Your Doggie is Doing Fine

Knowing how to tell if your pet is sick is important, but it's just as important to be able to assure yourself when your dog's doing well.  There are some easy ways to tell that your dog is doing fine.

One of the easiest and most familiar ways to check your pet's health is their nose.  A dog's nose should be clear of any crusting, discharge, or bleeding.  Contrary to popular belief, cold or wet noses don't really tell you anything about your pet's health unless it's excessively wet or dry.  Another thing to pay attention to is how often your pet sneezes.  If it's just once in a while, your furry friend is fine for this check.

Breath is also an easy check.  Dental health is important and neglecting it in your pet can lead to gingivitis and peridontitis which can have broader scope consequences for your pet's health, but one of the easiest ways to check for this is a smell check.  If your dog's breath has you gagging, might be time to get a check up and invest in a doggie toothbrush.  If his breath is fine, you have one less thing to worry about.

How are their skin and coat?  Your furry friend's coat should be sleek and shiny without having to be washed consistently (breed depending).  If you run your fingers through your pet's fur and notice the underlying skin is dry and cracked or that the fur isn't particularly sleek, check in with the vet to see if he's missing any key nutrients to keep him in peak health.

Last, each pet and breed has a different ideal weight, but a good rule of thumb is that your pet's wait should taper, but you shouldn't spot ribs.  A more thorough way to check is to feel your pet's chest.  You should be able to just feel the ribs without pressing hard nor feeling all the bumps and edges.