Since your dog cannot tell you when it is ill, it is up to the dog owner to notice any changes in the behavior or appearance that might indicate that your dog is sick. Your observation on the symptoms of your sick dog and information given to your vet will assist him a great deal in your dog illness diagnosis.
To do a simple dog illness diagnosis for your dog, these are the dog body parts that vets would look out for, you can use this as a guide to help report to your vet if you spot any changes or symptoms.
1. Dog eyes – With many inherited and acquired eye diseases, changes in the eyes are usually indicators of more complex and serious diseases elsewhere in the body. The condition of the eyes will give the vet some clues about where else to focus his attention on.
A dog’s eye should be bright, clean and free of discharge. There should be no redness, squinting or vision impairment.
2. Dog nose – Dogs generally have wet, cold nose. The vet will look for discharges, swelling and physical changes, and if they are dry and hot. Hot and dry dog noses indicate fever, but it also can be due to aging or emotional changes.
3. Dog ears – They are usually checked for any discharges or unusual odors. A heavily furred, lopped ear like a Cocker Spaniel can act like a cover on the ear canal, raising the humidity within and creating an ideal place for canine ear infection. Lastly, tufts of dog hairs and foreign bodies, the color of the skin inside the ears are also examined closely.
The inside of the ears should be dull pink and free of discharge and odor. The flaps should hang symmetrically. Occasional head shake is normal, especially when a dog wakes up from a snooze.
In most cases, information given on the symptoms of your sick dog will help largely in determining and diagnosing your dog illness. Remember that your dog is dependent for you for its medical care and that prevention is certainly better than cure.
