Checking Your Dog at Home - 6 Things to Watch For
1. Appetite and thirst
The amount that a dog eats and drinks will depend on lots of factors, including their breed, weight, dog food type, activity level, and the weather. However, if your dog becomes pickier with their food than normal, or they start drinking a lot compared to normal, this could indicate a problem. Of course, it’s normal for a dog to drink more water if the weather is warm or if they’ve been exercising, but if you notice a change in their normal eating and drinking habits with no apparent cause, it’s best to book an appointment with the vet.
2. Poos and wees
Every dog is different when it comes to passing urine and faeces, and what’s normal for one may be very unusual for another. Getting to know your dog’s normal toileting routine will make you better equipped to notice if they’re going more or less frequently. As well as the frequency, it’s important to look for changes in the colour or consistency of your dog’s faeces and the presence of mucous or blood. Keeping an eye out for blood in your dog’s urine is also important, and certain health conditions might cause a change in your dog’s behaviour when they’re passing urine or faeces. If you notice something unusual, you should call your nearest branch for an appointment.
3. Exercise tolerance
A young dog will often have more energy than an older dog, but if your dog's exercise tolerance changes it could be due to a health problem. If they are suddenly out of breath or unable to complete the length of the walk they normally would, it may mean an issue with their joints, lungs, or heart. A good way to monitor them at home is to check their resting respiratory rate. To do this, count how many breaths they take in 1 minute while they are sleeping or at rest. You can repeat this every few days or every week or month, to get an idea of what's normal for them. If their resting respiratory rate increases, it's a good idea to book a vet appointment to investigate the cause.
4. Signs of pain
Signs of pain in dogs are quite variable and can be more subtle than you might think. General signs of pain might include reduced appetite, lethargy, and grumpiness. However, more specific signs can be associated with pain in certain areas. For instance, limb pain could be accompanied by limping, yelping, and licking of the sore area, while painful teeth and gums could cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, or difficulty eating. To try to find the area that’s causing pain, take into account any other symptoms and look for areas that are hot, swollen, red, or cause your dog to react when gently pressed.
5. Gums and teeth
It's a good idea to check your dog's gums and teeth regularly for any issues. Plaque and tartar can develop quite quickly, and over time the affected teeth will become unstable or infected. Checking your dog's teeth will mean you can spot the signs of early periodontal disease and start appropriate measures at home to slow the progression. A regular once-over is also the perfect opportunity to check for any ulcers, growths, foreign material, or damaged teeth.
6. General check over
It's a great idea to give your dog a general check-over regularly, so you're aware of any changes and can spot any potential issues early. Start at your dog's head and check that their eyes and ears are clean and comfortable, with no signs of redness or discharge. Check their nose and mouth too, then work your way backwards with your hands, feeling for any lumps and looking for rashes, wounds, or inflamed areas. If your dog will allow it, check their paws and between their toes too – this is great practice for being at the vet and means you can spot any thorns or splinters too!
Summary
Knowing your dog's normal appearance and behaviour will make it much easier to notice when something changes, which could indicate a health condition. If something's not quite right with your dog, book an appointment with one of our vets.
1. Appetite and thirst
The amount that a dog eats and drinks will depend on lots of factors, including their breed, weight, dog food type, activity level, and the weather. However, if your dog becomes pickier with their food than normal, or they start drinking a lot compared to normal, this could indicate a problem. Of course, it’s normal for a dog to drink more water if the weather is warm or if they’ve been exercising, but if you notice a change in their normal eating and drinking habits with no apparent cause, it’s best to book an appointment with the vet.
2. Poos and wees
Every dog is different when it comes to passing urine and faeces, and what’s normal for one may be very unusual for another. Getting to know your dog’s normal toileting routine will make you better equipped to notice if they’re going more or less frequently. As well as the frequency, it’s important to look for changes in the colour or consistency of your dog’s faeces and the presence of mucous or blood. Keeping an eye out for blood in your dog’s urine is also important, and certain health conditions might cause a change in your dog’s behaviour when they’re passing urine or faeces. If you notice something unusual, you should call your nearest branch for an appointment.
3. Exercise tolerance
A young dog will often have more energy than an older dog, but if your dog's exercise tolerance changes it could be due to a health problem. If they are suddenly out of breath or unable to complete the length of the walk they normally would, it may mean an issue with their joints, lungs, or heart. A good way to monitor them at home is to check their resting respiratory rate. To do this, count how many breaths they take in 1 minute while they are sleeping or at rest. You can repeat this every few days or every week or month, to get an idea of what's normal for them. If their resting respiratory rate increases, it's a good idea to book a vet appointment to investigate the cause.
4. Signs of pain
Signs of pain in dogs are quite variable and can be more subtle than you might think. General signs of pain might include reduced appetite, lethargy, and grumpiness. However, more specific signs can be associated with pain in certain areas. For instance, limb pain could be accompanied by limping, yelping, and licking of the sore area, while painful teeth and gums could cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, or difficulty eating. To try to find the area that’s causing pain, take into account any other symptoms and look for areas that are hot, swollen, red, or cause your dog to react when gently pressed.
5. Gums and teeth
It's a good idea to check your dog's gums and teeth regularly for any issues. Plaque and tartar can develop quite quickly, and over time the affected teeth will become unstable or infected. Checking your dog's teeth will mean you can spot the signs of early periodontal disease and start appropriate measures at home to slow the progression. A regular once-over is also the perfect opportunity to check for any ulcers, growths, foreign material, or damaged teeth.
6. General check over
It's a great idea to give your dog a general check-over regularly, so you're aware of any changes and can spot any potential issues early. Start at your dog's head and check that their eyes and ears are clean and comfortable, with no signs of redness or discharge. Check their nose and mouth too, then work your way backwards with your hands, feeling for any lumps and looking for rashes, wounds, or inflamed areas. If your dog will allow it, check their paws and between their toes too – this is great practice for being at the vet and means you can spot any thorns or splinters too!
Summary
Knowing your dog's normal appearance and behaviour will make it much easier to notice when something changes, which could indicate a health condition. If something's not quite right with your dog, book an appointment with one of our vets.
1. Appetite and thirst
The amount that a dog eats and drinks will depend on lots of factors, including their breed, weight, dog food type, activity level, and the weather. However, if your dog becomes pickier with their food than normal, or they start drinking a lot compared to normal, this could indicate a problem. Of course, it’s normal for a dog to drink more water if the weather is warm or if they’ve been exercising, but if you notice a change in their normal eating and drinking habits with no apparent cause, it’s best to book an appointment with the vet.
2. Poos and wees
Every dog is different when it comes to passing urine and faeces, and what’s normal for one may be very unusual for another. Getting to know your dog’s normal toileting routine will make you better equipped to notice if they’re going more or less frequently. As well as the frequency, it’s important to look for changes in the colour or consistency of your dog’s faeces and the presence of mucous or blood. Keeping an eye out for blood in your dog’s urine is also important, and certain health conditions might cause a change in your dog’s behaviour when they’re passing urine or faeces. If you notice something unusual, you should call your nearest branch for an appointment.
3. Exercise tolerance
A young dog will often have more energy than an older dog, but if your dog's exercise tolerance changes it could be due to a health problem. If they are suddenly out of breath or unable to complete the length of the walk they normally would, it may mean an issue with their joints, lungs, or heart. A good way to monitor them at home is to check their resting respiratory rate. To do this, count how many breaths they take in 1 minute while they are sleeping or at rest. You can repeat this every few days or every week or month, to get an idea of what's normal for them. If their resting respiratory rate increases, it's a good idea to book a vet appointment to investigate the cause.
4. Signs of pain
Signs of pain in dogs are quite variable and can be more subtle than you might think. General signs of pain might include reduced appetite, lethargy, and grumpiness. However, more specific signs can be associated with pain in certain areas. For instance, limb pain could be accompanied by limping, yelping, and licking of the sore area, while painful teeth and gums could cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, or difficulty eating. To try to find the area that’s causing pain, take into account any other symptoms and look for areas that are hot, swollen, red, or cause your dog to react when gently pressed.
5. Gums and teeth
It's a good idea to check your dog's gums and teeth regularly for any issues. Plaque and tartar can develop quite quickly, and over time the affected teeth will become unstable or infected. Checking your dog's teeth will mean you can spot the signs of early periodontal disease and start appropriate measures at home to slow the progression. A regular once-over is also the perfect opportunity to check for any ulcers, growths, foreign material, or damaged teeth.
6. General check over
It's a great idea to give your dog a general check-over regularly, so you're aware of any changes and can spot any potential issues early. Start at your dog's head and check that their eyes and ears are clean and comfortable, with no signs of redness or discharge. Check their nose and mouth too, then work your way backwards with your hands, feeling for any lumps and looking for rashes, wounds, or inflamed areas. If your dog will allow it, check their paws and between their toes too – this is great practice for being at the vet and means you can spot any thorns or splinters too!
Summary
Knowing your dog's normal appearance and behaviour will make it much easier to notice when something changes, which could indicate a health condition. If something's not quite right with your dog, book an appointment with one of our vets.