A healthy dog is a happy dog. Here you can find everything you need to know about keeping your dog healthy. Learn about vaccinations, or treating fleas and worms, and discover how to tell if your dog isn't feeling well.
Is my dog or puppy ill?
How do you know if your dog is ill? Use this quick checklist to see if they’re in good shape, or whether a trip to the vet is needed.
- Eyes should be clear and bright, with no discharge
- Nose should be moist and cool, with dark pigmentation and no discharge
- Breath should smell fresh, and your dog should be breathing normally
- Gums should be uniformly pink, and change back to pink after less than two seconds when you press them
- Teeth should be white and clean
- Ears should look and smell clean
- Coat should be shiny and not matted
- Skin should be smooth, clean and supple. (Tip: gently pull some skin from just over your dog’s shoulder into a tent shape – if it doesn’t snap back into place immediately, they’re suffering from dehydration).
Going through this checklist every week will help you to learn what’s normal for your dog - making it much easier to know when they need medical attention.