How To Do A Physical Exam Like A Vet – Part 3

The veterinary hospital isn’t the only place that your pup can get a physical examination. You can learn to conduct your own right at home!

We’ve already discussed some key points in performing these exams here, and we’ve also given some specific tips to keep in mind during a physical exam here. But today, we’re coming at you with even more tips!

1. Breathing

It’s important to notice noisier or faster breathing. To familiarize yourself with your fur ball’s respiratory rate, count how many breaths he takes per minute while they are resting or sleeping. In addition, if your pup starts coughing a lot, take note of when it happens most and its sound – is it rough and dry, or quite the opposite?

2. Thirst and appetite

Increased or decreased appetite and water consumption are huge indicators of a potential disease, so it’s vital that you keep track of your pup’s eating and drinking habits. You can measure the amount of water in your pup’s bowl at the beginning of the day and measure again to check how much has been consumed after 24 hours to get a better idea of your pup’s drinking habits, and have the figures handy when you visit the vet.

3. Weight

Overweight pups are much more at risk for disease as they grow older, so make sure to monitor your fur ball’s weight. Always be aware of their optimal weight and keep them within that range. You can read up more on the causes of obesity in pups here, learn how to diagnose that and ways to treat it here, or if you know your fur ball carries some extra weight, find out some sneaky ways to get that weight off here.

4. Urine and feces

Sounds odd, but these are actually obvious indicators of health issues. Notice unusually hard or soft feces, learn to spot changes in smell, and take note of changes in the patterns and habits of your fur ball going to the toilet.

5. Behavior

Sometimes, a pup parents can just tell that something is wrong based on a change in behavior. Increased grooming or sleeping and decreased energy and playfulness are just some examples of behavioral changes to take note of. If you feel that something is off, take your pup to a vet. Right down these changes so you can refer to them when speaking to a professional.

Now, you’re armed with all the knowledge you require to conduct your own physical examination of your pup! Please like and share this if you found it useful!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay