What to look for when checking dogs

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. Watch your dog moving around. They should be able to: move easily without any tension in their muscles, spread their weight evenly on all four paws, walk along using all their legs equally, step over things without dragging their paws. 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. Watch your dog’s chest rise and fall. Their breathing should be regular and rhythmic. Your dog should breathe comfortably and without difficulty, rasping or wheeziness. Look 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. Has your dog been repeatedly scratching or nibbling at themselves? Matted fur clumps could be a sign that your dog is chewing themselves in that area, perhaps to relieve pain. Each side of your dog’s face should look the same, without any drooping. They should hold their head straight, without any permanent tilt to either side. Their eyes, including the pupils, should be the same size and shape. The white bits of the eyes should be white, not yellow, red, or speckly, without any yellow or green discharge. Your dog should be able to hold their ears in a natural position. Their ears should feel the same temperature as the rest of their body. They shouldn’t have any swelling or lumps. Some wax is natural, but the inside of your dog’s ear should be free from discharge and not red, crusty, or foul-smelling. Gently run your hands down each of your dog’s legs in turn. Running your hands down your dog’s legs first helps them to expect that you are going to move onto their paws. Take care to lift each leg with its natural movement so you’re not holding your dog’s leg awkwardly to get a look at their paws. 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. Check your dog’s genitals and anus, these should appear clean and not swollen or reddened. Check for any signs of irritation and itchiness, as well as lumps or hardened areas. Your dog’s tail should be held naturally and move easily. Check for any areas of damage, swelling, greasiness, hair loss or chewing.

Ears should be checked by lifting the ear flap and looking inside, also gently feeling behind and below the whole ear. Check your dog is free from pain, has no dirt and wax, and has no odour – a strong smell may indicate a problem. The mouth should be gently checked by lifting up your dog’s lip folds to check their teeth and opening the jaw to check inside the 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. Eyes should be checked to ensure they are not red and there is no excessive discharge, monitor the eyes for any cloudiness this could be a sign of cataracts developing. The body should be checked regularly for any lumps and bumps, note if any are changing size or shape, and look for any bald patches, irritations, soreness or scabs. Feet should be lifted up and gently checked, the pads should be checked and the length of the nails monitored, if your dog mainly walks on grass or soft ground, you may need to cut them regularly. The bottom should be checked, keeping 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.

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. The health check is carried out by one of our experienced veterinary surgeons. One of our final year veterinary students may discuss your pet and perform an initial examination as this is an important part of their training, but this will always be repeated by the supervising veterinary surgeon.

When checking dogs, you can perform regular health checks at home to help you spot potential problems early. You can do this by feeling for any lumps and bumps by running your hand over your dog's coat and under their fur. Checking their paws for any cuts or scrapes is also a good idea. Looking for any fur loss is important as well. Lifting your dog’s ears to make sure they’re clear of discharge and odour is another thing to check. Checking their gums and teeth for build up of plaque and inflammation is also crucial. During their check up at the vet, your vet will be able to examine your dog's overall health, their teeth and their mobility. This can help them spot any hidden health conditions.