Dog Physical Exams

Any concerned person can and should do the simple, straigh tforward home examination. First, consider how the dog appears in general.Is it gaining or losing weight? Is its fluid and food intake and outputnormal? Are there any personality changes? Does it limp, cough, sneeze excessively, or have halitosis? Have there been any changes since its health was last evaluated?

If everything appears normal you have passed the first hurdle. Nextmake a closer examination of the dog's eyes, cars, nose, and mouth.Do the whites of its eyes look normal and not inflamed? Do they squintor have an ocular discharge? Look in the ears: Are they clean with aminimum of brown waxy substance and with no excess hair? Smell them. Any unusual odor? Then examine the nose, lips, gums, tongue,throat, and teeth. Are the membranes a normal pink? Look at the teethfor plaque or tartar. Fan the hair and look for blemishes and parasitessuch as ticks, fleas, and lice. Lice look like motorized dandruff of thebiting variety.

Next check the nails, pads, and between the digits.

Check every inch of the skin by feeling with your fingers. Feel for swellings and rough areas.

Now, if you started at the west end, check the east end by raising the tail. Does the anal area appear normal? The vulva in the female and the testicles and penis in the male should be examined. It has always been interesting to us that veterinarians find no many growths in testicles that were unobserved by owners. A small swelling in a testicle can upset the dog's hormone balance, no check them.