We all want to keep our pets healthy and happy especially during a lockdown when it’s much harder to do everyday things! So how do you spot the signs if something is wrong?
Here at The Pet Vet we recommend giving your pet a nose-to-tail check (MOT) and if you notice anything listed below marked in red, give us a call to book an appointment for a professional check-up; if you do find something don’t worry, in most cases, conditions are easily treatable.
Make your pet’s check a happy, positive experience for both of you by giving them lots of fuss, attention and a fun game afterwards.
Remember white points are good, red points may need further investigation.
Easy checks to do at home:
Nose
- Moist and soft
- Free from any discharge
- Able to breathe freely
- Has any discharge
- Sounds congested
- Open, bright, clear
- Free from any tears, discharge or tear staining
- The area around the eyeball (conjunctiva) should be pink
- Closed/squinting
- Fleshy pink colour inside
- Free of any unpleasant smells
- No build-up of wax or excessive hair
- The ear flap should be flat
- Waxy or have any discharge
- Holding their ear down or tilting their head to one side
- Scratching or shaking their head a lot
- Clean and white
- Free of cracks or breaks
- Free of staining
- Remember to check for any missing teeth
- Missing teeth
- Stained (a plaque or tartar build-up will look like dark staining around their teeth)
- Fleshy pink colour (although some pets will have darker pigments in their mouths, making their gums look darker. Have a chat with our vets about what’s normal for them)
- Free of any lumps and bumps around their teeth
- Swollen around the teeth
- Pale or dry (this could indicate an urgent problem so call the vet straight away)
- Free of knots
- Free of dandruff
- Evidence of any ticks, fleas, flea dirt or other parasites
- Free of any rashes
- Free of bald patches
- Have no bad smells
- Have no wounds, discharge or infections
- Moist/wet in areas
- Lumps and bumps
- Able to comfortably support your pet getting up and sitting down
- Nails are strong, not too long and not growing into their pads
- Wounds
- Struggling to get up and down
- Can’t support their own weight
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Claws are broken or too long
- Lumps and bumps
- In a normal position for your pet
- Able to move freely
- Clean and free of any poo underneath
- Have no sores on or around it
- Hanging limp and not moving as it normally does
- Build-up of poo underneath
- Scooting their bottom
- Chewing at their back or tail
- Evidence of worms