4 Surefire Signs of Good or Bad Health in Dogs

Signs of Good or Bad Health in Dogs

As in humans, obesity can cause serious problems in dogs, including heart and lung diseases, diabetes, bone and joint difficulties and so on. However, if your pet drops a significant amount of weight in a short time, that can also indicate a problem.

1. Lean Body

As in humans, obesity can cause serious problems in dogs, including heart and lung diseases, diabetes, bone and joint difficulties and so on. However, if your pet drops a significant amount of weight in a short time, that can also indicate a problem.

If your dog is lean and has a consistent weight, it’s a sign of health. Check if his waist is tapering towards the hips without the ribcage showing (although this can vary among breeds). Plan your dog’s meal with the help of your vet to ensure his weight is maintained.

If your dog has a consistently lean weight, it’s a sign of health. Check if his waist is tapering towards hips without the ribcage showing (although this can vary among breeds). Plan your dog’s meal with the help of your vet to ensure his healthy weight.

2. Shiny Coat

If your dog is healthy, they’ll have a clean, shiny coat because of natural oils and regular molting. A healthy dog doesn’t need a bath unless they get dirty, and in fact routine bathing can cause skin irritation if you’re not very careful with the products you use. If your dog is scratching and licking their coat, she may be suffering from skin allergies, irritation, fleas or bug bite. In that case, a visit to vet is necessary.

3. Clean-smelling Breath

If you notice a bad odor from your doggy’s open mouth, there might be time to consult your vet for the oral health of your pet. Dogs can have gingivitis (aka gum disease) or periodontitis, from which his vital organs may also be affected, leading to some serious health problems. Periodontitis affects the supporting structures of teeth and is a main cause of loss of teeth in pets. It results from accumulation of food, tartar and plaque in the spaces between lower parts of teeth and gums.

A bad odor from your pooch’s mouth can indicate tooth decay or worse even, oral melanoma – a dangerous form of cancer. Some doggy breath is to be expected, but if it’s really bad it’s worth getting them checked.

4. Poop

Whether you like it or not, but checking your dog’s poop is a definite way to find if your dog is in good health or not. Your dog’s poop should be compact, moist and log-shaped, and its size depends on your dog’s size. If there is any change in this, it may indicate a problem which you should discuss with your vet.

We hope that these tips will help you both to maintain your beloved pet’s health and get rid of any stress.