Dog Sickness Symptoms-When To Act

Although you can not prevent every unexpected event, having the knowledge and preparation you can help keep your pet safe and healthy.as a responsible pet owner you want your dog to get the care they need, not just in the event of an emergency but on a day to day basis.When it comes to your dogs or pet care never hesitate to pick up the phone and call your veterinarian.

There are times when there is no doubt that your pet needs to see a veterinarian right away. These times include bleeding, being in an accident, prolonged vomiting, chocking, diarrhea, lethargy, loss and lack of appetite, any swelling, difficulty breathing, distended abdomen, weakness, collapsing,difficulty in walking, pale tongue or gums. These are serious signs your dog needs to be taken immediately to the veterinarian.

When most dogs are not feeling well and whether or not it’s very serious or not a emergency they do not always show signs until it becomes an emergency. They can not let you know exactly what they are feeling and sick they might be is your job to take action you can visually see somethings wrong, then you need to assume there is a problem. You can also check online for checking symptoms and do some investigative research this may help you, but many symptoms mimic many different causes and illnesses.

So if you notice your pet is not feeling well monitor the signs, if the signs seem alarming act fast call your vet for advice or to bring the pet in right away. If your dog is treated with medications from your veterinarian, make sure they have plenty of water and get plenty of rest, try not to have them do too much or any activity. Medications could also cause nausea, it may make your dog more tired and dizziness can accure. Always be sure you are aware of the precautions from your doctor about any medication your dog may be on. Be sure of the correct dosages and whether or not food should be taken with the medication r not. Be sure you are able to administer the medication to your dog you can ask your veterinarian to show the best ways to place the pill down your pets mouth.

Dog Vomiting – What could make your dog vomit?

If your dog vomits from time to time, it may not be a reason for concern, but when this happens really often, and then it is time to get worried.

Dog vomiting can also mean tract inflammation, and this can also mean that the dog is lacking some digestive enzymes. The dog can also have an allergy to something or a problem in the intestinal tract.

If you see that the vomit puddle is filled with food that looks undigested, the vomiting can be due to stress or overeating. In some rare cases, the undigested food can also point to food poisoning. But this is up to the vet to decide and then prescribe the correct medicine.

Some dogs tend to eat whatever they encounter and this can be really bad for their stomach. Many dogs also tend to overeat and this can lead to vomiting episodes too. If you see blood in the vomit than it means the dog has a serious health condition. In this case professional assistance is required. Internal laceration can appear when the bowel and the intestines are inflamed.

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In many cases the inflamed digestive track solves the problem by vomiting. But in some cases a visit to the vet is necessary. So make sure to keep the dog as comfortable as you can and let him vomit. Then notice how the vomit appears and take a sample for the vet to analyze. Do not frighten the dog when he is vomiting because this will add up to its stress. The dog already knows that bodily fluids on the carpet are a bad thing and you do not want to add up to its stress.

Sometimes, the puppies vomit because their digestive system is undeveloped and needs to learn how to cope with new food. Also, puppies are greedy and they want to eat as much as possible till they throw up. Puppies also tend to taste things just for the fun of it and they can get accidentally poisoned. So keep an eye on your new puppy and if you see any symptoms take it immediately to the doctor.

You should also know that digestive problems are quite common in puppies, especially ones that belong to large breeds.

But the rule is: if the dog vomits twice in 24 hours, for more than 2 days in a row, than take it to the vet for the proper investigation. Make sure to follow all the rules mentioned above. And also talk to the breeder that sold you the dog. Make sure you have the entire medical history of the puppy. If you also see that the dog is vomiting after lunch hours, prepare the area for it and wait for the vomiting episode to occur. Try to restrict his movements during those vomiting episodes so that you can handle the mess.

Make sure that you notice the vomit of your dog and never let the dog re-ingest the vomit. Also, it is best to take the dog to the vet if you notice the slightest symptoms and problems. You know what people like to say: better safe than sorry, right?

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How to Pick the Best Doggie Day Care for Your Dog

If you work during the day and want your dog to be entertained while you’re away, a visit to a doggie day care center can be an excellent alternative to a lonely day spent at home. When boredom sets in, there’s also the potential for your dog to become destructive. At doggie day care, your dog can socialize with other dogs and get some healthy exercise. To make sure your dog is safe, it’s important to select a doggie day care center with competent and caring personnel and staff.

Here’s what you need to know to choose the best doggie day care center for your pet:

Get referrals from other dog owners and pet professionals.

The best way to find a reputable doggie day care center is to ask other dedicated dog owners in your area. If you have a dog park, this is a good place to question other pet owners about their experiences at doggie day care centers in your area. You can also get referrals from dog grooming studios and local pet stores.

Ask your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian can probably refer you to a reputable doggie day care center. This would be a good time to set up an appointment to make sure your dog is up to date on his vaccinations before he’s taken to your chosen doggie day care facility.

Ask the right questions.

Once you have the names of potential doggie day care centers in your area, call them and question them about their program. You’ll want to know what the dog to staff ratio is, how they screen incoming dogs for aggressive tendencies, how they handle dog fights, how the dogs are supervised, how much play time they get, the credentials of the staff, and whether large and small dogs are kept in separate areas. It’s particularly important that there be sufficient staff to handle the number of dogs at each session. (There should be at least one staff member for every ten dogs) and that they be trained in canine emergency procedures such as CPR.

Tour your local doggie day care centers.

While scheduling a tour of the facilities is helpful, it may be even better to drop in without an appointment. You can get a better picture of how the dogs are treated if they don’t have time to prepare for your visit. When you tour the facilities, make sure all areas are clean and well maintained, that the each area is secure with proper barriers and fencing, and that the dogs appear happy and in good health. Observe how the staff interacts with the dogs and make sure there’s an adequate dog to staff ratio. Be sure you’re clear about their drop off and pick up hours.

Schedule a visit for your dog.

A reputable doggie day care center will want to screen your dog before allowing him to interact with the other dogs. Schedule a time for your dog to visit the facilities. Be present during the screening process and observe how your dog reacts when they expose him to the other dogs at the center. If your dog appears comfortable and the staff feels comfortable with your dog, you may have a match.

Once you’ve screened and chosen a doggie day care center for your dog, give him a trial and see how he responds to the new environment. If he shows any signs of stress when you pick him up, you may want to reevaluate. If well chosen, doggie day care can be a great way to keep your dog occupied when you can’t be with him.

Treating Diarrhea in Dogs And Puppies

Taking Care of a Dog or Puppy Who Has Diarrhea

Diarrhea can occur in dogs and puppies for many different reasons. Diarrhea can be mild, moderate or severe. It may be accompanied by vomiting, lack of appetite and other symptoms or may be the only symptom evident.

Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs and Puppies

Diarrhea can be caused by numerous diseases and circumstances, including:

dietary indiscretion

viral causes (parvovirus, coronavirus, etc.)

bacterial causes (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc)

parasites (roundworms, hookworms, Giardia, etc)

systemic disease (liver failure, kidney failure, etc)

Treatment of Diarrhea in Dogs and Puppies

Mild diarrhea in dogs and puppies can often be managed at home with the help of a bland diet. However, diarrhea can be accompanied by dehydration and other problems. When a dog or puppy becomes dehydrated, the pet may need additional veterinary care to battle the dehydration. This is especially true in puppies because puppies often become dehydrated more quickly and more easily than more mature dogs.

When a dog or puppy is suffering from diarrhea, deciding whether to take the dog or puppy to his veterinarian can be an important decision. Delaying a trip to the veterinarian if the dog or puppy is suffering from severe illness could mean the difference between surviving or not surviving for the dog or puppy.

If the dog or puppy suffering from diarrhea is also vomiting, seems weak or depressed, is not eating or drinking or is showing other symptoms, a visit to the veterinarian should be scheduled. Bloody diarrhea can also be a serious situation and warrants a trip to veterinarian.

When visiting your pet’s veterinarian, it is also advisable to collect a sample of the dog’s feces for analysis. A fecal sample can be examined for parasites as well as being checked for parvovirus if necessary.

Home Remedies for Diarrhea in Dogs and Puppies

When diarrhea experienced by a dog or puppy is mild and not accompanied by other symptoms, it is sometimes possible to successfully treat the diarrhea at home. A bland diet can be a good tool in restoring the bowels to a normal, well formed consistency.

A bland diet may consist of:

cooked hamburger (lean) and boiled rice

broiled chicken and boiled rice

cottage cheese

Over-the-counter medications, such as Pepto-Bismol and Immodium, can be used in dogs, but the dosages may be different than those used in people and they may not be safe for all pets. Consult your veterinarian before using any over-the-counter medication for your pet and ask your veterinarian to determine the proper dosage for your pet if an over-the-counter medication is deemed to be appropriate for your pet.

Probiotic medications are those that contain beneficial bacteria which will populate the intestinal tract of a dog or other animal. Yogurts, such as the Proactive brand, are good examples of probiotic medications used in people. Probiotic medications can be useful in promoting healthy bowels in dogs, cats and people. However, the bacteria which populate the intestinal tract of people are different than those which are found in dogs or in cats. Therefore, it is advisable to use a probiotic product which is formulated for dogs when treating a dog or puppy for diarrhea with a probiotic.

It should be remembered also that probiotic medications are considered to be dietary supplements and are not well controlled by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). While they are considered to be safe products, there is a great deal of variability in quality between products. Purchasing a probiotic product from a reputable manufacturer is important to ensure efficacy of the product.

Diarrhea in dogs and puppies can be effectively controlled through the use of a bland diet and other home remedies if mild and uncomplicated. However, if diarrhea in a dog or puppy is accompanied by other symptoms, veterinary care should be sought for the dog or puppy. Also, if improvement of the diarrhea does not occur within 12-24 hours when treating with home remedies, veterinary care should be sought for the dog or puppy.

Rearing a Rosy Dog

Dogs are great companions and uprise in all shapes, sizes and breeds. These animals can unrecorded very lifelong lives, sometimes up to 20 geezerhood! What makes it workable for a pet to elastic this polysyllabic? The dog ancestry has a redemptive muckle to do with lifespan but capable upbeat help is the best quantify to a interminable and goodness eudaemonia.

Vaccinations

All dogs are supersensitized to varied diseases such as parvovirus, heartworms, temper and hydrophobia fitting to lingo a few. This is why it is real arch to get your dog on a uniform schedule of vaccinations. The original shots are unremarkably supposition at 6 weeks of age and move routinely over the stalking 16 weeks. After the initial portion of vaccinations, your dog should only status a yearly thief to cook them battlemented.

Couple Ancestry Specifics

If you bed a pedigree dog, you should cognize what diseases are peculiar to the filiation. Whatsoever breeds are writer prone to hip dysplasia, bisulcate board, sightlessness, mutism and twist knees and you will need to experience the specifics for your dog so that you can rite for archaeozoic warning signs. You can soul protect yourself from dogs with potential welfare problems by beingness very unhurried when you get the beast. Checker the laurels of the stockman and catch for signs that the dogs are poorly cared for.

Look

You are your dog’s premiere connective of collection when it comes to their welfare. Since they cannot covenant verbally that, they are not feeling comfortably you gift change to mate what to see for. With most breeds of dogs, the strip testament avow you a complete mass most their wellbeing. Flushed tegument should be atrip of scabs or growths. Ticker for rashes, bites and ordering of the strip, which are indicators that something is definitely deplorable.

The chemoreceptor is another respectable indicator of your dogs coverall health, it should be composed and moist most of the indication with lowercase or no evacuation. Any shot from the look should be broad and not coagulate, xanthous or nasty sensing. Patch a enthusiastic, dry spout is not a clear formalize your dog is sick, it is a Inclination the Vet

Whatsoever situations song for fast doc fixing. If your dog is suddenly unsteady on their feet, disgorgement a lot, symptom, bound or inactive you should attain an straightaway demand to the vet. Modify and still whatever illnesses can take a dog’s period quickly so you requirement to be proactive in hunt examination aid.

Nutrient

What identify of matter you should supply your dog is a hotly debated content in whatsoever arenas. There are those who conceive a raw fasting is the primo and veterinarians who gift depose by one firewood of dog nutrient over added. The person deciding is belike somewhere in the area of all the arguing. Appear at the ingredients on the hold and decide what you and your vet think is the incomparable compounding for your specific dog breed. Be really sentient of possible pet matter recalls and act accordingly.

Umpteen people equivalent to feed their dog’s table scraps, which for the most object will not raise. Nevertheless, there are two things you should never cater a dog, crybaby castanets and drinkable. The clappers can fragment into breakneck slivers time your dog is chewing and beverage can be inevitable equal in elflike amounts.

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Chocolate is Extremely Toxic to Dogs

Chocolate is a favorite treat for humans.  They love chocolate so much and sometimes they share this delicacy with their dog.  Dogs also like chocolate and they do not know it can kill them.  If your dog finds an open bag of chocolates he will wolf them down.  You may just clean up the mess and not give the incident a second thought.  Several hours after your dog eats the chocolate he will collapse and die.  You do not even think about the chocolate he ate.  You are wondering what would cause a healthy dog to die so suddenly.  You are thinking it must be a new terrible virus.

The truth is there is no new terrible virus.  The chocolate your dog ate is what killed him.  The substance in the chocolate that is so deadly to a dog is called Theobromide.  The size of the dog and type of chocolate has a lot to do with how much it will take to be toxic to a dog. 

Holidays are especially dangerous times for dogs.  There is always a lot of candy setting around for everyone to eat.  Our dogs are considered members of the family so it is only natural for us to share our holiday treats with them.  The sad thing is that this is one treat they should never share with you.

Unsweetened or baking chocolate is the most dangerous as it contains the highest percentage of Theobromide per ounce.  It has 400 MG per ounce as compared to 45 MG per ounce in milk chocolate.  Usually toxic symptoms will occur when 100 MG of Theobromide are ingested per 2.2 pounds of the dog’s weight.  A 20 pound dog can die if he eats 2 ounces of baking chocolate.

The symptoms of Theobromide poisoning are numerous and they appear within a few hours or up to a day after the dog has eaten the chocolate.  Chocolate will stay in the dog’s stomach for a long time.   the Theobromide is absorbed into the bloodstream.  Your dog’s symptoms of chocolate toxicity will be vomiting, diarrhea, loss of urine control, hyperactivity, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors, seizures and coma.

There is no antidote for Theobromide poisoning.  Treatment is geared toward supporting the animals basic life functions, preventing further absorption of the chocolate, hastening elimination, and treating the symptoms.  If less than two hours have passed since the dog ate the chocolate the first step is to induce vomiting.  This should get rid of 70 percent of the stomachs contents.  The chocolate can melt and form a ball in the stomach.  This ball can be difficult to remove.  If the dog has eaten an amount that can be toxic it is not enough to just induce vomiting.  The dog should be placed under the care of a veterinarian until the danger has passed.  The veterinarian will give the dog repeated doses of activated charcoal to move the poison through his system faster and with less absorption.  The dog’s heart rate and respiration must be carefully monitored during this treatment.  The best treatment is prevention of the dog eating chocolate in the first place.  Keep your dog out of danger by never leaving chocolate within easy reach of your dog.  Never feed your dog chocolate candy as a treat.  Never assume the animal is fine if he vomits after eating chocolate.

Chocolate poisoning is a killer that can be prevented form killing.  If you think your dog has eaten chocolate consult a veterinarian immediately.

Veterinary medicine is continually making advancements in diagnosis and treatment of illnesses in pets.  There are new medications coming out all the time.  Consult your veterinarian and he will advise you of the latest treatments available.

Source:

http://www.vetinfo.com 

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Alternatives To Dog And Cat Vaccines

There has been a lot said in the last decade as it refers to immunizations and children and the possible side affects and illness caused by them. This same concern has been growing among pet owners with vaccinations.

Emerging evidence suggests that more harm can come from the dog and cat vaccines than the diseases these are used to supposedly prevent. It can be difficult for us to decide which way we should go with this as to whether we should vaccinate or not. Fortunately many of the homeopathic veterinarians have discovered some alternatives which this article describes.

In place of these vaccines there are some homeopathic remedies called “Nosodes”. The Nosodes are made from natural disease products. One of the Nosodes is called Distemperinum. It is made from the secretions of a dog ill from canine Distemper. It is then sterilized, diluted and carefully prepared in accredited pharmacies. When properly used, this medicine can protect your pet from Distemper even better than the vaccine itself.

Nosodes are also available for kennel cough, parvovirus, feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis and other common dog and cat diseases. Nosodes have shown to have no side effects or illness that is often associated with vaccine use. Ask your veternarian if he or she has these available at their clinic. If not, begin searching for a homeopathic veternarian.

If you your veternarian doesn’t offer this kind of vaccine alternative or your unable to locate this service being offered by a veternarian in your area or your still afraid not to vaccinate, you can try a modified plan. This plan will at least minimize the chance for problems associated with vaccines.

The modified plan consists of using single or simple vaccines instead of complex vaccines. This means vaccinating for one disease at a time.  An outline for the “modified” plan: 1) Only use “killed” or “inactivated” vaccines instead of “modified live” vaccines. The “killed” vaccines do not grow in the body and are safer to use.

2) Use a reduced vaccination schedule for young dogs and cats. You don’t need to give a lot of vaccinations in order to have the greatest protection. Immunizations of your pet is enough for several years or a lifetime of protection in most cases.

3) Do not vaccinate a puppy or kitten too early. This means not vaccinating before 16 weeks of age. The earlier the puppy or kitten is vaccinated, the more harm that may be done to the their immune system as well as a greater chance for vaccine-induced illness.

4) Skip annual boosters. Many homeopathic veterinarians advise against any further vaccinations after the initial series. Many study’s have concluded these boosters have no effect on further protecting from the illness.

If your really wanting to be safe, keep your pet isolated from contact with other pets and only vaccinate once at 22 weeks or older.

Many homeopathic veterinarians advise to vaccinate against Distemper at 22 weeks of age and the Parvo a month later. If your still feeling too uneasy, you could get two vaccinations for each disease starting at 16 weeks by following this schedule: 1st Distemper at 16 weeks, 1st Parvo at 20 weeks, 2nd Distemper at 24 weeks and the 2nd Parvo at 28 weeks.

Read my article on how to prevent and get rid of fleas:

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/235528_how-to-prevent-and-get-rid-of-fleas

How to Spot Symptoms of Heartworm in your Dog

Dog heartworm symptoms are a result of mature or adult heartworm larvae that invade the heart and other major organs. They can cause irritation to the heart and blood vessel walls, causing the thickening of the blood and the blockage of the blood flow. They can even become lodged in the blood vessels of the liver, eventually causing liver damage.

Usually the first dog heartworm symptom to appear is a mild cough. Most dog owners usually overlook it since it may be caused by several other problems, some which may possibly take care of themselves over time. Knowing that this may be the onset of such a terrible and possibly fatal disease needs to be of concern to dog owners. If the owner knows that heartworm prevention has not been administered regularly, then a mild cough should be enough of a red flag to warrant a visit to the veterinary office.

Since most dogs are very energetic and playful, dog owners should immediately recognize the symptom of fatigue in their canine. If doing normal things like running in the yard or up the stairs tires out your dog, then there is a good chance there may be a problem. Shortness of breath in your dog is another early warning sign of heartworm. Labored breathing and gasping for air need to be a sign that the advice of a professional may be required. Most dogs are constantly hungry. It may not be a major concern if your pet skips a meal or two, since stomach troubles do occur from time to time.

However, if this trend continues for a lengthy period of time, it should be taken seriously. Weight loss, yellow or jaundiced skin, and a severe cough are signs that a major problem may exist, and if your dog has periods of collapse, it may be a sign that it is too late. Owning a dog means you need to use preventive heartworm medications regularly, and that your animal needs to see a vet at least on an annual schedule.

Causes of Liver Disease in Dogs

Liver disease is one of the top five non- accident causes of death in dogs and the warning signs should be taken seriously. The liver performs many vital functions that the body cannot do without, such as detoxifying the blood and serves as the production house for bile, which helps dogs to digest their food. The liver serves some function in almost every body process.

Liver disease can be caused by several different factors that have varying treatments and degrees of success. After liver disease is in progress, there is no cure. Treatment will concentrate on slowing the progression of the disease and reducing the severity of the symptoms associated. Symptoms of illness include: vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, and jaundice, or the yellowing of the eyes and mucous membranes. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet immediately for evaluation and treatment.

The first cause of liver disease in dogs is infectious canine hepatitis. This highly contagious virus is contracted when a dog inhales particles from the air or on the ground. Nose to nose contact with an infected dog will also transmit the disease. Dogs can carry and transmit the virus for up to one year after recovery. Recovery from this virus is relative as the dog will no longer be actively infected with the virus, and yet will still carry it. The good news is that if a dog “recovers” from the virus, it will be immune to ever becoming symptomatic again.

The virus enters the bloodstream and begins to attack the eyes, kidneys, liver and blood vessels, though most dogs do not show any symptoms of being infected. If symptoms appear at all, the dog may seem lethargic and/or lose their appetites for a few days. In some dogs, a bluish tint to their eyes will develop after a week or two of infection, and some may develop a cough.

In dogs that have weak immune systems, or very young puppies, a more severe infection will develop. These dogs will develop hepatitis, internal bleeding, tonsillitis, and inflammation of the mouth and eyes. Over the next two weeks, dogs that exhibit severe infection symptoms will either die or develop chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.

Chronic active hepatitis is another liver problem that occurs in dogs. It is an ongoing inflammation of the liver that causes irreversible damage. Dogs that experience chronic active hepatitis are said to be in liver failure. The disease attacks new liver cells, killing them and forming scar tissue. This condition is known as cirrhosis, which is a secondary condition caused by the hepatitis. There are several known conditions that cause chronic active hepatitis such as infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, drug and chemical toxicities, and certain toxins that can be found in moldy grain used to make dog food.

Finally, some dog breeds are predisposed to developing liver disease, such as Bedlington Terriers, Dobermans, Skye Terriers, Standard Poodles and Cocker Spaniels. These dogs have genetically weak livers that can be severely damaged after a bacterial or viral infection. Dogs in these breeds should watched closely for physical signs of liver insufficiency and should have blood work performed annually after the age of three to monitor the liver enzymes for signs of damage.

Treatment for liver disease in dogs is targeted toward supportive care, or helping the dog’s system compensate for the loss of liver function. Intravenous fluids help flush toxins from the blood and anitbiotics can be used to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections. As the damage to the liver progresses, the dog will eventually succumb to the disease as liver transplants are not commonly performed in dogs.

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When to Call Your Veterinarian for a Sick Dog

It can be difficult at times to determine whether a dog’s medical symptoms are serious since they’re unable to tell you when they’re uncomfortable or in pain. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of certain signs that suggest it’s time to seek medical attention for your canine friend. When it comes to the health of your dog, it’s better to be safe than regret that you didn’t respond to your dog’s symptoms quickly enough. Here’s how to know when to call your vet:

Assess your dog’s general demeanor.

Does your dog have mild symptoms such as diarrhea or an upset stomach and still appear happy and energetic? Chances are if he greets you with an animated wag of his tail and a happy energetic lift to his step, he probably isn’t seriously ill and can be watched closely for further signs of illness.

Assess your dog’s appetite.

When a dog stops eating, it’s time to call your vet. If this goes along with vomiting and diarrhea, it could be a sign of pancreatitis, a potentially life threatening inflammation of the pancreas. This is a definite indication that further medical attention is needed for your dog.

Check your dog’s heart rate.

To check your dog’s heart rate, feel for the large artery that extends along the inside of the back leg. Gently place on the artery with the three middle fingers of your hand and count the beats over a one minute period. A normal heart rate should be between 80 and 150 beats per minute. If your dog’s heart rate is outside that range it could indicate a fever, shock, or a serious illness and is an indication to call his vet.

Check your dog’s respiratory rate.

Check your dog’s respiratory rate while he is not panting by counting the number of beats per minute. The normal number of respirations per minute should be 25 to 60 beats per minute. Anything outside this range is suggestive of underlying illness.

Check your dog’s body temperature.

You should be able to use a rectal thermometer to get an accurate temperature reading on your dog. A temperature above 102 degrees Farenheit is abnormal and indicates that your veterinarian should be called.

Check for evidence of dehydration.

To see if your dog is dehydrated, pull a handful of skin from over his shoulder and immediately release it. It should snap back into place briskly. If not, your dog could be seriously dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, or other means of fluid loss.

Check your dog’s gums.

Lift up your dog’s upper lift and check the color of his gums. The gums of a healthy dog will normally be a healthy, pink color. If they appear pale or white, this could a sign of impending shock or anemia which is an indication to call your vet immediately.

Check your dog’s eyes.

Your dog’s eyes should be bright and clear. The pupils should be equal and should constrict when a light is shone into them. You can assess vision by a sudden hand movement towards your dog’s eyes. He should respond by blinking his eyes.

By being aware of your dog’s normal behavior, you can more easily determine when a significant change has occurred. It’s helpful if you perform these health checks periodically to determine what’s normal for your dog so you can better make a decision as to when to the veterinarian.

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