Visiting the Veterinarian

Sad to say there have been many occasions when it hasn't been possible to save a dog's life because the dog's owner was late in bringing him to the veterinarian.

It's sometimes difficult to identify or establish the exact moment an animal starts to feel ill, and people generally notice when the disease is already in an advanced state and then they make the mistake of waiting for the disease to get cured by itself, which usually never happens. Therefore, whenever you have the slightest doubt about the possibility of a disease in your dog or puppy, head for the veterinarian as she is the most indicated person to treat your animal.

It's important to regularly examine your dog; any little problem that he might have can have a relation to how he plays, runs, eats, swallows, and so on. Any of these symptoms should be consulted with the veterinarian.

Another extremely important factor is the aspect of the dog's feces. They shouldn't be liquid. On the other hand, the dog should be eliminating at least once a day. Try to pay attention to these things, as they're the first things the veterinarian is going to ask you when you visit her, and if you have no idea, you will make it hard (or impossible) for the veterinarian to give a good diagnosis.

Another important factor that can determine if a dog is sick is the thermometer, but the temperature must be taken in such a way that you don't make a mistake in your measurements. You obtain the temperature of the dog when it is resting or lying down (at least an hour has to have passed since it stopped running). It isn't possible either to take the temperature when the dog is digesting. You take the temperature by introducing the thermometer in the rectum, but you must make sure not to break the thermometer. In normal conditions, a dog has 38.5 degrees Celsius, but until 39 degrees Celsius you can't consider it abnormal. It is good to bear in mind that a high temperature is as bad as a low one, as the latter indicates that there is a loss of defenses which can be precious in order to be able to face any disease.

In normal conditions, it shouldn't be necessary to take the temperature; you only have to do so when you believe there is a justifiable symptom. In the case of the rapid development of a disease, you can explain the symptoms to the veterinarian over the phone; that way she can prescribe something temporary, so that you have enough time to make it to her office, or she goes to your house.

Don't get frightened if you see your dog vomiting. It can be due to many reasons, most of which are because the dog has chewed on something that he can't swallow well or maybe he's chewing on grass and cleaning his stomach. Anyway, if you have any doubts, take your animal to the veterinarian.