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Animal Hospital Anomalies Guide

Every anomaly in Animal Hospital, how to spot them, and how to counter each threat.

Last updated: July 25, 2026

Visual Signs

Check the patient's appearance at the front desk window

Three Eyes

Easy

Visual - Front Desk

  • Patient has three eyes instead of two

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Hollow Eyes

Easy

Visual - Front Desk

  • Eyes are completely black or empty sockets

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Sharp Teeth

Easy

Visual - Front Desk

  • Unnaturally sharp or pointed teeth

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Wide Grin

Easy

Visual - Front Desk

  • Unnaturally wide smile extending beyond normal face

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Twitching

Medium

Visual - Front Desk

  • Erratic body twitching or head movements

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Deep Voice

Medium

Audio - Front Desk

  • Speaking in a deep, gravelly voice

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Different Eyes

Hard

Visual - Front Desk

  • Eye color, shape, or size differs from patient photo

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Different Ears

Hard

Visual - Front Desk

  • Ear shape or size doesn't match the patient's species

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Photo Signs

Check the patient photo against their appearance

Distorted Photo

Easy

Photo Check

  • Photo appears distorted, stretched, or corrupted

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Wrong Species

Medium

Photo Check

  • Photo shows a different animal species than the patient

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Empty Photo

Medium

Photo Check

  • Photo shows no animal or an empty background

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Black Eyes Photo

Hard

Photo Check

  • Solid black rectangle covering face with drawn-on eyes

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Incorrect Photo

Medium

Photo Check

  • Photo shows a different patient entirely

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters and flag the mismatch

CCTV Signs

Monitor the waiting room via security cameras

Wrong Pose

Medium

CCTV Check

  • Patient appears in a different pose on CCTV than in person

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Different Species

Medium

CCTV Check

  • Patient appears as different species on camera

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Camera Figure

Hard

CCTV Check

  • Shadowy humanoid figure standing in broken camera feed

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Repair camera or avoid the area

Static Figure

Hard

CCTV Check

  • Patient appears frozen or static on camera but moving in person

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters immediately

Scanner / Tool Signs

Use the Scanner item (added in Harlow's Update) for additional detection

Scanner Red

Easy

Scanner Tool

  • Scanner light turns red when pointed at patient

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Close shutters and reject patient

Scanner Green Normal

Easy

Scanner Tool

  • Scanner light stays green — patient is safe

⚠️ Counter Protocol

Proceed with check-in normally

Special Monsters

Unique threats that require specific countermeasures beyond the standard shutters.

Head Banger

A purple bear-like patient that smashes its head against the reception window, blocking the shutters from closing.

Counter

Brew a coffee, take two sips, and bring it to the window. Use the E prompt to offer the coffee. The Head Banger drinks it and leaves peacefully.

Bed Monster

Long black arms reach out from underneath hospital beds, threatening to drag patients or players under.

Counter

Watch for black arms near bed areas. Stay out of the red danger zone. Feed it Maple Syrup to make it disappear safely.

Demon Cat

A demonic cat that appears at the end of hallways when viewing CCTV, causing instant sanity loss.

Counter

Keep CCTV viewing sessions short. If you see it, leave the camera immediately. The 20 sanity loss is unavoidable on sight.

Stalker (Disguised)

New behavior added in Harlow's Update: the Stalker can now appear at the check-in window disguised as a normal patient.

Counter

Photograph the suspicious patient. The Stalker will flee when photographed. Avoid eye contact to prevent sanity drain.

Video Guide

Watch anomalies in action and see how experienced players handle each threat.

Animal Hospital (Anomaly) Full Walkthrough

Josh Plays

Beginner Tips

  • Never rush the check-in process. Watch each patient for at least 4-5 seconds before stamping.
  • Always take a photo and wait for it to fully develop before examining. Picking up a cursed photo early costs 10 sanity.
  • Check CCTV cameras on every patient. Some anomalies only appear on camera and pass all other checks.
  • Keep a taser in your inventory at all times. Tasers remove anomalies and restore +2 sanity on hit.
  • Use the fixed scan order: Visual -> Photo -> CCTV. Never skip a step.
  • Close the shutters if you are unsure. A false alarm is better than letting an anomaly inside.
  • If a Skinwalker gets in, use a taser or gun immediately before it harms patients.
  • Stock up on coffee before each shift. Coffee restores sanity and is essential for late-shift survival.
  • The Scanner (new in Harlow's Update) instantly tells you if a patient is an anomaly — green = safe, red = danger.
  • Use the Deployable Camera (new in Harlow's Update) to place a CCTV camera anywhere in the hospital for better coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I spot anomalies in Animal Hospital?
Use the three-step check: 1) Watch the patient at the window for visual signs. 2) Take a photo and compare it with the patient. 3) Check CCTV cameras for discrepancies. Never skip a step.
How many anomalies are in Animal Hospital?
There are over 14 confirmed anomaly types, split across visual, photo, and CCTV detection methods. Each requires a different approach to identify.
What is the hardest anomaly to spot?
Black Eyes Photo and Static Figure are widely considered the hardest to catch due to their subtle tells and easy-to-miss visual cues.
What happens if I let an anomaly inside?
Admitted anomalies drain sanity, harm patients, trigger dangerous events, or transform into hostile threats like Skinwalkers.
Can I kill an anomaly that got inside?
Only Skinwalkers can be killed with weapons. For the Bed Monster use Maple Syrup. For the Head Banger offer coffee. Other anomalies must be avoided or outrun.
What is the correct scan order?
Always use the fixed scan order: Visual check at the window, then Photo comparison, then CCTV. Skipping steps increases the risk of missing an anomaly.