Best Dog Answers

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Having a dog in your home is a real adventure but there are some important aspects of owning a dog that must not be overlooked. A dog’s health is extremely important at any age and as a dog owner, it is essential you not only know how to take care of your dog, but spot any symptoms that may point to underlying health problems.

Below are some simple tips to help you understand what a healthy dog looks like. Understanding these tips will provide a solid foundation to understanding to health of your dog.

1. Just as with humans, the body temperature of your dog can tell a lot about their health. A dog’s body temperature should be in the range of 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit. If you find it is higher or lower than this range, a vet visit may be in order to investigate what may be an underlying problem.
2. Dehydration is a fairly common health problem among all breeds of dogs. The tell tale sign that your dog is dehydrated is their nose. A healthy dog has a wet and moist nose. When you find it because dried out and warm your dog is in need of more water. If more water does not solve this problem, it is always wise to consult your vet for confirmation.
3. Your dog’s skin can tell a lot about their health as well. All that is required of you is to look for dandruff and the elasticity of the skin no matter how old your dog is.
4. The ears of your dog should be light pink in color and free of wax build-up. If you find your dog’s ears are red and hot to the touch this is yet another simple sign to identify that something may be wrong with your dog.
5. Lastly, take a look at your dog’s teeth. As an owner, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis or having your veterinary services doing this. If you are not it is likely your dog’s teeth are weak, infected and/or falling out. The state of a dog’s teeth can really affect the rest of their health.

This is by no means a reference guide to how to determine your dog’s health. However, these tips are definitely essential to any dog owner. On a daily basis you can get into the habit of checking these areas of your dog to ensure you are doing what you can to keep them happy and healthy. The longer you have your dog, the more you will get to know what is normal for them and what is not.

By paying attention to these tips you can save yourself a lot of money in vet bills by doing some of the work yourself. As dogs cannot communicate to us what they are feeling, it is our job to find the signs. Be aware that there is more to your dog’s health than just these simple tips but it is a great place for a new dog owner to start!