My pet is "not himself" lately. Should I watch him, or call the vet?

A common question for vets is: "my pet is "not himself" lately. Should I watch him, or should he be seen for an exam?"

One thing to recognize is that each animal is an individual. While there are norms for each species, age, breed, and so on, each animal will have their own set of "normal" parameters and behaviors. You know your pet. If you feel that your pet is not him or herself, but not really "sick" either, it is always wise to check in with your vet to see if an exam is warranted.

Image credit: Boris the Dog © octoberdog on Flickr