Treatment at Home
Everyone that owns a dog knows that veterinary bills can be very costly. But to be a good owner you should take responsibility and make your dog’s health a top priority. Unfortunately there are medical issues your dog may be experiencing that you may not notice, and these issues can seriously affect your dog’s health. We have put together a short list of checkups you can perform yourself to make sure your dog is as healthy as you think they are. If you determine your dog is sick for any reason, please dial your veterinarian and schedule an appointment right away. This list was developed to help you with early detection of disease.
1. Your dog’s coat and skin can tell you a lot about what’s going on beneath the surface. Is your dog’s coat oily? Is their skin red or pink with inflammation (the skin should normally be a grayish white color)? Can you see scales, or is there dandruff-like flakes coming off their body?
2. You can quickly check your dog for fleas by brushing their hair against the grain, or in the opposite direction from which it grows. Black spots on their skin mean excreta or fleas. A vet can prescribe medicine to wipe these bugs right out.
3. Scratch your dog’s skin. Now smell your fingers. If they smell rancid, rank or fishy you need to schedule an appointment.
4. Your dog’s eyes can tell you a lot about their health. Pull down their lower eye lids. If the skin is red here or irritated on the edges this is a sign of poor health.
5. Check your dog’s ears. If they are overly waxy or oily this is a sign they need to see the vet. Also check their ears to see if there is an odor emanating out.
6. Inspect your dog’s gum line for redness along the roots of the teeth. Also check the back teeth by raising the upper lip and sides of the mouth, this way you will not have to open their mouth.
7. Also check the teeth. They should be white. If they have a brown coat, you should take them in to see their vet. Also if their breath is foul (remember they are dogs) to the point that you are knocked over this is a bad sign.
8. Check your dog’s ribs. If you can count their ribs just by looking they are too thin. If you cannot count their ribs by touch, they are overweight. Either way your vet can recommend a nutritional plan to solve their problem.
9. If the answers to any of these questions are “yes” you should schedule an appointment with your vet. These are early warning signs for numerous problems that can be cured if caught before they develop into serious health issues. You should do inspections like these once a month to catch any “issues” before they become “problems”. Your dog’s health is important so be proactive.