Seven Standards to Determine Whether a Dog is Healthy

       How healthy a dog is cannot be judged solely by your first visual impression. To know if a dog is healthy, you need to assess the dog from seven aspects, and if any one standard is not met, it indicates that the dog has health risks and requires immediate attention. If you want to buy a pet dog, these seven standards can also help you pick a healthy dog.

      1. Ears

       A healthy dog can locate sound sources based on sound. For example, you can make sounds behind or beside the dog; if the dog searches for the source, it indicates normal hearing. Besides hearing, also check inside the dog's ears for bleeding, parasites, redness, or swelling. If any exist, it means the dog is not very healthy and needs treatment.

       2. Eyes

       Place your hand in front of the dog's eyes and move it left and right. If the dog's eyes follow your hand back and forth, it shows no vision problems. Of course, just checking sight is not enough. If the dog's eyes are bloodshot, the eyeball is covered by a white membrane, or there is a large amount of eye discharge at the corners, it indicates the dog may be suffering from certain diseases.

       3. Nose

       Normally, a dog's nose should be moist. If you find the dog's nose dry, you should find out the reason. Occasionally, a dog may have nasal discharge; if it is clear, there is no need to worry as this is normal. However, if the dog has yellow nasal discharge, it is very likely suffering from respiratory diseases.

      4. Mouth

       When observing a dog's mouth, just look at the gum color. Pink gums indicate a healthy dog, while grayish-white gums suggest the dog is weak and may suffer from malnutrition or anemia.

       5. Coat

       Check four places on the dog's coat: around the mouth, neck, behind the ears, and thighs. If these areas show patchy or clumped redness, it indicates infection by mites or fungi. Black small particles in the fur suggest flea infestation. Additionally, a healthy dog's coat is shiny; a dog that easily loses hair is protein deficient, and dry, split fur indicates malnutrition or anemia.

       6. Paw Pads

       Adult dogs have full and firm paw pads, while young dogs have soft and delicate paw pads. If the dog’s paw pads are cracked, it indicates malnutrition. If a young dog's paw pads are hard, it might signal distemper.

       7. Spirit

       Healthy dogs are usually lively and active, full of curiosity about new things. If a dog is listless and unwilling to interact, do not assume this is the trendy “adorable dumb” look; it may be caused by illness. Furthermore, if a dog shows fear of strangers or tucks its tail, it may be due to insufficient socialization training during the socialization period, and the dog may take a long time to adapt to new environments.

       If you want to buy a dog, you might also want to check the dog’s vaccination records. Dogs properly vaccinated tend to have stronger resistance and are less likely to catch diseases.