One hundred and two degrees F is a healthy temperature for a dog. A dog gum’s will be a nice pink color and they should have a very fast capillary refill rate. Most dogs should also have a pink tongue. His coat should be shiny and his skin should be clean. A healthy dog eye’s should be clear and alert. If you listen to a dog’s heart beat you will discover that it beats between 80 to 120 times per minute. Fifteen to twenty breaths per minute is the normal rate for a healthy animal.

If you notice that your pet has an unusual smell emanating from his nose, mouth or ears your pet may be sick. Other things to look for are vomiting, gagging and strange breathing patterns. Sickness may also cause redness in the eyes or discharge around the nose. If you notice any strange fluids coming from your dog’s ears or nose there is a good chance that your pet needs to go to the veterinarian.

In order to be able to detect any problems with your dog’s digestive system you need to be familiar with his regular habits. Be sure to watch for any signs of urination discomfort or any change in his bowel movements.

You should also watch for changes in your pet’s behaviour. Trouble balancing, lack of energy or an increase in anxiety are all signs that your pet is not well. You should also be sure to check your dog carefully when you brush and groom him for anything out of the ordinary. This may include lumps, hair loss or bugs.

If you want to help your pet’s doctor you should keep a journal of all symptoms that you notice. Take careful note of how often you have seen them, the time that they occurred and how often they occurred. This will go a long way to helping your veterinarian make a diagnosis.

The sense of hearing is very important to dogs and therefore when you clean your dog’s ears, you need to make certain you are doing it the proper way. Both the inner and outer parts of your dog’s ears are very sensitive, so it is crucial that you abide by proper cleansing procedures. The following tips will assist you in keeping your dog’s ears clean without doing harm:

• Check over your dog’s ear flaps on a regular basis for any abrasions especially after a clash with some other dog or animal. Even microscopic cuts in these sensitive regions can become easily infected, so keep an eye out for injuries and give your veterinarian a call if necessary.
• Take away any minor debris from the fur encompassing the dog’s ears. It’s also important to clean under the ear flaps, particularly if your dog relishes running through tall weeds, bush or grass. Foreign objects can get into the ear, inducing infections or discomfort, so be sure to remove anything that you may find at once.
• Allow for regular protection against contracting water in your dog’s ears by placing cotton swabs in his ears during baths or water play.
• Cleanse your dog’s ears at least once a month. The best technique is to use a cotton ball doused in a gentle cleansing solution, such as mineral oil or diluted peroxide. Your veterinarian might also be able to make product recommendations. Employing tender strokes, carefully dab both the outer and inner portions of the dog’s ear, minding not to drive any wax further into the ear. Clean only the parts of the ear that you can distinctly see, and do not get rid of all the wax. Dogs require a bit bit of wax to protect their ear canals.
• If you have an English Spaniel or Poodle breed of dog, you should routinely crop the hair close to their ears. Unreasonable hair growth in or about the ears can encourage infection. Clipping the hair will better air circulation and diminish the probability of infection.

If you are giving the animal a liquid you need to get the medicine into the buccal pouch. This is the space between the lips and teeth, sort of a loose pocket. Use one hand to apply gentle pressure to both sides of the dog’s mouth. You want to press the dog’s cheeks against his teeth just enough so that the dog will start to open his mouth. With your other hand pour the liquid slowly into the dog’s buccal pouch. Do not tip the animal’s head to far back. You want him to swallow voluntarily.
This method also works with pills. Make sure you get the pill as far back into the dog’s mouth as you can or he will spit it back out.

With any medicine make sure that the animal has swallowed and does drop it when you are not looking.