As we get many posts from new members asking questions about general health problems I thought maybe this general health check they can do themselves might be of help with things to look for that could indicate problems.

1) EYES. These should be clear without any discharge or redness as this could be a sign of infection.

2) EARS. The insides of your dogs ears should be clear with no odour. A Dogs ears should be cleaned regularly to avoid any infection especially dogs with dropped ears such as spaniels.

3) MUZZLE. The nose should be free of discharge.

4) TEETH AND GUMS. Gently lift your dogs lips, the gums should be pink. Teeth should be clean and white with no yellow plaque or tartar and there should not be a bad smell. There are products on the market for keeping teeth clean, but always get your vet to check the teeth if you are concerned,and clean if necessary. Also check for bleeding gums.

5) COAT AND SKIN. The coat should be free from tangles,and shiny looking. There should be no evidence of flaking skin. A good brush will help stimulate the skin.

6) BODY CHECKS. Run your hands through the coat to check for any lumps of wounds. Part the hair to look for signs of fleas or ticks. Check dogs testicles and bitches mammary glands for any unusual swelling.

7) WEIGHT. know the weight of your dog,and monitor it regularly (Your vet will usually do this for you on any visits free of charge) If you can feel the ribcage then you have probably got it right.

8) PAWS. Check the pads for open cuts,splinters or seeds. Nails should be short and healthy looking without any splitting.

9) UNDER THE TAIL. Hold up the tail and check for any signs of discharge or soreness. The anal glands might occasionally need emptying a job for your vet.

10) ENERGY. Your dog should always look alert.

I almost thought about shaving her hind feathering's off. After the first week or so the puppies' poops formed nice and my female's body got used to cleaning up the puppies' mess. I get check of my dog's health by the doctor.

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Dog Cages

This is a good post - absolutely essential information for any new/prospective dog owner. Perhaps it should be made a sticky?

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Bergies and borders - what more could anyone want? Siamese and maine coons, of course!

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ,
Moves on, nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
(But you can always edit your post, of course )

Agree with checking your dog over too and they love it. It's also good for if they need to see the vet as they're used to being handled in this way.

Something my trainer teaches at puppy class.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Great post I do it a few times a week and it's good to do it from you get them so they're used to it

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"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

Not sure how you make it a sticky, only just recently discovered how to give reps by accident lol. I just thought it might help new dog owners. If other members think its worthy of making it a sticky then perhaps someone can do it?

I think only a mod and Mark can make a sticky - but hopefully Tashi or someone else will be along and think it's worth a sticky.

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Bergies and borders - what more could anyone want? Siamese and maine coons, of course!

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ,
Moves on, nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
(But you can always edit your post, of course )

as a pet dog is very favorite to me......so it can be helpful to me ....

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banner stands

Im glad you think its helpful.

Good advice. It's nice to have a little checklist - it's so easy for some little things to go unnoticed, and they're not always able to let you know.