Two Ways to Get an Answer
- Ask our editorial team (free). Send us your question with the form on this page. We answer selected questions and publish them here to help other dog owners. Our editors are not veterinarians.
- Ask a veterinarian online (paid). For a fast, one-on-one answer from a licensed vet, use the JustAnswer service.
Neither option replaces an exam by your own veterinarian, and neither is for emergencies.
Don't wait for an answer online if your dog has:
- Collapse, loss of consciousness, or weakness so severe he can't stand
- A seizure
- Trouble breathing, or pale, blue, or gray gums
- Bleeding that won't stop
- A swollen belly with retching and nothing coming up
- Straining to urinate, or not being able to urinate at all
- A serious injury, or obvious severe pain
- Swallowed something poisonous or an object that could block the gut
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or refusing food for a day or more
Call your veterinarian or go to the nearest emergency animal hospital. No one knows your dog better than you do. If something seems wrong, have him seen.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Ask our editorial team
- Cost: Free
- Who answers: Dog Health Guide editors, using veterinary references. We are not veterinarians.
- How fast: Not immediate. We can't answer every question, and replies can take days or longer.
- Privacy: Your question and our answer are published on this site.
- Best for: General questions, "what could this be?" questions with a photo, and sharing an experience that could help other owners.
Ask a veterinarian online
- Cost: Paid. JustAnswer shows the fee before you submit.
- Who answers: A licensed veterinarian.
- How fast: Usually within minutes, day or night.
- Privacy: A one-on-one conversation.
- Best for: Deciding whether your dog needs to be seen tonight, questions about your dog's specific case, and follow-up questions.
JustAnswer is a separate company. We may earn a commission if you use it, at no extra cost to you.
How to Ask a Good Question
The more detail you give, the more useful the answer. Please include:
- Your dog's breed, age, sex, and whether he or she is spayed or neutered
- What you're seeing, where on the body, and when it started
- Whether it's getting better, worse, or staying the same
- Eating, drinking, energy, and bathroom habits
- Any medications, supplements, or recent changes in food or routine
- What your vet has already said or tested, if anything
- A clear, well-lit photo if the problem is visible
You can also look for an answer in our guides first, such as skin conditions (with a skin problem checker), vomiting, diarrhea, lumps and bumps, and signs your dog is sick.
How Our Free Answers Work
- Our editors read every submission and choose questions that are likely to help other readers.
- Answers are based on veterinary references and explain possible causes, what to watch for, and when to see a vet.
- We don't diagnose, prescribe, or give medication doses. An answer is general information, not veterinary advice.
- Some older answers on this site were written by a veterinarian who previously worked with us. Those answers say so.
Ask Our Editors a Question or Share Your Story
Have a Question for our Editors and Readers or have some helpful advice?
Tell us about your dog: breed, age, sex, the part of the body affected, what you are seeing, and any medical history. Our editorial team answers a selection of reader questions for free. We can't reply to every question, and an answer may take several days. Answers are general information, not Our advice.
If you need help right away, you can ask a veterinarian online at JustAnswer (a paid service; we may earn a commission if you use it). In an emergency, call your editors or the nearest emergency clinic.
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