Dog Health

This section is not to substitute the care of a veterinarian. However, we will discuss some of the very basic points about dogs' health and how to care for him, so than we may be able to understand their sufferings and needs more.

• The veterinarian for the dog should be likable and trustworthy.
• A visit to the same doctor lends a degree of familiarity to the dog too, making him more comfortable.
  Prepare for the visit beforehand and jot down all the queries about your dog and seek information about potential problems from your veterinarian.
• At the veterinarian, you may need a stool sample of the dog, inoculation records, know more information about flea and tick prevention and control programs, ask info about prevention and symptoms of heart worm tests and Parvo Virus and learn to treat minor injuries and get prescription for a good antiseptic cream for daily use.
• You can use a syringe without the needle to give liquid medicine that can be inserted in the mouth of the dog, when it is closed behind his canine teeth and should be given slowly and gently.
• To give pills to the dog, the best way is to make him sit down upright and tilt his head back. Lift the lips away from his teeth and hold his upper jaw by the gums behind the canine teeth and push down on the lower jaw with the other hand and place the pill in the very back of his throat. Close his mouth and stroke his throat softly until pill is swallowed.
• You may also consider crushing the pills and mix them with peanut butter to make the dog swallow the medication with it.
• A dog in distress often indicates a problem that may need immediate attention.
  Dog's normal breathing rate is 15 to 20 per minute while normal heartbeat is 100 to 150 beats per minute.
• The pulse of the dog can be checked under his chest or under his rear leg where it joins the body.
  Dog's body temperature is checked using the rectal thermometer and normally should be around 100 to 102 degrees.
• Mucus membranes of the dog such as the gums, tongue and inside of eyelids should be healthy pink. Any other color is an indication of a sickness.
• A change in dog's behavior and untimely laziness, growling, snarling or irritability may indicate that dog needs to get the attention of the pet doctor.