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.

For most dog owners, the importance of an annual vet visit for dogs is often overlooked. Oftentimes, dog owners would just bring their furry pals to the vet if their pet is sick or if their four-legged buddy needs an immediate remedy. But the thing is you must also keep in mind that taking your dog to the vet on an annual basis can positively affect your dog’s well being. Similar to humans, an annual check up for your dog will secure his health and well being. Some very important factors that you need to ask your vet to check on your dog are the following:

1. Weight of your dog—this is very important for you to know so that you will be aware if your dog is at his/her ideal weight in terms of his/her size and age.

2. Dental check up—similar to humans, dogs also need their teeth to be checked for any cavity buildup. This check up is most especially important if you have the habit of feeding your dogs with human food.

3. General condition of your dog—-ask your vet to check on your dog’s skin and coat for any allergy as well as any lumps that may appear on his/her buddy.

4. Ears and eyes—-an annual check up on your dog’s ears and eyes will prevent any unwanted ailment on these delicate body parts of your dog.

5. Parasite control—this check up is most especially important among puppies so that you can be sure that they are free from any worm attack.

6. Heart condition—this check up would prevent any heart ailment that can be fatal for your dogs.

7. Muscular and Skeletal exam—this check up would determine if your dog is of good physical shape and if he/she has healthy bones and muscles.

Finally, taking your pet dog to the vet on an annual basis may save you more money than you think because doing this can help you determine any possible ailment that your precious dog may have. This is also the best way to keep him/her healthy all throughout his/her lifetime. Always remember that an ounce of prevention is generally better than cure.