The Healthy Dog

(Description)

Every dog is an individual, with its own characteristic appearance and personality. What may be normal for one dog may not be for another; only the dog's owner or a trained professional (doggy doctor) know what is normal for any particular case. Get acquainted with the way your dog acts and looks from day to day.

Changes in his appearance or behavior - something best known to the dog's owner - could be clues of possible illness. In general, however, the following describes the physical state of a healthy dog:

Skin: Healthy skin is smooth and flexible, ranging from pale pink to brown or black. Spotted skin is normal in dogs with both spotted and solid coats. No scales, scabs, growths or areas of redness should be visible. Check to see that your dog does not have fleas, ticks, lice or other external parasites by running your hand against the grain of his coat; some pests are stationary while others, like fleas, may scurry away as soon as they are exposed. Signs of fleas are itching with the presence of small black and white specks on the skin, which are flea dirt or feces. It's a good idea to check the skin of long-haired dogs in several places. Dogs have seasonal shedding cycles, which may occasionally change. A healthy coat, however, is glossy and pliable, without dandruff, excessive oiliness or areas of baldness.

Eyes: A healthy dog has bright, shiny eyes free from excessive watering or discharge. Eyelashes and hair should not rub up against the eyeball; owners of long-haired breeds should especially take note. Examine the moist pink inner lining of the eyelids (the conjunctiva) by placing your thumb near the edge of the eyelid and pulling gently upward or downward. This smooth membrane should not be inflamed, swollen, or have a yellow discharge. The "whites" of the eyes should not appear yellowish. In the inner corner of the eye is the dogs third eyelid, a light pink membrane. The extent to which the third eyelid is visible on the surface of the eye varies from breed to breed.

Ears: The skin in the dog's ear is light pink, clean and lightly covered with hair. A small amount of yellow, brown or black wax may be present in the ear canals, but an overabundance of this wax is abnormal. The outside of the ear flap is covered with hair like the rest of the body. Healthy ears do not emit a bad smell; they are not red, swollen, itchy or painful to the dog, or exude discharge.

Mouth, Teeth, Gums: To examine the inside of your dog's mouth, grasp his muzzle with your fingers on one side and your thumb on the other. While this hand holds the dog's head, use the other hand to pull down on the lower jaw. Healthy gums will appear pink or pigmented (black or spotted) and will feel firm. The edges of healthy gums surround the teeth, which are free from soft white matter and hard white, yellow or brown material. Your dog should not have unpleasant smelling breath. Young dogs have white, smooth teeth which tend to darken with age. The average puppy has 23 baby teeth with no molars. The figure for adult dogs is normally 42 permanent teeth, although some breeds have less teeth because of the construction of their jaw. Baby teeth should not remain once adult teeth have emerged, and sometimes have to be removed. A dog may have a scissors bite (upper front teeth just overlapping the lower teeth), overbite or underbite.

Nose: A dog's nose is usually cool and moist. Secretions from the nose are clear and watery, not cloudy, yellow or green, thick or foul-smelling. Black noses are most common, though a variety of colors and even spots are normal. The nose should not be red or irritated, the possible result of an injury, disease, or sensitivity to sunlight. Many people mistakenly believe that the condition of a dog's nose is the best indicator of its health. A sick dog, however, may either have a warm dry nose or a cold wet one and owners are advised to use a rectal thermometer to correctly determine the possibilty of a fever.

Temperature: The normal temperature range for a dog, taken with a rectal thermometer, is from 101 to 102.5 degrees Fairenheight (38.3 degrees Celsius - 39.2 degrees Celsius). Begin by shaking down the thermometer and lubricating the bulb with vaseline, mineral or vegetable oil. Lift the dog's tail and gently slide the thermometer into the anus - the distance depends on the size of the dog. Half the thermometer may be required on large dog, while an inch may do in a small dog. This is best done while the dog is in a standing position. Remove the thermometer after three minutes to read the temperature.

Heartbeat and Pulse: The heart beat in a healthy dog depends on it's size and condition. Normally the heart beats about 50 to 130 times per minute in a resting dog. It is faster in puppies and small dogs, slower in large dogs or those in good physical condition. The heart beat and pulse are the same. To determine the heartbeat, place your fingertips or palm against the left side of the dog's chest just behind the elbow, or place your ear against the chest over the heart. The pulse is taken by pressing on the artery which lies on the inside of the thigh where the leg joins the body.

Elimination: Urine excreted by a healthy dog is yellow and clear. Most adult dog's move their bowels once or twice per day; the stools are well-formed and generally brown. The amount of stools produced by your dog and their color may be affected by the kind of diet that is fed. Large amounts of odorous, loose, or unusually colored stools are abnormal. It is most important that the dog owner watches out for persistent diarrhea, difficult elimination, or a change in the frequency or amount of urination as signs of possible illness which should be brought to your attention or a trained professional (doggy doctor).

Weight: Even if your dog appears fine in every other way, it can't receive a clean bill of health if he is underweight or, more commonly, overweight. Obesity is usually the fault of the owner and can be corrected by changing the dog's diet or more exercise. Overweight could also be caused from hormonal imbalance or other problems.