Veterinarian Blog

7 Signs of a Healthy Dog

by Dr. Chris

October 26, 2009 Most people can pretty much tell just by glancing at a dog or cat and know if they are healthy. But if you ask them to articulate how they know that one pet is healthy and one is not, it can be hard to define. Here are 7 signs that you can specifically point to and back up your case that a pet is healthy.

1. Eyes

The eyes should be clear and bright. There should be no signs of discharge, redness or scratching around the eyes. Some small amounts of discharge in the corners of a dog's eyes is normal.

2. Teeth

The teeth should be clean and the build up of tartar should be minimal. The gums should be pink, and there should be no signs of inflammation, swelling, or recession of the gums.

3. Skin and Coat

The coat should be nice, shiny and smooth. There should not be excessive flaking of the skin and he hair should not feel dry or brittle.

4. Body Condition

The dog should not have the ribs be visible when looking at the dog, but the ribs should be easy to palpate. The problem with most pets is that they are too obese.

5. Digestive Health

Stools should be regular and nicely formed. Any stools that are too soft or too frequent could indicate a problem like parasites, food allergies, or dietary indiscretion.

6. Behavior

The dog should be comfortable around humans and other dogs. The mental health of a dog can have a big impact on its physical health which is why it is included in this list.

7. Appetite

The appetite should be healthy. Many dogs do have a picky appetite, but when it comes down to it, they eat enough to maintain their body weight. Many people often get concerned because their dog appears to be a picky eater. This is only a real problem if the dog is losing weight because of it.

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