A healthy dog is a happy dog. Raw dog food can help to keep your dog healthy from the inside. In the following article, we will take a closer look at some of the more common signs of good health in dogs.
Table of Contents
Skin
Pet your dog regularly to feel its coat and skin. Healthy skin and is supple, smooth, elastic, and free of scabs, lumps, or irritation. Skin can be different colors ranging from light pink to dark brown or black depending on the race of your dog. Dogs also have freckles and spots just like healthy people. Check your dog’s coat regularly for fleas, ticks, and other vermin that love to live in their fur. Do this by gently blowing on the dog’s hair along its stomach, hips, and shoulders. Keep a sharp eye as vermin will run for cover when exposed to light. If you see scabby “dirt” in your dog’s fur, this could be flea droppings.
Coat
A healthy coat looks strong, glossy, and pliable whether it is long hair or short hair. There should be no dandruff and it should not appear too oily either.
Eye
Dog eyes should be bright and shiny. If you notice mucus or watery eyes, this is ok, so long as the mucus is minimal and the water clear. Dogs have a pink lining on their eyes, if this lining turns red or puffy, this could be indicative of an infection growing within. Your dog should have a third eyelid called the ‘nictitating’ membrane. It is perfectly natural to see this when your dog is asleep or waking up. The whites of your dog’s eyes should be white and clear and not yellowish. Finally, your dog’s eyelashes should not touch the eyeball.
Ears
The skin within your dog’s ears should be healthy and pink. It is only natural to see a certain amount of yellow or brown waxy buildup, but if this buildup is excessive, it could be indicative of infection. There should be no redness and swelling in the ears and your dog should show no signs of sensitivity when their ears are touched and caressed. Dogs that have longer ears, like beagles and basset hounds, need extra protection to keep their ears healthy and dry — they may need smaller but deeper water bowls.
Nose
A dog’s nose should always be a little moist and cool. The nose can be pink, black, or any other color decided by the dog’s coat. Any nasal discharge should be clear, clean, and not thick, yellowish, or bubbly. Remember, a wet nose doesn’t mean your dog is healthy nor does a dry nose indicate poor health. The best way to check the health of a dog is by taking its temperature.
Mouth, Teeth, and Gums
Healthy gums should be pink, black, potted, or any other color just like their skin. Young dogs will have white teeth but these tend to darken with age. Puppies will have about 23 baby teeth and adults have about 42 permanent teeth (some breeds have more). As the adult teeth come in, they push the baby teeth out.
Mouth infections can cause very serious problems for your dog so it is good to keep a constant check on this aspect of canine health.
