Your Dog’s Weekly Health Check
Do you already monitor your dog’s teeth, ears, coat, and weight? Use our handy checklist to carry out a 15-minute health-check.
Health Checklist
Look, we’re not saying you need to make your dog a home appointment and don the scrubs. But carrying out some quick daily or weekly checks will help you to monitor your dog’s overall health. You’ll increase your skills of observation and have a better chance of spotting a health issue early.
The weekly health check is also a great enrichment exercise for your dog too. They know they’ll get your undivided attention for 15 minutes and whilst you know you’re checking them over, they just think they’re getting a gentle massage and a good fuss.
If you’ve got a younger pup or have recently adopted a dog you don’t know much about, this is a great way to get them used to being handled and will make future vet trips much easier.
Perhaps you already do some of the following. We thought we’d gather them into one place to give you an easy-to-follow list.
#1 Teeth
Why:
Only 10-20% of dog owners brush their dog’s teeth daily, but more than 80% of dogs aged 3+ have periodontal disease/learn/dog-health/periodontal-disease-in-dogs-symptoms-causes-and-treatments. It’s a growing concern and it’s easy to address – worthwhile, too! Brushing can save your dog from needless pain (and expensive surgery).
How to do it:
If you can’t do it every day, just do it when you remember. For dogs who are new to tooth-brushing, a finger-brush is a less-terrifying option. Fit this nubbly, silicone ‘glove’ over your finger and rub some doggy toothpaste over your pooch’s teeth. The first time, maybe you’ll just touch their teeth with the brush. That’s OK. You can progress to brushing when your dog has become (somewhat) comfortable.
Read more about brushing your dog’s teeth here/learn/dog-health/how-to-keep-your-dogs-teeth-and-gums-healthy.
What to look for:
Inspect your dog’s teeth and gums. Signs of gingivitis (the first stage of periodontal disease) include redness and swelling of the gums, which may bleed when you brush them. Check teeth to see that they aren’t chipped and look for calcified areas or staining. Brushing is your best defence against the development of dental disease.
When you first start brushing your dog’s teeth, the most important thing you want to look out for is their reaction. Stop when it’s clear they’ve had enough so they don’t associate the routine with negativity.
#2 Weight
Why:
Obesity in dogs has become a major problem, according to the American Kennel Clubhttps://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/obesity-in-dogs-a-major-health-threat-hiding-in-plain-sight/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBeing%20just%2010%25%20overweight%20decreases,and%20cancer%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20says.. While obesity is defined as 30% above the ideal weight, a dog which is 10% above its ideal weight has a greater risk of suffering from heart disease/learn/dog-health/pulmonary-hypertension-in-dogs, diabetes/learn/dog-health/diabetes-in-dogs, or arthritis/learn/dog-health/caring-for-dogs-with-arthritis.
How to do it:
At a healthy weight, dogs have a defined ‘waistline’ and ribs that you can easily feel beneath their skin. If you’re unsure, use the scales. Weigh your dog at the veterinary clinic or (if you can lift them) stand on a scales, pick up your dog/learn/dog-lifestyle/how-to-pick-up-a-dog, and subtract your body weight from your combined weight.
What to look for:
The AKC has a charthttps://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/breed-weight-chart/ showing the ideal weight range for each breed (but consult your vet, since every dog is unique). If they’re overweight, start by eliminating table scraps and excess treats from their diet. Your dog gets their best nutrition from a professionally-formulated dog food/food (so don’t waste their calories on pizza crusts). If you don’t want to eliminate every tasty snack from your dog’s diet, swap their processed treats for natural ones/learn/dog-food/the-best-snacks-for-dogs. Carrots and fresh veg can still provide a satisfying crunch. Dried chicken feet are usually much healthier and lower in fat than processed dog dental chews.
#3 Ears
Why:
Ear infections/learn/dog-health/why-does-my-dog-keep-getting-ear-infections are sadly common in dogs. Even worse – we owners don’t always notice/learn/dog-health/why-is-my-dog-scratching-their-ear until our dogs are pressing their heads against furniture in pain. So we should all make a habit of checking our dog’s ears, especially if they’re the floppy kind.
How to do it:
Lift their ears and peep beneath! Some dogs are sensitive about having their ears touched/learn/dog-health/do-dogs-have-feelings-in-their-ears (which can be an early warning sign). Some dogs love having their ears rubbed because they have loads of nerve branches in their ears which can release endorphins throughout their body. Whilst you’re checking everything is healthy, they may well be loving a gentle relaxation feeling which helps them associate their weekly health check with happy vibes.
What to look for:
Healthy ear canals have clear openings with healthy-looking skin and just a small amount of earwax (light yellow or brown is OK). Swollen skin or excessive wax indicate a problem – there may be a strange smell, too. If you suspect an infection, get your dog to the vet.
#4 All-Over
Why:
Checking your dog’s skin and body can prevent a whole host of issues. Dull coats/learn/dog-training/how-to-keep-your-dogs-coat-healthy and dry skin are often the first signs that something is wrong with your dog’s health. In general, you’re looking for lumps, tenderness, inflammation, or changes.
How to do it:
As part of your regular routine, run your hands over your dog’s upper body, head, stomach, chest, and legs. Let your dog become accustomed to being gently handled and reward them with praise and treats. Make a mental note if they have any sensitive areas.
What to look for:
Feel around for lumps of any size. Dogs can pick up seeds which burrow into the skin and cause infection. Tumours can appear as lumps on almost any part of the dog’s body (but, if found early, can often be effectively removed by a vet).
Many dogs will yelp, bark or growl if they’re uncomfortable but keep an eye out for them licking their lips too. It’s very common for more placid dogs to lick their lips when in mild discomfort or stress/learn/dog-health/signs-of-stress-in-dogs as it’s a self soothing method (and less likely to draw attention if they were in the wild).
#5 Coat and Claws
Why:
Keeping your dog’s coat brushed and free of parasites is a simple way to avoid many medical issues. Grooming removes grass seeds and burrs which might otherwise become knotted or even infected. Ticks and other parasites can carry diseases which are very harmful for dogs. Claws, too, require a little upkeep: check for split claws or long claws which need to be trimmed (especially dewclaws which don’t get worn down as naturally).
How to do it:
Check the dates on your dog’s flea, tick and worm medication, and make sure that their treatments are up to date. Next, go over their coat with a brush and remove patches of matted fur. Check claws and refer to your vet if they need trimming or appear damaged. (You can buy claw trimmers if you are confident about trying this yourself.)
What to look for:
Most of the time, dog claws are self-regulated – they become worn down during walks over the sidewalk or rough ground. But when our dogs start to age, this doesn’t always work. If your dog has long claws, they can become uncomfortable and start to cause issues. Inspect paw pads too – a wound on the paw is prone to bacterial infection. While brushing, check for dry skin (which can be caused by a multitude of health concerns, but is also fairly common). Look, too, for bald patches, which may indicate an infection that requires veterinary attention. Make sure you're checking in between their pads/learn/dog-health/my-dog-wont-put-weight-on-their-paw-causes-and-treatments as well as this is a popular place for seeds and burrs to bury their way in. If they often walk on the sidewalk in the winter, keep an eye out for any irritation from grit or salts.
Read more about checking for keratoma (corns) on your dog’s paws here/learn/dog-health/what-is-keratoma-guide-to-treating-dog-corns.
Further Reading
Take a closer look at your dog’s head in our article which covers health tips for Ears, Eyes, Nose and Mouth/learn/dog-health/ears-eyes-mouth-and-nose-is-my-dog-healthy. Here are the signs that your dog could have an allergy/learn/dog-health/tell-tale-signs-that-your-dog-has-allergies. Read about the cause of cataracts/learn/dog-health/why-are-my-dogs-eyes-getting-cloudy and find out why eye boogers appear/learn/dog-health/why-does-my-dog-have-eye-boogers-every-morning. Dry skin or knotted fur? Learn about some of the most common skin problems among dogs/learn/dog-health/do-i-need-to-worry-about-my-dogs-dry-skin, and find out why foxtails can be dangerous for dogs./learn/dog-health/what-are-foxtails-and-how-do-i-protect-my-dog-from