If you’re a dog parent, this article is a must-read for you! Here we’re going to talk about the essentials you need to check on a regular basis to make sure your dog is in perfect health at all times.
While I’m sure most of you might already be doing many of these things, there are sometimes some things you might tend to overlook or skip. Thus, make sure to inspect your dog on these areas regularly.
So, here’s the essential dog health checklist you can follow as a ready rekoner at all times.
Essential Dog Health Checklist
Eyes
Your dog’s eyes should be:
- Clear
- Bright
- No Redness
- Free of Any Discharge
If your dog’s eyes aren’t clear and bright, or has some redness, it could indicate that there’s a possibility of eye disease development like glaucoma, cataract, corneal ulcers or eye issues conjunctivitis etc.
Discharge from your dog’s eyes could be due to allergies, foreign matter lodging, tumors, dry eyes etc.
Urine
Your dog’s urine shouldn’t:
- Have Blood
- Smell Very Foul
- Have Struggle Peeing
Blood in your dog’s urine or foul smelling urine can indicate urinary tract infections, bladder stones, prostrate issues, kidney infections etc.
If your dog shows struggle while urinating, it can mean that your dog has a serious health condition and requires immediate medical attention.
Ears
Your dog’s ears should not have any:
- Dirt
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Bad smell
Any dirt, redness and inflammation in your dog’s ears could be signs of an ear infection and needs to be checked by a vet. Bad smell from dog’s ears can indicate an infection, eat mites, allergies etc.
Mouth
Teeth shouldn’t have:
- Yellowish Brown Color
- Cracks
- Gums
If you see any of the above signs, make sure to visit a vet. Your dog’s gums should be pink in color and its mouth should have no smell or inflammation.
Snout should be no:
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Swelling
Any redness, inflammation or swelling of your dog’s snout can indicate allergies, cysts, cellulitis, tumours etc., and need to be checked by a vet.
Nose
Your dog’s dog’s nose should be:
- Moist, not dry
- Free of mucus & other discharge
- Have no cracks or dryness
If your dog’s nose is filled with mucus and discharge, it could indicate underlying causes including health conditions and thus, medical attention is required.
Body & Joints
Your dog’s body and joints should not have:
- Dull coat
- Missing fur spots
- Hot spots
- Fleas or ticks
- Bumps or lumps
- Painful spots
- Limping
If your dog’s coat is dull and its missing fur spots, it could indicate allergies, nutrient deficiencies, skin conditions, parasites etc.
Bumps or lumps on a dog’s body can indicate fatty tumors, warts, papules, allergic reactions etc., and need to be checked by a vet immediately upon first sighting.
When your dog is limping, it could mean it has a minor or major injury an infection or the onset of a chronic health condition.
Fecal Matter
Your dog’s fecal matter should not:
- Be diarrhea
- Smell very foul
- Have blood
- Have worms
If you come across any of these signs and symptoms in your dog’s fecal matter, it could be due to underlying issues and needs immediate medical attention by a vet.
Paws
Your dog’s paws should not:
- Be dry and cracked
- Be swollen
- Have overgrown nails
- Have foul smell
- Have redness or inflammation
If your dog’s paws are dry and cracked, it could mean your dog has nutritional deficiencies, hyperkeratosis (thickening of the paw skin), burns, etc.
If your dog’s paws smell bad, then it could be due to dirt, bacterial infections, fungus, dryness, furunculosis (lodging of foreign particles in the dog’s paws) etc.
In case you find that your dog’s paws are red or swollen it could mean that your dog is injured, has an infection or an underlying medical condition.