The post Your Pup’s Post-Adoption Wellness Check<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n I think I\u2019d know by now if she was sick.\u201d If only that were true. I was endeavoring to examine a frisky 5-month-old pup named Lily, while dodging full-frontal face licks. So far, the only thing for certain was me being canoodled by the little Labradoodle.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019d noticed anything wrong I would\u2019ve brought her in sooner. I\u2019m always checking the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily was one of millions of \u201cpandemic pets” adopted over the past 18 months. Many had first-time dog parents such as Lily\u2019s Gen Z mom, opening their homes to pets in need. Lily\u2019s animal rescue had been clear she needed to be taken to a vet immediately, but somehow two months had slipped by. As healthy as Lily seemed, I was more worried about illnesses that are hard to notice or search on Google.<\/p>\n A dog\u2019s first veterinary exam, no matter the age, is essential to uncover hidden diseases. Some dog parents believe the first visit is merely for vaccinations, but the real value is a thorough physical exam. In fact, if your vet doesn\u2019t make a big deal about a first exam, it’s probably time to find a new one. You\u2019d be shocked at the number of \u201cperfectly fine first-timers\u201d I discovered had heart murmurs, eye anomalies, joint abnormalities, oral disorders and a long list of other unexpected issues. In the majority of cases, these revelations.<\/p>\n It came as a shock to the owner who \u201chadn\u2019t noticed anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n So what are vets looking for? Let\u2019s tour a typical exam to find out.<\/p>\n At first glance, it may appear your vet is simply greeting your dog. What they’re actually doing is carefully evaluating your pet\u2019s overall health. They\u2019re assessing behavioral issues such as anxiety, fear or aggression, general joint health and mobility, cognitive function and training, neurological status, hearing and vision, skin and coat, and overall energy and vitality. Many times when I meet a dog, decades of experience will warn that \u201csomething isn\u2019t right,\u201d prompting me to investigate further.<\/p>\n If this is a new dog or puppy, establishing a current weight and body condition score (BCS) allows your vet to spot weight gain before obesity occurs or unexpected weight loss advances. For puppies, ask your vet to document your pup\u2019s size on the validated canine growth curves to make sure she is growing at a healthy rate.<\/p>\n The skin is your dog\u2019s largest organ, earning it priority on the first checkup. Studying your dog\u2019s skin, coat, eyes and ears provides insight into parasitism, allergies, nutrition, hygiene and a variety of infections or hereditary conditions, including growths and tumors. A luminous, lustrous coat is the first indicator of good health, while bright, shiny and attentive eyes signal appropriate mental awareness. Dry, flaky, oily or dirty skin and ears are obvious symptoms to investigate further.<\/p>\n Not enough dog parents regularly check inside the ears, under the tail or the axilla (armpits), potentially missing important health clues. Make a habit of checking your dog\u2019s skin and coat for any irregularities, and report any lumps or bumps immediately.<\/p>\n An estimated 80% of all dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease, making the oral exam an important part of any wellness check. Many congenital diseases involve the oral cavity, and a puppy\u2019s age may be estimated by tooth eruption patterns. Nasal discharge, especially if cloudy or discolored, is often associated with infections or allergies. It\u2019s crucial to check a new dog\u2019s mouth and throat, nasal passages and lymph nodes for any anomalies.<\/p>\n A thorough chest auscultation (listening with a stethoscope) is probably the most \u201cdoctor-y\u201d part of a pet exam. It\u2019s also one of the most fundamental. Heart murmurs, respiratory infections or conditions and proper anatomical development can all be evaluated with focused listening.<\/p>\n There are more organs and vital tissues per square inch in your dog\u2019s belly than anywhere in her body. That\u2019s why a slow and methodical abdominal palpation (feeling with the hands) is indispensable during a post-adoption wellness check. Liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, intestinal tract, bladder and more are all accessed by gently pushing and probing your dog\u2019s tummy. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve felt a \u201cknot,\u201d \u201chard spot\u201d or \u201csomething\u2019s not right\u201d in a newly adopted dog\u2019s abdomen that led to an early diagnosis and successful outcome.<\/p>\n The hips, knees, elbows, shoulders and spine need to be extended and flexed, checking for discomfort or impaired range of motion. This is particularly important in larger dogs and breeds at risk for dysplasia, spinal injuries or other inherited musculoskeletal conditions.<\/p>\n As I explained each step of Lily\u2019s exam to her mom, I could see her understand the urgency of the post-adoption wellness check. Other than signs of a few flea bites and roundworm infections, Lily was a perfectly healthy pup. We started her on year-round monthly heartworm preventive and scheduled her spay surgery. We discussed the best diet and supplements for Lily, proper shampooing and ear cleaning and ways to help with training.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I brought her in today, even if it was a little later than it should\u2019ve been. Also, it turns out I really didn’t know what to look for in the first place. Being a new dog mom means I need to learn a lot more about being a dog mom, not just watching internet videos.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, Lily joined millions of \u201cpandemic pups\u201d who found a fabulous furever home. And I felt even better about the next generation of pet parents.<\/p>\n The post Your Pup’s Post-Adoption Wellness Check<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Your Pup’s Post-Adoption Wellness Check<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n I think I\u2019d know by now if she was sick.\u201d If only that were true. I was endeavoring to examine a frisky 5-month-old pup named Lily, while dodging full-frontal face licks. So far, the only thing for certain was me being canoodled by the little Labradoodle.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019d noticed anything wrong I would\u2019ve brought her in sooner. I\u2019m always checking the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n Lily was one of millions of \u201cpandemic pets” adopted over the past 18 months. Many had first-time dog parents such as Lily\u2019s Gen Z mom, opening their homes to pets in need. Lily\u2019s animal rescue had been clear she needed to be taken to a vet immediately, but somehow two months had slipped by. As healthy as Lily seemed, I was more worried about illnesses that are hard to notice or search on Google.<\/p>\n A dog\u2019s first veterinary exam, no matter the age, is essential to uncover hidden diseases. Some dog parents believe the first visit is merely for vaccinations, but the real value is a thorough physical exam. In fact, if your vet doesn\u2019t make a big deal about a first exam, it’s probably time to find a new one. You\u2019d be shocked at the number of \u201cperfectly fine first-timers\u201d I discovered had heart murmurs, eye anomalies, joint abnormalities, oral disorders and a long list of other unexpected issues. In the majority of cases, these revelations.<\/p>\n It came as a shock to the owner who \u201chadn\u2019t noticed anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n So what are vets looking for? Let\u2019s tour a typical exam to find out.<\/p>\n At first glance, it may appear your vet is simply greeting your dog. What they’re actually doing is carefully evaluating your pet\u2019s overall health. They\u2019re assessing behavioral issues such as anxiety, fear or aggression, general joint health and mobility, cognitive function and training, neurological status, hearing and vision, skin and coat, and overall energy and vitality. Many times when I meet a dog, decades of experience will warn that \u201csomething isn\u2019t right,\u201d prompting me to investigate further.<\/p>\n If this is a new dog or puppy, establishing a current weight and body condition score (BCS) allows your vet to spot weight gain before obesity occurs or unexpected weight loss advances. For puppies, ask your vet to document your pup\u2019s size on the validated canine growth curves to make sure she is growing at a healthy rate.<\/p>\n The skin is your dog\u2019s largest organ, earning it priority on the first checkup. Studying your dog\u2019s skin, coat, eyes and ears provides insight into parasitism, allergies, nutrition, hygiene and a variety of infections or hereditary conditions, including growths and tumors. A luminous, lustrous coat is the first indicator of good health, while bright, shiny and attentive eyes signal appropriate mental awareness. Dry, flaky, oily or dirty skin and ears are obvious symptoms to investigate further.<\/p>\n Not enough dog parents regularly check inside the ears, under the tail or the axilla (armpits), potentially missing important health clues. Make a habit of checking your dog\u2019s skin and coat for any irregularities, and report any lumps or bumps immediately.<\/p>\n An estimated 80% of all dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease, making the oral exam an important part of any wellness check. Many congenital diseases involve the oral cavity, and a puppy\u2019s age may be estimated by tooth eruption patterns. Nasal discharge, especially if cloudy or discolored, is often associated with infections or allergies. It\u2019s crucial to check a new dog\u2019s mouth and throat, nasal passages and lymph nodes for any anomalies.<\/p>\n A thorough chest auscultation (listening with a stethoscope) is probably the most \u201cdoctor-y\u201d part of a pet exam. It\u2019s also one of the most fundamental. Heart murmurs, respiratory infections or conditions and proper anatomical development can all be evaluated with focused listening.<\/p>\n There are more organs and vital tissues per square inch in your dog\u2019s belly than anywhere in her body. That\u2019s why a slow and methodical abdominal palpation (feeling with the hands) is indispensable during a post-adoption wellness check. Liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, intestinal tract, bladder and more are all accessed by gently pushing and probing your dog\u2019s tummy. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve felt a \u201cknot,\u201d \u201chard spot\u201d or \u201csomething\u2019s not right\u201d in a newly adopted dog\u2019s abdomen that led to an early diagnosis and successful outcome.<\/p>\n The hips, knees, elbows, shoulders and spine need to be extended and flexed, checking for discomfort or impaired range of motion. This is particularly important in larger dogs and breeds at risk for dysplasia, spinal injuries or other inherited musculoskeletal conditions.<\/p>\n As I explained each step of Lily\u2019s exam to her mom, I could see her understand the urgency of the post-adoption wellness check. Other than signs of a few flea bites and roundworm infections, Lily was a perfectly healthy pup. We started her on year-round monthly heartworm preventive and scheduled her spay surgery. We discussed the best diet and supplements for Lily, proper shampooing and ear cleaning and ways to help with training.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I brought her in today, even if it was a little later than it should\u2019ve been. Also, it turns out I really didn’t know what to look for in the first place. Being a new dog mom means I need to learn a lot more about being a dog mom, not just watching internet videos.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, Lily joined millions of \u201cpandemic pups\u201d who found a fabulous furever home. And I felt even better about the next generation of pet parents.<\/p>\n The post Your Pup’s Post-Adoption Wellness Check<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n“Greeting” your dog<\/h3>\n
Body condition score (BCS)<\/h3>\n
Coat, skin, eyes and ears<\/h3>\n
Mouth, nose and throat<\/h3>\n
Heart and lungs<\/h3>\n
The tummy<\/h3>\n
Spine and joints<\/h3>\n
“Greeting” your dog<\/h3>\n
Body condition score (BCS)<\/h3>\n
Coat, skin, eyes and ears<\/h3>\n
Mouth, nose and throat<\/h3>\n
Heart and lungs<\/h3>\n
The tummy<\/h3>\n
Spine and joints<\/h3>\n