tilt, circling and unsteadiness, this is most often idiopathic vestibular disease — frequently called 'old dog stroke' although it is not one. It looks catastrophic and the majority of dogs improve substantially within days to weeks. It still needs a same-day vet, because ear disease, a genuine stroke and a tumor can look identical on the first day.