By Mary Jane Anderson

Learning to give your dog a physical examination, as a preventive medicine program, will help you detect problems in their early stages before your are confronted with big problems.

The first step is to take an overall assessment of your dog’ physical and mental well being through observation. Is your dog alert, active, and in good spirits? Your dog should walk, run, and play without any physical signs of pain, stiffness, or tiring quickly from an activity. Is his behavior consistent to his usual normal behavior?

A dog’s appetite, frequency of urine, and the amount and firmness of his daily stools play a major role in his physical condition. Once a year, a stool sample will keep you informed if our dog is free of internal parasites. How is his coat: is it shiny, clean, a free from tangles and mats or debris? The hair coat should be full and in good condition. His tail should be carried in his normal position, wagging in happiness and anticipation.

From the overall picture, you begin a hands-on examination in more detail from nose to tail. The nose is to be usually moist, free of discharge. His breathing should be in ease. By examining your dog’s mouth, you can detect problems that commonly occur as a dog gets older. The gums are normally pink, free from redness next to the teeth. If your dog’s gums are pigmented, check the lining of his eyelids for a pink color. The teeth should appear clean and white. Dental diseases, similar to humans dental problems, come from poor nutrition, tartar build up, inflammation of the guns, cavities, or abscesses. Bad breath is usually a sign of trouble, so watch for these signs for early detection.

The eyes and ears are the next on the agenda. The eyes should appear bright and clear, free from foreign material or discharge. The eyelids normal color is pink. Wipe out the eyes with cotton and warm water. Avoid using any medication on your dog’s eyes without the direction of your veterinarian. Your dog’s ears should be clean and pink inside, also free from foreign material or debris.  All dogs’ ears should be cleaned periodically. Allowing wax to build up in the ears increases the likeness of infection and medical problems. Wipe out excess wax; the normal color of wax should be tan or light brown. Any great quantity of wax, or dark brown, swelling of ear tissues, redness, pain, excessive warmth, or foul smell, have your veterinarian take a look. Take the time to learn the procedures for cleaning and medicating your dog’s ears as part of his overall care.

After the examination of the head and its parts, we continue to consider the body. As your hands move around the body, move each joint, the muscles should be firm and strong. Check the body to feel any unusual lumps, or soreness when touched. Check the skin for proper color; is it clean and free from external parasites, dry flakes and sores. As the limbs are checked, don’t forget the length of the nails and dewclaws. Nails should not be allowed to grow so long that they curve into the foot pads.

Monitoring your dog’s weight is also essential. Excess weight puts stress on the heart, lungs, blood vessels, muscles, joints, and bones. The ribs should be felt with light pressure. The size of your dog is the determining factor of your dog’s proper weight. Monitoring your dog’s weight requires little of your time with the reward of a happier, healthier dog.

The final check is under the tail, the anal glands. The anal sacs, located on each side of the anus, holds fluid which is a useful marking device for a dog. Occasionally, the fluid secreted does not expel completely and it builds up causing your dog discomfort as well as a medical problem. Every dog owner should know about the anal sacs and learn to empty them when necessary. Your veterinarian will show you how to expel them properly and spot signs of problems.

Preventive medicine is the best way to keep your dog hale and hearty. Examining your dog periodically will save you time and money in the long run as well as a happier relationship with your pet.