As a dog owner, it might be hard to determine if your dog is in good physical and emotional condition without vocal communication. Maintaining your dog’s health is completely in your hands. Keep your dog in tip-top shape with the proper nutrition, regular exercise and grooming, and annual veterinary examinations. It’s common for people who have just gotten their first dog to become overly concerned with their pet’s every minor behavior abnormality. Thankfully, there are indicators that show when your dog is doing well.
Signs Your Dog is Healthy
In addition to routine wellness examinations such as annual blood panels, fecal testing, and urine analysis, pet owners should be able to recognize these signs. Here are five signs your dog is in good health.
1. Shiny, Clean Coat
Skin and fur are good signs of general health. Because of their natural oils and shedding, healthy pets often have shiny, clean coats. A healthy pet doesn’t need regular baths unless it gets dirty. If your dog often licks, chews, or scratches, it may indicate skin irritation, allergies, an insect bite, or fleas. Because of this, you should take your dog to the vet to examine what’s bothering him.
2. Fresh Breath
A new dog owner might find it strange, but a dog’s breath is an excellent sign of their overall health. If you smell a foul odor from your dog’s mouth, it could be a sign of dental decay or oral melanoma, a particularly dangerous cancer. Routine dental treatment can increase a pet’s general health and longevity by identifying problems early on.
3. Regular Bladder and Bowel Movements
How will you know if your dog has stomach pain? Look at his feces. A change in diet, stress, allergies, parasites, germs, viruses, toxins, cancer, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, or obstruction could all play a role.
If these symptoms appear, it’s best to see an internal medicine vet for a thorough examination and diagnostic testing. Click here to learn more about the internal medicine your pet might need.
4. Consistent Lean Weight
Veterinarians worry most about pet obesity because it causes the same health problems in dogs as it does in people, such as diabetes, heart and lung diseases, bone and joint diseases, skin conditions, and different types of cancer. There are various health issues that can arise from a dog’s obesity, so it’s clear that this is something to be avoided. Feed your dog a regular, healthy diet.
Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian or take your dog to a pet laboratory for additional testing if the situation gets out of hand.
5. Healthy Heart
A balanced diet is a foundation for a healthy heart. Your dog’s heart will remain healthy and strong if you feed it a balanced diet. Meat is vital to a dog’s diet because it provides protein and amino acids. One of these is taurine, a vital amino acid that keeps them young at heart and full of zest for life.
Depending on the severity of your heart failure, your doctor may recommend medication or even pet surgery. They may recommend open heart surgery in severe cases, such as angioplasty, coronary bypass, or valve replacement. Your vet may recommend a pacemaker or defibrillator device if their heartbeat is irregular.
Conclusion
If you are worried about your dog’s health or have questions, you should call your vet right away. Remember that your dog cannot always tell you when something is wrong. If you notice a sign that makes you concerned about your pet’s health, don’t hesitate to schedule a checkup.
