Checking Your Puppy
Just as it is important that your puppy is used to being handled, it is also necessary for you to be able to check his general health. Being familiar with your dog’s physical condition will help you detect any medical problems and have them treated early.
As your puppy gets used to being handled, checking his general health becomes a simple procedure. The following order of inspection will help you get the job done quickly and with little fuss. First handle your puppy gently, so that he feels at ease and secure. Then start by checking his coat, and then his paws, his ears and eyes, his teeth, and finally his tail.
Step 1
Dogs are less likely to resent having their coats touched, because they get used to being stroked. However, this is still a valuable exercise, which, like others, can be carried out as part of a regular grooming routine. Train your dog to stand still by keeping your hand over his shoulder, holding his collar, or placing a steadying hand on his chest.
Step 2
Although the paws appear quite tough, they can be injured, most notably by grass seeds penetrating between the toes and working into the body through the skin. It is important to check them regularly. Lift the leg, and use one hand to gently spread the toes apart.
Puppies often struggle when having their mouths examined. This is because the mouth and gums can be highly sensitive, particularly as the adult teeth start pushing through at the age of approximately five to six months. At this time, you should check that the milk teeth are dislodging properly. If your puppy is unhappy when you handle his mouth, give him lots of treats and affection to get him used to it. Start by touching the outside of his mouth and give him a treat. Next, gently lift the flap of his mouth, then treat again, and progress to opening his mouth very gently, as the above photos show. Keep treating and reassuring your puppy, and you should be able to examine him easily. Consult your vet if there are any problems.
Step 3
It is not uncommon for dogs to develop ear infections, which can be painful. Any such infection must be treated promptly. Get your puppy used to you treating the outside of the ear flap. Then start lifting the ear. This will make things much easier if, in due course, you need to apply any medication within the ear itself.
Step 4
For cleaning teeth, it is only necessary to slide the toothbrush between the puppy’s lips and the outer edge of his teeth. If you need to open your puppy’s mouth, use one hand to apply gentle pressure on either side of the mouth, behind the long upper teeth, and with the first two fingers of the other hand, gently pull the lower jaw down.
Step 5
It may seem unnecessary to persuade your dog to allow you to touch his tail, but some dogs can react to being touched here. Just continue stroking him over his tail region at first. Once he is used to this, you can progress to lifting his tail up gently with your hand.
