Knowing Your Dog's "Normal"

In Vet School we were taught to know normal before learning the abnormal. By teaching you all how to do a quick physical exam at home, you can learn what is your own dog’s baseline normal. Nose to tail is a great systematic way to start to Know Your Dog’s Normal. Watch the video, and follow along with my notes below!

NOSE: Warm, cold? Wet or dry? These are all variations of a normal nose. Count their breaths per minute (easier to do while they’re relaxed or sleeping).

MOUTH: Look at gum color (should be nice and pink, unless its pigmented), teeth shape and color, any tartar build up, inflamed gums, breath smells? Check roof of mouth and under their tongue!

EYES: Symmetric pupils? Excessive tearing or goop or discharge - if so what color? Whites of the eyes white? Is their third eyelid raised?

EARS: Smell them! This can tell you a lot. They shouldn’t have a smell ;) Is the outer canal clear, or do you see any redness, debris, wax etc?

LYMPH NODES: Below their jaws down from their ears are there salivary glands and mandibular LN. Feel how big they are to periodically check to see if they are increased at any time. There are also two down their neck in front of their shoulder blades, as well as two behind their knees in the back legs.

FRONT LIMBS: Check nails, paw pads, between their digits, and flex/extend the joints for any pain or stiffness.

NECK and BACK: I turn their necks side to side and up and down, and press on either side of their spine going down their backs for any pain points.

FUR/COAT: Run your hands along their trunk and limbs to feel for lumps and bumps! Check for abrasions, fleas, and what their skin looks like by looking against the hair growth.

BELLY: Press lightly on their abdomen to feel whats normal so you can feel any pain spots, tense areas, or other abnormalities in the future.

HIND LIMBS: Flex and extend their joints, look at paw pads, nails, and how they are standing so you can detect when they’re off.

TAIL and TUSHY: Move their tail up, down, side to side! You can also see their butt this way, too ;)

LAY THEM DOWN ON THEIR BACKS: This makes it easier for you to check their skin on their neck, chest, and bellys, look at their genitals, better look at paw pads, and sometimes its easier to manipulate their joints this way, too!