If you suspect that your dog is sick, you can take its pulse or temperature before you rush off to the vet. An elevated heartbeat could be a sign of heart problems or pain, while a high fever might indicate infection. Here is how you can take your dog’s pulse and temperature.

Taking a pulse

Before you start off, make sure that your dog is relaxed, as excitement or exertion will elevate his or her pulse. Then do the following:

1 Place the ball of two fingers inside your dog’s thigh close to the body on either of its rear legs

2 Count the pulse beat over a minute

A normal dog pulse will vary according to the breed. Small breeds have a higher pulse of between 90–120 beats per minute, while large dogs will have a pulse of between 60–90 beats per minute. If your dog’s pulse is too low or high, seek veterinarian advice.

Taking a temperature

A normal temperature for a dog is 38.3 to 38.8 C. You can measure your dog’s temperature with a rectal thermometer. Do the following:

1 Use a digital thermometer as a glass thermometer could break inside your dog’s back passage if he struggles

2 Make sure that the thermometer is registering zero

Ask someone to calmly hold your dog while he or she is standing

3 Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly and insert it 2.5 cm into your dog’s rectum

4 Keep the thermometer there for at least one minute to get an accurate reading

5 Wipe the thermometer clean with mild antiseptic once finished

If the reading is higher or lower than what is normal, seek veterinarian advice

H. Perold

Sources:

http://www.caninepharm.com/askthevet.htm

http://www.pethealthcare.co.uk/dogs/welldogclinic/howto_taketemp.asp

The greatest thing I’ve ever known,
Someone came and took me home.
I’m away from the track; hope I never go back!
Like a nightmare in my memory, my future looked black.

Then I was adopted and my life was spared.
I thank God everyday that someone cared.
This must be heaven, I’m a winner this time,
Got a ball, a bone, and a bed that’s all mine.

I’m crazy about my family;
Devoted you might say.
Like a shadow beside them,
You bet I want to stay.

I’m special too, they call me “sweetheart”,
They hug me and kiss me and tell me I’m smart.
Even dreams are more peaceful; no stress, no strife,
Now I run for fun and not for my life.

~ Author Unknown

There has been an ever increasing pool of backyard breeders and puppymills in the past few decades, much to the dismay of true animal lovers. Backyard breeders and puppymills are characterized primarily for their love of money as opposed to their love of a breed, they do not breed their dogs to better a breed, they breed their dogs to line their pockets and do not give a second thought to genetic disorders or illness that could be passed to their puppies via breeding.

Many people find themselves “tricked” in to buying a puppy from a not so reputable breeder when they frequent online databases to find themselves a “breeder”. When you begin your search for your new puppy you should be aware that a reputable breeder will NEVER offer to fly your puppy to you so you can pick him up at the airport. Flying young puppies is dangerous to their health. If a true breeder has a client who wants a puppy from one of their litters they will demand that you pick up the puppy, accompany him in a carrier IN the plane (not in the cargo hold) and he/she may offer to do this for you for an additional charge. “Breeders” who offer to stick your new puppy in a crate and in to a cargo hold of a plane at your cost are “breeders” that you want to avoid. Aside from the undue stress that this type of travel puts on a young puppy this very action should scream volumes to the actual time, work, emotion and over all caring that your “breeder” has for their animals. Just think, if your breeder doesn’t care enough to rethink putting an 8 week old puppy on a plane all alone in a cargo hold, how much time and thought do you think he/she put in to the breeding process and the genetic makeup of your puppy?

When looking for a good breeder you should ALWAYS ALWAYS go to the site of the breeding and meet the mother and father (if both are not available one is acceptable), ask a LOT of questions about health clearances and genetics (if the “breeder” is hesitant to answer you have your answer right there), see for yourself the disposition and physical condition of the parent dogs, Look around the environment where your puppy will be raised for the first 8 weeks and lastly use your gut instinct – if something doesn’t seem right the chances are that something isn’t right.

We’ve all heard new pet owners talking about their brand new puppy’s sweet puppy breath but what you might not have heard about puppy breath is that sometimes it stinks to high heaven. People who own puppies, particularly for the first time, are often confused about why their puppy’s breath isn’t that sweet heart string pulling smell anymore and why all of a sudden it seems like the foulest smell on earth. Well there is a reason, in fact there could be multiple reasons for this but the most common one is one that all puppy owners will experience.

So why does my puppy’s breath smell so bad? Take a look inside your puppy’s mouth, taking care to avoid those razor sharp teeth. Is your puppy losing teeth and teething? Teething is the most common reason for bad breath in puppies. Many people liken this teething smell to fish or a rotting/decaying smell and the solution is simply to keep your nose away from that mouth until those teeth are fully come through. During teething; however, you should check to make sure that your puppy does not have any signs of infection inside their mouth or any baby teeth that are being pushed out by their adult teeth. Your puppy’s puppy teeth will begin to come through at around three to four weeks, he will have 28 of these razor sharp teeth so watch those fingers! Your puppy’s adult teeth will begin coming through at around four months of age and they will come through regardless of whether your puppy’s baby teeth have fallen out or not and when this happens it is very often the cause of pain, inflammation and infection and should be tended to by a vet ASAP. If you have any concerns with your dog’s baby teeth, teething or coming through of adult teeth see your vet who can check for any abnormalities.

Another reason you may run in to which causes bad breath in all dogs, puppy or not, is upper respiratory infection or tooth infection. Very often when your dog contracts an upper respiratory infection one of the symptoms he exhibits will be nasal discharge. Due to the nature of infection and nasal discharge which runs down the back of your dog’s throat, he will exhibit bad breath. If you suspect that your dog’s bad breath is due to an infection make sure you pay your vet a visit ASAP to diagnose and treat the infection in question.

Gum disease is also a common culprit in older dogs with bad breath. Oral hygiene is extremely important for your dog, since he cannot brush his own teeth every night and most people make a habit of feeding their dog sugary human foods that they are not used to processing the build up of plaque is quick and can have devastating effects on your dog’s gums. Have a regular routine of marrow bones for your dog to clean his teeth with and a toothbrush with his name on it!

Over all dog’s should not exhibit foul breath, and just like people if they do then it is a sign that something is occurring, whether it be a natural stage of life such as teething or a medical problem such as an infection.