Ways To Determine If Your Dog Is Healthy

There are some affiliate links below, but they are all products I highly recommend. For more info, view my disclosure here.

Having a dog is a wonderful thing. You get a companion, a friend and someone who is going to love you unconditionally, the way you love them.

As a dog parent, you are going to want nothing but the best for them, and that’s why it is important to keep an eye on your dog to make sure that they are happy and healthy. If you don’t know what to look for, don’t worry because we are going to talk about some of them down below!

Ensure Your Dog Is Eating Regularly

Whether you feed your dog once daily, or twice daily depends on your dog. Some are fine with once daily, while others can’t go quite that long between meals.

For example, our Rico has a fast metabolism. As a result, he tends to throw up if he goes more than 10-12 hours without food.

You need to make sure they are eating their food. One missed meal is not something to be overly concerned about, but refusing to eat could be a sign of an issue.

You should be checking that your dog is eating regularly, and they are pooping and peeing regularly. If this is not the case, then you may want to take your dog to see a veterinarian. They will be able to tell you if your dog has something medically affecting their appetite.

Taking your dog to see the vet will at least give you the peace of mind you need not to panic every time your dog turns their nose up at a meal. But, if something is wrong, the vet will be able to fix it and have your dog on its way to feeling better in no time.

See If Your Dog Loves To Play

A happy, healthy dog loves to play. Whether this is outside, running around or inside with their toys, your dog is going to want to play at some point.

Now, they aren’t going to play 24/7 as they do need to sleep, relax, have a drink and so on. Even senior dogs can get excited at the sight of a favorite toy!

But if they seem lethargic and are not playing at all, this is when you should start to worry slightly.

Try to entice your dog to play with you by picking up one of their toys, or running around your garden trying to get them to chase you. Or, simply rub their tummy and see if they respond.

If they are not responding in their usual way and this has been going on for longer than a few days, you might want to take them to seek medical advice.

Watch For Sudden Behavior Changes

If your dog starts being uncharacteristically snappy or short-tempered, then this could indicate an issue that’s causing pain.

Please consult your vet to get their medical opinion about any sudden behavior changes. Sometimes when your pet is in pain, they will become more sensitive or snappy to keep you away from what hurts.

If this is the case, discuss their behavior and symptoms with your vet to determine what could be causing the issue.