How to Do a Quick Health Check on Your Dog

If you’re dog isn’t looking too well it’s of course common sense to take them to the vets, but it may be worthwhile to do a regular general health check yourself to spot anything that might need attention. An annual health check at the vets may not be often enough to catch some problems. So where to begin?

Teeth

Be very careful when checking your dog’s teeth, this is obviously one of the most dangerous places to inspect. Even though they may like you, they can still accidentally bite. Make sure your dog is nice and calm before trying. For a quick check, lift up the flaps but for a view of the back, try bribing them with a treat. You’ll need to pay attention for-

• Lumps
• Broken/chipped teeth
• Inflamed areas
• Swelling
• Bleeding gums

Ears

Use your fingers to feel over the pinna (the flappy bits) and rest of the ear surface. Once this is done, look inside the ear canal. A normal ear should be cool, soft, and a pale pink colour. Wax is normal but should be generally clean and not too smelly. Look out for –

• Lumps
• Bumps
• Areas of pain
• Moisture

Eyes

Be careful when staring at your dog, as this can be taken as a form of aggression. Make sure you’re well liked byt the dog before going in for a staring match. You should be looking out for any of these problems –

• Both eyes equally open?
• Squinting
• Discharge
• Rubbing their eyes
• Bulging
• Foreign objects
• Scratches
• Clouding or discolouring

Skin

It’s very easy to check your dog’s skin, it’s just a case of running your hands over their body a couple of times. Take notice of whether –

• Does the coat feel smooth and healthy?
• Lumps
• Flinching
• Moisture

Feet

Be gentle when handling your dog’s feet as they may not like it, make sure they are relaxed and handle them with care. You should be looking out for –

• Matted fur
• Discharge
• Signs of damage
• Broken nails
• Foreign objects

Movement

This sin’t so much about annoying them and instead is just observing them and watching out for any danger signs. When your dog next gets up and walks around, take note of how they behave –

• Stiffness
• Difficulty getting up or down
• Unwilling to walk
• Quieter
• Restless

Weight

There are many ways to tell if your dog is overweight without even having to weight them. Keeping them the right weight will of course help prevent many health issues. You should –

• Be able to feel ribs between your fingers, but not sticking out visibly.
• Be able to feel their spine, but again not see it.
• Be able to make out where your dog’s waist comes in.
• Their back side should feel firm and not too squishy.

If you’ve spotted anything that may require treatment then we suggest taking your dog to a vet to get it looked at further. We also offer a wide range of dog health products for less serious ailments.  ]]>