ROUTINE HEALTH CHECK

TREAT YOUR PET AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY

Hygiene and periodic attention are the basis of a healthy and happy dog. Something as simple as cleaning your dog’s ears can be a way to prevent annoying problems or to identify if something is wrong. For dogs, as with everything else, prevention is indeed better than cure.

Here is a 7 step routine that you can implement at home.

1. NOSE

If your pet’s nose is warm or a bit dry, but everything else seems fine, and he is eating and drinking normally, you don’t need to worry.

When checking your pet’s nose, look out for a crust-free surface with no runny or thickened discharges or bleeding. Your dog's nose should be checked by your veterinarian as soon as possible when you notice any cracks, crusts, or sores.

2. TEETH AND GUMS

Get your dog used to having their teeth brushed twice a day with special doggy toothpaste to prevent any tartar buildup and avoid infections. Bacterial plaque on their teeth and gums can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, and other more serious health problems.

Your pet’s teeth should be white /cream with no excess tartar (thick brown build-up), and their gums should be a healthy pink or black, depending on their skin pigmentation, but never red, swollen, or bleeding.

If you notice any of the following, you should take your dog to the vet:

  • Redness along the gum/ tooth margin

  • Nasty smells

  • Gum problems where the teeth roots are exposed can be painful

  • Any lumps on the gums or under the tongue

3. EYES

The eyes should be bright. A certain amount of discharge due to a normal amount of tears will result in a blackish residue building up in the corner of the eye. This is normal for most dogs. To prevent tear stains, wipe your dog’s face with a damp cloth twice a day, and keep regular appointments with the groomer.

If you notice any of the following, you should take your dog to the vet:

  • Green or yellow discharge

  • Excessive watering

  • Squinting or closing one or both eyes may mean it’s painful.

  • Whites of the eye appear more pink/ red than usual.

  • If your dog is rubbing its eye.

4. EARS

Clean your pet’s ears as a routine to prevent problems from recurring. Bear in mind that it’s a very delicate and sensitive part of their body, so only use special ear cleaners recommended by your vet and avoid putting cotton buds anywhere near the ear canal. Also, avoid inner ear hair plucking, as it may lead to inflammation, so get advice from your vet first.

A small amount of wax can be normal and protective, but excess quantities can lead to scratching and infection. Get veterinary advice if you find:

  • Redness

  • Sticky or purulent discharge

  • Black crumbly discharge

  • Your pet is shaking their head or scratching their ear/s

  • There is a nasty smell.

  • Pain in or around the ear

  • Swelling, causing the entrance into the ear to close up.

5. SKIN AND HAIR

To maintain your pet’s skin and coat health, you’ll need to groom your pet regularly: brushing, detangling around armpits, trimming hair in between paw pads, around eyes, and private parts. Nonshedding dogs like poodle breeds still need regular grooming even though they don’t shed.

If you notice any of the following, you should take your dog to the vet:

  • Crusting, itching, scaling.

  • Black or white spots and infected or hot and inflamed areas

  • Biting, chewing, or scratching their skin

  • Any obvious changes in the coat. Look in all the hidden places like under the front legs and between the pads.

  • Don’t forget to look for evidence of fleas, even if you regularly treat them.

6. NAILS

Pets need their nails clipped and filed regularly usually every 3 to 4 weeks. But the best way to maintain a short nail and at the same time avoid causing pain is to trim them just a little at a time regularly — like 7 to 10 days.  Also, it is important to check the dew claws as they grow curling in a circle. If left too long, they can rip partway off or catch on something and break, which can be painful and cause infection.

When checking your pet’s nails, you’re looking for them to be smooth, fully formed, and shouldn’t be clicking against the ground. They can be black or white, but if you notice any broken or missing nails or are aware that your pet’s nails are roughened and flake or break easily, you should get them looked at by your vet.

7. BOTTOM

It would be best if you wash or wipe your dog’s bum daily to keep it clean or at least once a week. It can be done with special canine wipes, or you can use a simple damp washcloth. In addition to regular wiping, some dogs need their anal glands manually expressed regularly, like once or twice a year, or even as often as every month in specific situations. 

Your dog may need to have its glands expressed if you notice any of the following:

  • Scooting - butt rubbing on a carpet.

  • Obsessive bottom licking

  • Pungent odour coming from your dog's anus

Your vet and groomer can help you learn some of these regular health and grooming procedures so you can do them on your own and maintain your dog’s wellness. You’ll prevent a lot of health problems–and expensive vet or groomer bills–down the road.

PET CAREKATARZYNA KASINSKApets health, all about dogs, healthy dogs, dogs health, advice