Quiz 19. Your dog's health.

Take an active part in preventing problems with your dog’s health.

If your dog is in pain:

In the wild, if a dog shows pain or weakness the pack might turn on it. Therefore it pretends nothing is wrong. If your dog becomes lethargic, or reacts when you touch it, take it to the vet. If it shivers, take it to the vet.

it will tap the letters H E L P on your laptop.

it will try hard to not show the pain.

it will appear quiet and lethargic.

it might shiver.

It’s a good idea to each week check your dog’s:

Make it an enjoyable time for both of you. Give your dog a tiny treat and talk to it as you inspect its ears, eyes and mouth.

diary.

ear canals.

eyes.

teeth and gums.

spots. Are they still there? Sometimes a dog's spots can fall off.

Every week we check our dog’s ear canals because:

Never insert a cotton bud or anything else into your dog’s ear. You could damage its ear drum and give your dog pain and permanent hearing loss.

we need to ensure the ear canals are clear of hair and other matter that can foster parasites, bacteria and yeast, which cause ear infections.

they might be harbouring contraband.

Once a week look at your dog’s eyes to:

If your dog’s eyes are red or have lots of gunk, there may be an infection.

hypnotise it.

see if its eyes are red, or if there is lots of gunk in them.

Once a week inspect your dog’s teeth and gums to check that:

If a dog’s breath is stinky see your vet.

they don't contain a postman's arm.

its gums are pink, and not red or white. If they are red or white there is a problem. See a vet.

the teeth are clean.

My dog's teeth are not clean. What should I do?

Do both: give your dog bones or dental biscuits, AND clean its teeth. Work up to it. Give praise while you do it, and give your dog a treat afterwards.

Clean them with a toothbrush and a toothpaste provided by a vet or a pet product store. (Human toothpaste has ingredients toxic to dogs.)

Write a letter to your Member of Parliament.

Give your dog raw bones or dental biscuits to chew on.

How often should a seemingly healthy dog have a check up at the vets?

How often your dog needs a check-up depends on the age of your dog, its breed, its health and its lifestyle.

Once a day.

Puppies: regularly, for their vaccinations.

Healthy dogs at least one year old: once or twice a year.

For dogs older than 7: at least twice a year.

In a check-up, the vet should check your dog’s:

Many problems can be discovered and prevented with a vet’s examination of what appears to be a healthy dog. A checkup at least once a year is mandatory.

eyes, ears, mouth and teeth.

temperature.

heart and lungs with a stethoscope.

skin.

paws and toe nails, and the vet should clip those nails if necessary.

abdomen, to check the health of its organs.

sense of humour.

diet, to see if it’s still appropriate.

tick and worm prevention medication are up to date.

vaccination updates.

I can hear my dog’s nails hit the floorboards. What does that mean?

If you can walk your dog often enough you will have no ‘tapping’ and you will have a happier dog. Meanwhile, have your vet trim your dog's nails and teach you how to trim them without injuring your dog.

It means its nails need trimming, and it may mean you need to walk your dog more often.

It means you're not deaf.

It means your dog is susceptible to infection and pain. Long nails can break.

It means you're allergic to pumpkin.

Vets seem to charge a lot. It’s cheaper for me to see a general practitioner (doctor).

Thanks to journalists Isabel Dayman and Patrick Wright for bringing those figures to my attention.

A vet’s patient's aren’t being subsidised by the taxpayer. (Medicare in Australia.)

Unlike a general practitioner’s office, a vet’s practice has to be prepared for different animals, different breeds, and for all planned and emergency procedures.

A vet’s practice has to train and employ more staff than a general practitioner.

Vets often need to consult astrologers, and astrologers are expensive.

A vet’s degree costs over $50,000 and six years of unpaid study.

In 2018 the median graduate salary was less than $50,000.