What to check for in dogs
Jaycee Hansen
2025-08-09 14:14:21
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Ears Lift the ear flap and look inside, also gently feel behind and below the whole ear. Check your dog… Is free from pain Has no dirt and wax Has no odour – a strong smell may indicate a problem.
Gently lift up your dog’s lip folds to check their teeth and open the jaw to check in their mouth. Check for tartar on the teeth, if your dog has lots they may need to go to the vets and have this removed as it can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Check your dog’s eyes are not red and there is no excessive discharge, monitor the eyes for any cloudiness this could be a sign of cataracts developing.
Check their nose for any excessive discharge, and also for any coughing or sneezing.
Check regularly for any lumps and bumps, note if any are changing size or shape.
Look for any bald patches, irritations, soreness or scabs.
Check for fleas and keep an eye on any excessive scratching or nibbling.
If your dog is long-haired, check for matts.
Lift your dog’s feet up and gently check the pads.
Keep an eye on the length of their nails.
Ensure you don’t cut the ‘quick’ in the nails.
Keep an eye on your dog’s faeces.
Loose faeces can be a sign they’re not well
Check there are no worms present and no blood
Long-haired dogs may need their back end washed and groomed regularly to prevent attracting flies.
Jeanne Mante
2025-08-01 05:39:32
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Watch your dog for any signs of flinching, and listen for any vocalising, when you examine them. This could be a sign that they are uncomfortable or in pain. Gently feel your dog’s body, their body should feel the same on both sides. For example, each shoulder should feel the same size and shape, and they should be the same temperature. If you look at your dog from above, you should be able to see their ‘waist’ and their back should be straight. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs beneath their coat, but not see these visibly through their fur. Check for any broken skin such as cuts or grazes, as these will need to be kept clean and might need medical attention. Check for any parasites such as ticks, lice and fleas, or flea-dirt which might appear as reddish-brown flecks within the fur. Check for lumps and spots, as well as any patches of hair loss, itchiness, reddening or thickening of the skin beneath the fur. Gently run your hands down each of your dog’s legs in turn, check for any areas that feel hotter to the touch or swollen, any matted fur or anything stuck between or into the pads, like grass seeds or splinters, any grazing or cuts. Check your dog’s nails for any signs of damage or overgrowth, including the dew claw if your dog has these.
Neal Koepp
2025-08-01 03:15:18
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Check your dog for signs of injury or illness every day. Check your dog's teeth regularly: look out for plaque or infection and visit your vet if you're worried. Behaviour monitoring: dogs show pain and suffering in different ways. Changes in the way they behave could be an early sign of illness or pain. Take your dog to the vet for yearly health checks, and ask your vet for advice about vaccinations and parasite treatments. Keep harmful substances out of reach: certain everyday items that can be found in most homes are poisonous to dogs, so keep these well out of reach. Ensure your dog's coat is kept in good condition with regular grooming.
Cory Block
2025-08-01 02:46:59
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Using certain health screening schemes allows you to find out if your dog is affected by breed-specific health issues, such as eye disease or breathing problems. Regular screening can also allow you to understand more about your dog's risk of developing these issues and how this risk may change over time. Knowing in advance which diseases your dog may develop could help you to take preventative steps to support their health and potentially avoid costly vet bills. You can find the results for any DNA tests or screening schemes recorded by us on our Health Test Results Finder. If you're thinking of using any of our health screening schemes, but would like to find a health testing event near you, then you can find a list of health testing clinics that are run by us, breed clubs or various dog shows. Our Breeds A-Z gives advice to breeders about the breed-specific health schemes they should use, but talk to your vet if you think that any of these are relevant to your dog. If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed, you can speak to your vet, or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.
You can contact your breed health co-ordinator on the health section of your breeds entry on the Breeds A to Z. Alternatively if you have a general question, you can contact The Kennel Club's health team. Find out which health tests or schemes are relevant to your breed in our Breeds A to Z. These recommendations are suggested by breed clubs and are approved by The Kennel Club's committees.
Rick Gutkowski
2025-08-01 02:32:27
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When your pet has a full health examination – we would typically look at the following: body temperature heart rate, rhythm and evaluation for heart murmurs weight and body condition score eye examination - including ocular reflexes, cataract assessment, retinal and corneal examination ear examination mouth/dental examination - including dental and gingivitis scoring skin/fur examination palpation of lymph nodes and lumps/growths joints/movement and gait evaluation palpation of the abdomen neurological reflexes. We would also check for signs of parasites, such as fleas and worms and provide authorisation for prescription flea/worm treatment to cover the next 12 months, if required. All pets should have a full health check once per year. We recommend that older pets are checked every six months as they can be prone to developing age related health conditions.
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