The health of our pets is a priority that should never be taken for granted. As is the case with humans, our pets are also vulnerable to many diseases, from colds to digestive problems, to more serious pathologies.
However, it is essential that we closely monitor the health of our dog or cat. If there is even the slightest doubt that something is wrong with them, it is best to go to the vet for a professional check-up. However, it may happen that we overlook some sign or symptom of your discomfort. Therefore, it is also important that we know how to check them at home to check that everything is fine.
María is a veterinarian known on social networks for disseminating content related to the health and well-being of animals. On her TikTok channel – @ mariavetican – she has more than 400 thousand followers and, among her many videos, we found one where she explains step by step how to examine your pet at home to know if she is well and healthy.
First, look at his nose, which should be wet and cold most of the time. If it tends to be dry and cracked, you have to hydrate your pet. Also, make sure there is no mucus or blood. Furthermore, as the veterinarian explains, a dry and hot nose may be due to the animal having a fever.
Next, move on to his mouth: check to see if he needs a dental cleaning for tartar buildup and see that his gums are pink, not red, yellow, white or purple. When pressed, she should recover her original tone in less than two seconds.
In the eyes, make sure there are no blemishes due to possible conjunctivitis and we must also look at the color of the mucous membranes. Regarding the ears, we must look inside looking for redness, excess secretions and bad odor. We could also suspect that the animal has a fever if its ears are very hot.
Look for lumps under the jaw in case there is a swollen gland, check both sides and their symmetry. To know if your furry friend is hydrated, gently pinch his neck skin and watch it return to its shape immediately when you release it.
Afterwards, give him some cuddles while feeling his entire body for lumps and wounds. Pat the spine and joints with light pressure to check for signs of pain. Then make sure that their nails are not too long or ingrown, as well as that there are no wounds between their pads.
Finally, feel your belly, which should be soft. If it gets hard, you could have abdominal pain. Check for lumps or abnormalities in the groin. Regarding rectal temperature, the thermometer should be inserted with Vaseline and slightly inclined and the ideal temperature would be between 37.5 and 39.2ºC.
