Is my dog sick? This is probably one of the most common questions that dedicated pet owners often ask. So what are the signs that you should look for to tell if your dog is sick? Understanding how to check things like the body temperature of your dog, gum colour and your dog’s pulse can help you identify your dog’s condition.

Taking your dog’s temperature can be done rectally. A normal, healthy dog’s body temperature will be between 38.3 and 38.9 degrees Celcius or 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature outside of this range is an indicator that your dog is sick and that you need to seek the help of a veterinarian.

On the other hand, checking your dog’s gum colour can also help you determine if your dog is suffering from any illness. Normal gums should be a shade of pink. Abnormal gums, which are white, grey, blue or yellow in colour, can be indicative of internal bleeding, anemia or a disruption of normal blood flow, which prevents proper oxygenation of a dog’s blood or may result in a loss of red blood cells.

You can also look for signs of pain and distress in a dog. Symptoms include drooling, panting and restlessness. A dog’s heart rate can be a good indicator of distress and pain. However, the normal dog heart rate varies depending on the size and the age of the dog, but a consistently quick or slow pulse indicates distress and/or illness. A puppy has a heart rate of about 180 beats per minute. And adult dog will have a rate between 60 and 160 beats per minute. Small toy breeds can have normal heart rates of 180 beats per minute. It is also considered that the younger and smaller the dog, the faster his heart rate is.

Finally, the best way to make sure that your dog is always healthy and happy is to have a regular or an annual visit to the vet. It is also recommended that you give him healthy dog food, proper dog vitamins and supplements and daily exercise. Keep in mind that delaying care can make a toll on your dog’s health, causing any illness or disease to become more difficult and costly to cure.