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How To Tell If Your Dog Is Healthy
Disease is generally considered
to be the unfavorable deviation from
normal functions. Therefore in order to determine the various
indications of disease it is necessary to recognize the signs of good
health. Any departure from normalcy might be the beginning of a
disease process.
The eyes of the healthy animal are clear and bear an alert expression.
The membranes of the eyelids, gums, and mucous membranes have a clean,
deep pinkish color. The teeth are clean and free from tartar and the
nose is cool and moist. The inside of the ears are of light coloring
and do not show deep redness, accumulation of wax, or any sign of
inflammation. The healthy skin is clean, pink to whitish in color, and
free from dandruff, scurf, or any sign of irritation. It is also soft
and pliable, and when pinched or pulled immediately returns to its
original position.
The hair of healthy animals usually bears an unmistakable glossiness.
To a certain extent, the character of the coat depends on the care
given to it by the owner. The animal should be kept properly groomed at
all times and this will tend to bring out the shine of the coat.
Improper grooming may give an animal an appearance of not doing well
and certainly will predispose it to a variety of skin irritations.
The healthy animal has a temperature of about 101.2 degrees
Fahrenheit, has a vigorous appetite, and readily eliminates a moist,
firm stool once to three times a day. Liberal quantities of clear
yellow urine are also eliminated.
These are the major signs of good health in the dog. When any of these
signs is lacking, veterinary consultation should be solicited at the
earliest possible moment to arrest the development of any unhealthy
condition. Serious consequences are often occasioned by neglect.
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