Dog health is a fuzzy concept. You want your dog to be healthy, but how can you tell what that is? And further, how can you tell if your dog is as healthy as they should be?
When you get your dog, you know their sex. They are either a boy or a girl as determined by genetics. You know right away which one you got and that it’s not going to change. But being “healthy” can look a lot of different ways depending on the situation. And it can change over time, sometimes without you noticing.
What is dog health?
Good dog health is the state of your dog being free of illness and injury. While this is an excellent goal, I think most dogs are not quite to the ultimate level of good health. As much as I try to help them get there, I know my dogs each have at least an issue or two that could be improved. Is this the situation with your dogs too?
How does your dog feel, exactly? Do they have areas of pain or stiffness? What about their insides; stomach, lungs, etc.? Maybe they are getting older and having those issues that come with it. How much do you know about your dog’s health?
Is your dog healthy?
Your dog feels it when something is off. They could be grumpy or lethargic if something isn’t quite right. It’s important to pay attention to behavior and mood since they can be clues that help you figure out how your dog is doing.
You can also pick up quite a bit of information just by putting your hands on your dog. Try running your hands over your dog’s body. As much as you can, respect those ultra-sensitive areas like eyes and genitals. You can still look closely at these without offending your dog. What do you notice?
Dog health also shows in the texture of the fur. Is the consistency the same all over? Are there rough areas caused by being rubbed or chewed on? These and other changes might indicate a place where your dog is trying to relieve some discomfort. It could also indicate food allergies or other internal problems.
Using your hands to determine dog health can give you other clues too. For example, you can check your dog’s muscles. Do they feel like the soft part of your cheek (relaxed) or like your jaw (tense)?
Is the muscle size the same on both sides? If a problem has been going on for an extended period of time, you might notice atrophy (muscle shrinkage from not being used) in one area and larger muscles in other areas because of greater than normal use.
Muscle tightness could be a sign that something is painful. If your dog favors a body part or guarding due to pain, muscles are likely to be hard. And not necessarily in the actual problem area, since dogs will use their bodies differently to compensate for a problem.
When you feel your dog, you might notice areas where he or she flinches. Maybe the skin and muscle twitch at that location. Or maybe your dog yelps or pulls away. Areas that feel extra warm or cool could also be a sign of a problem. These can all be clues about the state of dog health.
How can you keep your dog’s health the best it can be?
You can feel changes to your dog’s body to help you pick up on dog health concerns. It might take a little practice since so often we don’t fully use our senses, and the sense of touch is one of those. However, the sense of touch can provide a wealth of information.
By using your hands, you can identify current issues before they become bigger problems. The first step to resolving issues is finding them. If you consciously check your dog regularly, you’ll become more familiar with them so you can notice the differences when they occur.
You don’t have to be a veterinarian that’s trained in dog health to be an advocate for your dog. Since you spend more time with your dog than anyone else, you are the one who is most likely to notice important clues. This kind of information can help your vet help your dog. Ultimately, between you and your vet, and other professionals, you can give your dog the best life possible.
Do you know how your dog’s body feels normally? What do you do to stay on top of their state of dog health? Tell me about it in the comments below.
If you have questions about dog health, sites like www.doghealth.com can provide some resources. I also have several posts on this site that might be helpful.
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