• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
dogwheelchairlife_logo

Dog Wheelchair Life

Teaching people to care for a paralyzed dog

  • Home
  • Resource Page
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Resource Page
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • IVDD
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Other Spine Problems
  • Daily Care
  • Resources
  • Amazon Favorites
  • IVDD
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Other Spine Problems
  • Daily Care
  • Resources
  • Amazon Favorites
Jack Russell Terrier puppy, 2 months old, getting out of a box in front of white background

10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy and Add Years To Their Life

Home » Blog » 10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy and Add Years To Their Life
September 12, 2020 by Sharon Seltzer
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Knowing your dog’s body through touch
  • The 10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy+−
    • Touch 1:  Body Condition Score
    • Touch 2: Skin and Coat
    • Touch 3: Lumps and Lymph Nodes
    • Touch 4: Ears
    • Touch 5: Eyes
    • Touch 6: Gums and Teeth
    • Touch 7: Legs, Paws and Nails
    • Touch 8: Belly and Abdomen
    • Touch 9: Chest (Heart and Lungs)
    • Touch 10: Check Under the Tail
  • A Final Note About the 10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy
Habits to keep your dog healthy

Veterinarians keep dogs fit through regular exams and vaccinations. As their guardian, there are 10 habits you can do every month that will keep your dog healthy and add years to their life. Each of them begins with a simple touch.

Your dog will think you’re giving them a rubdown, but once you start implementing this routine, the results are amazing. They’ll help you recognize the early warning signs of disease.

Knowing your dog’s body through touch

Dr. Julie Buzby at workshop
Dr. Buzby teaching a workshop.

I was introduced to these lifesaving touches at a workshop taught by Julie Buzby, DVM.

Dr. Buzby is an integrative veterinarian who combines the best of Western veterinary medicine and holistic therapies. She’s also the creator of ToeGrips, a product that prevents dogs with arthritis and weakness in their limbs from slipping on slick surfaces.

Dr. Buzby developed her workshop to empower pet owners and teach us how different parts of a dog’s body should feel to our touch.

She encourages owners to learn how a dog’s body looks, feels and smells. That way even the slightest change will instantly jump out at you as a warning.

Dr. Buzby recommends doing the 10 touches once a month.

The 10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy

Happy chihuahua
Depositphotos

Touch 1:  Body Condition Score

A dog’s BCS is based on four body parts: ribs, waistline, belly tuck, and fat beneath the skin. The perfect dog body has ribs you can easily feel when you rub over them with your hands. There should also be a slight waistline when you look overhead, a gentle upward tuck of their belly when you look from the side, and only a little fat when you gently raise the skin.

Learning this first touch is not about putting your dog on a diet, instead it’s to learn how your dog feels and looks. It’s a baseline, so you know when changes occur.

Touch 2: Skin and Coat

Gently rub your hands over your dog’s skin and coat. First go with the grain of the fur and then go against it. If you learn how the skin and fur feels on a regular basis, you’ll be able to detect any changes like dryness or lumps.

When you rub against the grain start at the tail and move toward the head. This lifts the fur slightly allowing you to feel for ticks and to see fleas and flea dirt. Flea dirt it is the feces or dried blood left by the flea. The most common place to see it is under the tail.

Touch 3: Lumps and Lymph Nodes

Lumps on your dog can have subtle changes. A gentle massage from the nose to the tail will help you keep track of any developments. While many lumps are an ordinary sign of aging, it’s good to know what’s normal for your dog.

Lymph nodes are located in 5 key areas in your dog’s body. Changes such as swelling can be the first sign of disease. Lymph nodes are located in pairs on each side of a dog’s: neck, above the shoulder blades, in the armpits, in the groin and down the hind legs. Rub your hands over each pair to make sure they feel consistent on each side of the body.

Touch 4: Ears

Flip back each of your dog’s ears and get to know how they look and smell. The ears should be clean. Redness or discharge in and around the ear canal or a foul odor can be signs of an infection.

Touch 5: Eyes

The eyes reveal a lot about a dog’s health. Get to know how they look. Check for changes such cloudiness or a discharge in the iris and sclera (white part of the eye). Gently lift the lid to check for changes in the dog’s third eyelid.

10 habits that will keep your dog healthy.

Touch 6: Gums and Teeth

Every pet owner should establish a baseline for the color of their dog’s gums. Are they solid pink or do they have patches of black pigment? Are they bright pink of slightly pale? All of these variations are normal. It’s your job to be familiar with how they look in your pet.

Gently press on the pink area for 1-2 seconds and then release. This will give you a baseline for how quickly the gums return to their normal color after light pressure is applied. Changes to the gums can tell your veterinarian volumes about your dog’s health.

Next check the condition of the teeth. Is there tartar built up or are there broken teeth that should be fixed?

And finally take a quick look at your dog’s throat. Learn how it looks on a routine basis.

Touch 7: Legs, Paws and Nails

The leg touch is about symmetry so it’s important to use both of your hands as you rub your dog’s two front legs and then the back legs. Feel for any differences. Is there a lump on one limb, but not the other? Does one knee feel different? Any changes should be reported to your veterinarian.

Next check each paw for sores on the pad or between the toes. Look for discoloration or hair loss. This could be a sign that your dog’s been licking the paws and may suffer from allergies.

Examine the length of your dog’s nails. This is a big concern for Dr. Buzby who is a proponent of keeping your pet’s nails neatly trimmed.

Long nails impact a dog’s gait and posture, and contribute to spine problems.

Touch 8: Belly and Abdomen

Gently touch your dog’s belly. Get familiar with the general shape of the abdomen and take note of how soft or hard it is. This again will help you establish a baseline if something changes. A belly that feels hard or swollen can be the first sign of diseases like: Cushing’s Syndrome or bloat.

Touch 9: Chest (Heart and Lungs)

This touch gets you familiar with your dog’s heart rate. Place the palm of your hand on the left side of your dog’s chest just behind the elbow. Feel the speed and rhythm of your dog’s normal heart beat.

Next rub your hands over your dog’s chest. Become familiar with how your dog breathes.

Touch 10: Check Under the Tail

Gently lift your dog’s tail and notice how it looks. Are there signs of worms or fleas, or is there redness or bulging? Check to see if there’s an odor. If your dog is a female check around the vulva for any discoloration, as well.

Click here to read: When your dog needs and MRI and what the test reveals.

A Final Note About the 10 Habits That Will Keep Your Dog Healthy

This routine might seem awkward when you first start. But if you do it at least once a month, every month it’ll become a bonding experience between you and your pet. Dogs love a rubdown and this is one that could potentially save their life.

About Sharon Seltzer

I’m a blogger, professional writer and co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. I’m also a pet mom who’s raised 9 dogs, 6 cats and lots of other critters. When my dog Sophie became paralyzed in 2008, it was a lonely experience. It took months to find all of the resources to help her live a quality life. My mission is to share those services with other pet owners and to teach people how to care for a disabled dog.

You May Also Like

Dr. Jenny Moe with a canine patient

From PT to Myofascial Release Specialist to Owner of Doggon’ Wheels

Dog receiving laser therapy

At-Home Light Therapy for Dogs

Young and old dog standing together

When Dogs Grieve the Loss of a Pet: Bailey’s Story

Dog born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Falling In Love With A Dog You Saw Online

Previous Post: « Pet-Parent-Frenchie[1] Premium Washable Dog Diaper Giveaway from Pet Parents®
Next Post: How to Travel Like A Pro with A Disabled Dog Four jack russell terriers sitting in front of cups »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Sophie-on-grass
Join Our Newsletter and Receive the Essential Guide of Products For Handicapped Dogs

Essential Guide of Products
Click Here for the E-Book

Walkabout Harnesses – Mobility Products For Dogs
My favorite harnesses for disabled dogs.
My favorite harnesses for disabled dogs.

HandicappedPets.com
walkin-all-pet-products[1]

Must-Read Articles
German shepherds are prone to Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs: What Pet Owners Should Know

Josie the dog doing physical therapy

9 Dog Physical Therapy Exercises You Can Do At Home

Longhair dachshund with IVDD

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs: Understanding the Condition


Barkertime Products for Incontinent Dogs
Barkertime-collage

Recent Posts

  • Best Dog Life Jackets for Safety and Fun
  • Enter To Win an Indoor PawRamp from Alpha Paw
  • From PT to Myofascial Release Specialist to Owner of Doggon’ Wheels
  • At-Home Light Therapy for Dogs
  • Will You Join The Dog Aging Project?

Recent Comments

  • Sharon Seltzer on What You Should Know About Pressure Sores and Hygromas in Dogs
  • Lauren on What You Should Know About Pressure Sores and Hygromas in Dogs
  • Sharon Seltzer on Why Hydrotherapy for Dogs Is Quickly Gaining Popularity
  • Sharon Seltzer on Dog Wheelchairs: How to Choose The Right Cart for Your Pet
  • Joesph on Dog Wheelchairs: How to Choose The Right Cart for Your Pet

Archives

  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020

Categories

  • Daily Care
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • IVDD
  • Other Spine Problems
  • Resources

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

DogWheelchairLife.com is a blog that teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. As the owner, I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Influencer Program. These are affiliate programs designed for sites to earn advertising fees (commissions) by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate and Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page

We Are A Resource for Pet Owners

Dog Wheelchair LIFE teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. This is not a medical site and I am not a veterinarian. I am a blogger and pet mom who was the caretaker for Sophie, a paraplegic dog. I’m also a co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas, NV and an animal writer who has contributed to websites and magazines.

The information shared on this site is based on my personal experience and the research I do for each story. Please do not use the content from this blog in place of professional veterinary care.

Articles from this site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from me, Sharon Seltzer.

Join Our List

  • Legal/Privacy
  • About
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 · Dog Wheelchair Life · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Solution

Close Popup

Join our newsletter and get my free e-book

Essential Guide of Products For Handicapped Dogs!