Our Pets are animals that sometimes are loved so much that we forget that they need routine exams to see if they are healthy. To most of the general public this amounts to a checkup at the local veterinarian. This is commendable for a Dog owner to do this. This very act is usually costly. And the preventative checkup often gives a clear bill of health on our pet Dogs, when this is far from the truth! I know you must be saying at this point “I did everything I could do as a responsible Dog owner”. This is mostly true. However there is some more things you can do to guarantee your best friends health and comfort.
Examination of your Dogs coat
Let’s talk about those things taking into account that not all loving pet owners in these stressed economical times are able to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars in bills to pay for their pets health care. Let’s start with the basics. Bring your Dog to a comfortable place and have him or her sit down. Starting at the top of the muzzle of your Dog take your hands and begin feeling all over the skin for lumps, bumps and any type of abnormal growths. Pay special attention to problem areas such as skin folds, behind ears, between toes, under paws and around its private parts. Do this at least once a month. If you notice any abnormalities closer inspection is needed.
Examine the possible problematic area to see if this is a sore, insect bite, abrasion or possible a cyst. If the problem is one of the before mentioned three problems you can treat this yourself effectively. Begin by having an assistant that the Dog is friendly with help you. Remember the animal is possible scared and could be in pain from the injury. Begin by shaving back an area of two inches of fur around the injury. This will allow for a much better view of the problem. Using a cotton swab, apply a solution of Betadine to the area affected and all around the area. (Betadine can be purchased for $3.00 at any local Pharmacy.)(http://www.brucemedical.com/fr-2135-80.html) Don’t be afraid that it colors your Dogs skin in a red color. This will fade away after a bath or two. You now have effectively disinfected the injury site and this will allow for a much quicker healing of your Dog. OK now you’re probably thinking should I cover up Fido’s wound? No is the answer! Air and your Dogs own licking will be good for the wound. Make sure however your Dog is not chewing the wound and irritating it. These instructions must be used with prudence and upon seeing an injury needing sutures or extremely infected I recommend seeking a veterinarian.
Examining your Dogs Teeth
Alright you made it through that little Doggy first aid course; let’s move on to other problematic areas of your dog that are often overlooked. Your Dog’s Teeth, this area is often not checked and is often overlooked by pet owners. Your dog must not be an aggressive animal and must trust you enough to perform this painless task. With your assistant open your dog’s mouth. Sometimes this is harder to do than we think. Begin looking in the back of your animal’s mouth. You are looking for parts around the gums showing puss, redness or any sign of decay signified by a black decayed looking area on the tooth or gums. Work your way around to the front of your dogs canine teeth, (these are the fang teeth up front) keep looking for decay and hot zones. Upon a clean bill of health on this area you may brush your Dogs teeth. Yes I said brush your Dogs teeth! Like you or me a dog does get decay and plaque on their teeth. You should brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week. (They actually have Dog toothpaste and tooth brushes for this.)(http://www.shopwiki.com/dog+Toothbrush ) If after your inspection you find loose or decayed teeth please seek veterinarian attention to protect your Dogs health. Remember they feel pain just as much as you. Also a tooth ache is no fun.
Examining your Dogs eyes
Your Dog’s eyes are an area often over looked. Look at your Dogs eyes, are they clear and without any running or dry discharge on the edges? If so that’s great, if not let’s see if we can help. Examine your Dog to see if there is a foreign object in your pet’s eye. If you notice anything seek a veterinarian on this problem quickly. Hours or days of leaving the problem unaddressed can mean the loss of your Dogs eye site. Check to see if the problem is grooming related. Look at the eye of your Dog, is it covered by hair? Does the hair get into the eye cavity? If so Groom your pet around its eyes removing the offensive fur causing the problem. Anything related besides grooming issues to your pet’s eyesight I recommend seeking a vet for treatment. If the eye problem is caused from grooming related problems clean around the eye with warm water and a damp wash cloth softening the edges of buildup and washing the buildup away slowly. You may need to do this often for awhile. Symptoms should subside within a week. If not seek veterinarian care.
Examining your Dogs ears
Your Dog’s ears are another area overlooked often. Look into your pets ears with a small flashlight that allows viewing of your pets inside ear. Look for signs of foreign objects such as ticks, twigs, dirt and anything that doesn’t look normal. Clean the ear of your dog with a formula made for this. You can find a solution made for cleaning dog’s ears at your local pet store. The ear wash is cheap. (http://petscaremeds.com/item/earwash_dogs.html).
Your Dogs feet
Your Dog’s pads on its paws are like a pair of shoes. These pads take a lot of abuse and punishment from your animal’s daily regimen. Inspect them for cuts and abrasions. Look carefully between each pad for splinters, ticks and any other problems. Remove all foreign objects except a tick. Seek veterinarian care for removal of these pesky critters. If you find a cut or an abrasion, clean it with the Betadine solution used on the above problem for skin problems.
Bathing your Dog
Bathe your Dog once every two weeks with a flea and tick shampoo to control these nasty little pests. This single recommendation can keep your Dog in a much healthier and comfortable way of life. Beware that some pet shampoos are stronger and the Dog may require hypoallergenic Shampoos. These are sometimes a little expensive but well worth the benefits received from using them. (http://www.futurepets.com/shampoo.htm)
Final note
Remember as responsible pet owners we all need to make sure are animals are living a quality life free from any pain we may be able to alleviate. Taking a few minutes to check is all it takes.
