IS MY DOG UNWELL
What are the subtle signs you dog could be using to tell you he isn't feeling so good? Below are things to look out for and make note of in case the dog needs to see a vet. If you are worried about your dogs’ health, it is better to go and get him checked out at the vets then wait and see, sometimes something apparently minor can really be something serious e.g. an older dog with a cough could be showing signs of heart problems.
Questions to ask
About the eyes:
Have you noticed an increase or decrease in tear production?
Do the eyes appear cloudy or red?
Have you noticed any discharge coming from the eyes?
Do the eyes appear bloodshot?
Are the pupils the same size in both eyes?
Have you noticed your pet rubbing or pawing at eyes?
Is your dog squinting?
Do the eyes appear to be sunken or excessively protruding?
About the ears:
Do you notice any swelling or discharge from the ears?
Are the ears held differently to normal?
Are the ears red and inflamed?
Do you notice any odour to the ears?
Is your dog rubbing or pawing at the ears?
Have you noticed a lot of head shaking?
Have you noticed any pain or crying when you rub or scratch your dog’s ears?
Is the hair inside the ear red or can you see brown ear wax?
About the nose:
Have you noticed any congestion, sneezing or coughing?
Have you noticed any blood coming from the nose?
Have you noticed any nasal discharge?
Has the nose changed colour?
About the mouth:
Have you noticed any swelling of the lips or tongue?
Any bleeding from the mouth?
What colour are the gums?
Is your dog able to open and close the mouth normally?
Is there any pain involved in opening or closing the mouth?
Have you noticed any excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth?
Is your dog able swallow food normally?
Looking inside the mouth, are there any foreign objects such as bones or sticks stuck on the roof of the mouth or around the teeth?
About the chest:
Is your pet experiencing any difficulty breathing?
Have you noticed any panting?
Is there any pain when the chest area is petted?
Have you noticed any recent coughing?
What is the heart rate?
Is the heartbeat steady and consistent?
Place your hand or your ear on the left side of your dog’s chest, just behind the elbow. You should be able to feel or hear the heartbeat. Count how many beats the heart pumps in one minute.
About the abdomen/stomach area:
Has your dog been having any diarrhoea or vomiting?
Is your dog able to eat and drink normally?
Does the abdomen/stomach area appear swollen or distended?
Does your dog appear in pain when the stomach area is petted?
Is your dog known to chew on non-food items such as clothing, towels, strings, etc.?
About the urinary and reproductive systems:
Have you noticed any difference in urinating?
Does your dog seem to strain when urinating or cry in pain?
Does your dog repeatedly try to urinate with no urine produced?
Is there any blood in the urine?
How frequently does your dog urinate?
Do you notice any discharge from the vaginal area?
Do you notice any discharge from the penis?
Do you notice any swelling of the testicles?
Have you noticed your dog excessively licking or grooming the genital area?
About the musculoskeletal system - bones and joints:
Have you noticed any limping?
Are any legs or joints swollen?
Has your dog been excessively licking at one area of his/her legs?
Does your dog show signs of pain when walking?
Is your dog able to walk normally?
Does your dog walk on his/her knuckles?
Does your dog drag any legs when walking?
Have you noticed any pain when petting your pet?
What are the subtle signs you dog could be using to tell you he isn't feeling so good? Below are things to look out for and make note of in case the dog needs to see a vet. If you are worried about your dogs’ health, it is better to go and get him checked out at the vets then wait and see, sometimes something apparently minor can really be something serious e.g. an older dog with a cough could be showing signs of heart problems.
Questions to ask
About the eyes:
Have you noticed an increase or decrease in tear production?
Do the eyes appear cloudy or red?
Have you noticed any discharge coming from the eyes?
Do the eyes appear bloodshot?
Are the pupils the same size in both eyes?
Have you noticed your pet rubbing or pawing at eyes?
Is your dog squinting?
Do the eyes appear to be sunken or excessively protruding?
About the ears:
Do you notice any swelling or discharge from the ears?
Are the ears held differently to normal?
Are the ears red and inflamed?
Do you notice any odour to the ears?
Is your dog rubbing or pawing at the ears?
Have you noticed a lot of head shaking?
Have you noticed any pain or crying when you rub or scratch your dog’s ears?
Is the hair inside the ear red or can you see brown ear wax?
About the nose:
Have you noticed any congestion, sneezing or coughing?
Have you noticed any blood coming from the nose?
Have you noticed any nasal discharge?
Has the nose changed colour?
About the mouth:
Have you noticed any swelling of the lips or tongue?
Any bleeding from the mouth?
What colour are the gums?
Is your dog able to open and close the mouth normally?
Is there any pain involved in opening or closing the mouth?
Have you noticed any excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth?
Is your dog able swallow food normally?
Looking inside the mouth, are there any foreign objects such as bones or sticks stuck on the roof of the mouth or around the teeth?
About the chest:
Is your pet experiencing any difficulty breathing?
Have you noticed any panting?
Is there any pain when the chest area is petted?
Have you noticed any recent coughing?
What is the heart rate?
Is the heartbeat steady and consistent?
Place your hand or your ear on the left side of your dog’s chest, just behind the elbow. You should be able to feel or hear the heartbeat. Count how many beats the heart pumps in one minute.
About the abdomen/stomach area:
Has your dog been having any diarrhoea or vomiting?
Is your dog able to eat and drink normally?
Does the abdomen/stomach area appear swollen or distended?
Does your dog appear in pain when the stomach area is petted?
Is your dog known to chew on non-food items such as clothing, towels, strings, etc.?
About the urinary and reproductive systems:
Have you noticed any difference in urinating?
Does your dog seem to strain when urinating or cry in pain?
Does your dog repeatedly try to urinate with no urine produced?
Is there any blood in the urine?
How frequently does your dog urinate?
Do you notice any discharge from the vaginal area?
Do you notice any discharge from the penis?
Do you notice any swelling of the testicles?
Have you noticed your dog excessively licking or grooming the genital area?
About the musculoskeletal system - bones and joints:
Have you noticed any limping?
Are any legs or joints swollen?
Has your dog been excessively licking at one area of his/her legs?
Does your dog show signs of pain when walking?
Is your dog able to walk normally?
Does your dog walk on his/her knuckles?
Does your dog drag any legs when walking?
Have you noticed any pain when petting your pet?
Please help put a stop to Puppy Farming
It's easy
Just don't buy a puppy from one.
We know it can be hard to resist those sad little eyes but resist you must.
The Golden Rule
If in doubt walk out
Trust us
It is the right thing to do.
It's easy
Just don't buy a puppy from one.
We know it can be hard to resist those sad little eyes but resist you must.
The Golden Rule
If in doubt walk out
Trust us
It is the right thing to do.
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