Regular Dog Veterinarian Checkup

It's also important that the owner of a dog checks his dog daily, and if he finds any abnormalities, to consult with the veterinarian. Some way and examples of doing this are by:

• Controlling the amount of food the dog eats as well as the liquids. If you notice that your dog is drinking an excess amount of water, something could be going wrong.
• Check your dog's eyes: A dog's eyes must be shiny and wide open. This is a sign of a healthy dog. Whenever you are grooming your dog, very gently wipe any discharge that has built up around his eyes. Use a warm washcloth to do this. If you notice that the discharge is yellow or green, talk to your veterinarian about it.
• Check your dog's ears frequently to see if they are clean, the inside of a dog's ears should be pink. There should not be any bad odor, and they should be free of dark colored discharge. If you notice that there are signs of pain, itching or tenderness, you must get this checked right away.
• Cut the dog's nails properly and occasionally, since usually these tend to grow quickly. If a dog's nails are too long it can actually be uncomfortable and painful for them when they walk. 
• Check the dog's coat to detect any external parasites the dog may have like, fleas, ticks and mites. It's important to get rid of these because not only are they uncomfortable for the dog but also they can lead to severe problems such as internal parasites and serious skin problems if not taken care of. If you notice any of these external parasites on your dog, make sure to consult with your veterinarian about it so that the dog get the adequate treatment.
• Check your dog to see if there are any changes in his skin color, hair loss, itch, a change in the texture of the skin etc. All of these could be indicators of a problem.
• Check a female dog's nipples in order to discard any swelling or lumps etc, and be able to act in time if there are any problems. If you are the owner of a female dog, you must also check her blood losses when she is in heat, check also if she is losing blood again shortly after her heat stage and the color of this as well.
• If you have decided you would like your female dog to become impregnated, make sure to prepare her to have puppies. The ideal moment for this would be when the dog is at the age of two and four years. However, if you do not want you dog to become impregnated, the best option is to spay your dog. Doing this is the most recommended as it also bring about certain advantages health wise in the future.
• Consider the option of neutering a male dog, especially if the dog shows any signs of aggressiveness and conduct problems, since this usually mellows out their behavior. This way the dog will be able to be given another opportunity of staying in your family. Make sure to talk about this with your veterinarian.