Dog Bark Collars

A dog’s trip will be made easier to the vet if the owner already knows what problems the vet should look at. It would be pretty hard on a vet’s perspective to suddenly just see a dog there feeling sick. The vet will have to do lots of various tests just to figure out. So it helps if you could do your own self observation and diagnosis so that when you arrive at the vet, the vet will more or less know what he or she is dealing with. Here are some self observation and diagnostic question measures.

Questions about or for the nose:
• Is the dog experiencing coughs, sneezing or congestions?
• Has there been blood coming out of the nose?
• Are there any nasal discharge?

Questions about or for the mouth:
• Are the lips or tongue swelled?
• Does the mouth appear to be experiencing chronic bleeding?
• Check the color of the gums or the area just above the teeth.
• Can your dog normally close and open the mouth?
• When the dog closes and opens the mouth are there any pains?
• Observe if the dog is drooling or foaming too excessively?
• Can the dog swallow the food normally?
• Check inside the mouth and areas inside the mouth if there are any foreign objects that may have been causing the problems.

Questions about or for the chest:
• Is your pet breathing difficultly?
• Is the pet panting?
• Is it painful for the pet when his or her chest is patted?
• Have you observed coughing?
• Check the heart rate
• Is the heartbeat consistent and steady?
• To feel the heart or the heartbeat place your hand or ear in the dog’s left chest just behind the elbow. Check the heart rate in one minute.

Questions about or for the abdomen or stomach:
• Is the dog vomiting or has diarrhea
• Is the dog eating or drinking abnormally
• Is the stomach swollen or distended
• Is the dog in pain when the stomach area is petted?
• Does your dog chew a lot of items that are not supposed to be eaten such as towels, clothing, etc.

Questions about or for the urinary system:
• Is there difference when the dog urinates?
• Is the dog in pain when he or she urinates?
• Does the dog repeatedly keep trying to urinate but no urine comes out
• Is there blood in the urine
• How frequent does the dog urinate?
• Is there any discharge on the vagina or penis?
• Is your dog licking the genital areas too excessively?

Questions about or for the bones and muscular system:
• Is the dog limping?
• Are the joints or legs swollen?
• Is the dog in pain when he or she walks?
• Is the dog walking on his or her knuckles? Is the dog dragging the legs?

This observations and questions will help give the vet an idea of what could be really bothering the dog. The visit to the vet will be faster because fewer tests will have to be done and the prescription could be more accurate because you have observed your dog more.