Health issues to consider

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As humans we can make choices to eat what we feel we need and to take medication or express how we are feeling or that we are having an off-day and want to be left alone. However, our dogs cannot do this and will try to tell us by their body language that they are in pain or that there is some other health issue there we cannot see. Often the issue is not checked out or noticed until it is too late and the only way the dog is able to express how he feels is by aggression or shutdown which is often misinterpreted or misunderstood.

I recommend a daily diary of your dog. This is a record for you, and will be valuable information for your veterinarian and your behaviourist or complementary therapist. This means basically observing your dog, running your hands slowly and gently over your dog's body, smelling your dog and even observing your dog's excrement. You will soon begin to know what is normal for your dog and what is not normal and you can take appropriate action.

Below is a list of things to observe and write into your diary each day:

Visual – Discharges, inflammation, red areas, glands, irritations, teeth, coat, dandruff, skin condition and colour, paws (cuts, cracks, hair colour) cysts, legs, scars, standing square, muscle condition, mood, sad, happy, breathing pattern, spine, restrictions, hydration, gum colour, eye colour, red eyes, white eyes, how much is your dog drinking daily.

Sounds – Gargling of the stomach, whinning, vocal, loud breathing, does dog smell, does he have bad breath, before or after meal, anal glands, flatulence, stools, how often is your dog excreting and urinating.

Physical – Run your hands over the dog – check for temperature changes on body, hair changes in texture and dryness, flexability of joints, touch sensitive areas, sensitive spots on body, lumps and bumps, bald areas.

Behaviour – Changes in routine behaviour. Changes in exercise patterns, changes in toilet habbits, change in appetite, what dog likes or dislikes, changes in activity, postures, head, tail, reward desires. Changes with seasons, which season is his favourite season, changes with weather, visitors.

Medical history – Record everything in your diary – operations, injuries, when vaccinated and what with, when wormed etc. How you came to get your dog and any behaviour problems that have developed since you have had the dog.
Health Tests: regular health tests, yearly verterinary checks or twice a year for elderly dogs, should help establish what is normal for your dog.
Blood tests: are important for finding anything abnormal in the early stages of development. Ask veterinarian for blood health profile. You need to know the state of your dog's immune system.
Urine tests can be helpful for testing for pyometra, diabetes and many other health conditions.
Faecal analysis can be done to see whether or not your dog has worms. Should not need to be wormed more than necessary. Also check state of faeces. They should be mid-brown and firm. Not so hard you could kick them like a football and not so soft it cannot easily be picked up.
Hair mineral analysis: All chemicals in the body are pushed out through the hair. This can help you record your dogs health over the previous 6–8 weeks.
Diet – record your dogs diet and treats, how long the dog has been on this diet and what diet he/she had been on in the past and how the change has affected your dog, if any changes, also why did you change the diet and how much is he/she eating daily.
Crooked nails, tear stained eyes or conjunctivitis may indicate health problems developing.
Stressed dogs need extra nutrients. If he/she is not given the nutrients needed the dog may develop stress-related diseases. Speak to your veterinarian about a nutritional programme or to get a referral to an animal nutritionist. It is estimated that 90percent of dogs with behaviour problems have a health problem. Some are not health problems but most issues are health related. If your dog is a little grumpy or you have noticed a change of behaviour, it may be worthwhile having him/her checked out by a veterinarian.