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We
all want our pet dog to stay healthy. As they tend
to suffer in silence, we need to be able to spot the
signs that our dog is not as healthy as we would like.
Disease
is generally considered to be the unfavourable deviation
from normal functions. Therefore in order to determine
the various indications of disease it is necessary
to recognize the signs of good health. Any departure
from normalcy might be the beginning of a disease
process.
The
eyes of the healthy animal are clear and bear an alert
expression. The membranes of the eyelids, gums, and
mucous membranes have a clean, deep pinkish color.
The teeth are clean and free from tartar and the nose
is cool and moist. The inside of the ears are of light
colouring and do not show deep redness, accumulation
of wax, or any sign of inflammation.
The
healthy skin is clean, pink to whitish in colour,
and free from dandruff, scurf, or any sign of irritation.
It is also soft and pliable, and when pinched or pulled
immediately returns to its original position. The
hair of healthy animals usually bears an unmistakable
glossiness. To a certain extent, the character of
the coat depends on the care given to it by the owner.
The animal should be kept properly groomed at all
times and this will tend to bring out the shine of
the coat. Improper grooming may give an animal an
appearance of not doing well and certainly will predispose
it to a variety of skin irritations.
The
healthy animal has a temperature of about 101.2 degrees
Fahrenheit, has a vigorous appetite, and readily eliminates
a moist, firm stool once to three times a day. Liberal
quantities of clear yellow urine are also eliminated.
These
are the major signs of good health in the dog. When
any of these signs is lacking, veterinary consultation
should be solicited at the earliest possible moment
to arrest the development of any unhealthy condition.
Serious consequences are often occasioned by neglect.
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