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Healthy Dogs:

We’re so consumed with our dogs maintaining a healthy lifestyle and rightly so. And while we may be focused on what’s wrong with our dog to take him or her to the veterinarian we need to celebrate the following signs of good health!  After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog.  Although we’re not advocating becoming your dog’s own veterinarian by surmising his or her state of health, the good news is you’ll know what to look for and what to look out for when having a healthy dog.

  • Coat – you have a healthy dog when his or her coat is glossy. This means no dandruff, no baldspots, no oiliness despite the short or long length.  (The Dog Bowl offers wonderful coat care grooming products - click here.)
  • Skin – your dog is healthy when Fido’s skin is smooth without red areas or white flakes. This also equates to no scabs.  The healthy skin will range from a pale pink to brown/black depending on the breed.  (Supplementing with an omega oil in your pet's diet might help - click here to see available supplements.)
  • Eyes – if your dog’s eyes are beautifully bright, your dog’s in good health.  Watery tears are somewhat normal but should be minimal; if your dog’s eyes continually tear that is cause for concern. Furthermore, the pink lining of the eyelids should not be inflamed and they shouldn’t have a yellow discharge.  The whites of your dog’s eyes should not have a yellow hue.
  • Ears – glorious ears!  A healthy dog’s ears have skin of a light pink hue. Plus, they’re clean!  Keep in mind wax is normal but a large amount of wax is not a good thing.  There shouldn’t be any swelling inside of the ear.
  • Nose – a healthy dog’s nose is cool and moist.  Whether it’s black, the same color as the coat, or pink, the nasal discharge needs to be clear.  Keep in mind a cool and moist nose does not automatically mean that your dog is healthy.  It’s an indication of health but isn’t the ultimate determining factor; your dog’s temperature is a better indication of his or her health.
  • The mouth – Gums are healthy when they’re firm and pink.  The breath should not be foul!  If it is, it’s time to clean those teeth more frequently. 
  • Body temperature – a normal healthy dog’s temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. 

For more information about determining if your dog is healthy please contact your local vet.  The Dog Bowl has listed a few questions to ask your vet as well - click here.