Monday, September 19, 2011

Topic: Health Checking your Dog

Aims:

· Give you confidence as to what is normal for your puppy
· To get the puppy used to being examined and allow for visits to Animal Doctors less stressful
· To get you pup used to having their body checked, and touched, so that if necessary they will accept grooming, tick checking, tooth brushing, tick removal, eye medicating as examples.

Quick Facts

· Heart rates, breathing rates, are all dependent on resting states, breeds, and also health status
· Frequent checking in your pups mouth, ears, around their eyes, toes will help considerably for later on in life as they get used to it early
· Normal body temperature is 37.8-39.0 degrees Celsius
· Gum colour should be light pink
· Eye should be clear of discharge, no horrible smell for their mouths, no redness on their skin and ears clear of debris, wax and hair.

Detailed information

1. Start at the nose

a. Any discharge from the nostrils, colour change of the nose or irritation?

2. Mouth

a. Pink gums?

b. Teeth

i. All there?

ii. In alignment?

iii. Damage?

iv. Tartar?

v. Smell?

vi. Gums – red/inflamed/smelly?

3. Eyes

a. Discharge?

b. Redness around eye?

c. Lids – normal – look for changes?

d. Is the hair well away from the eyes?

4. Skin – Check for pimples, rashes, TICKS, fleas, knots, sore spots, lumps, bumps. Especially check the crevices such as armpits, around genitals, behind ears

5. Ears – Clean? Smell? Wax? Hair?

6. Muscle tone – Any change to muscle tone, i.e. bulk of muscles along the back, and all legs?

7. Anus – Clear? No dags? Lumps/bumps? Hair well clear?

8. Penis/Vulva – check no discharge, check skin around area is clean, clear and not smelly

9. Feet – check for soreness, redness, nail length, checking underneath and between toes (dogs are commonly a bit “foot shy”, so frequent non threatening touching of the feet can help stop that before it becomes an issue.)

5 Take home points to REALLY remember

ê Frequent checking is a great way to “desensitise” you dog to being handled, and tick checked throughout life, we cannot emphasise the benefits enough here

ê Knowing what is normal for your dog is incredibly important, so you know when you need to seek help

ê Keeping it fun, whilst also maintaining control while checking is a great idea

ê General observation and behaviour (demeanour) are as important as hands on checking, but most people have a “hunch” about the overall wellbeing of their dog after a while, whilst many wouldn’t know where to start to look for indications of poor health

ê The most under viewed part of a dogs body for most of our clients is their dog’s mouths – checking dental hygiene, and getting your pup to accept checking or even brushing is incredibly valuable

Links to further information