Your Dog's First Examination
The day you bring your new puppy or dog home is an exciting one, but plan on taking her to see the veterinarian within seventy-two hours. You want to know that your dog is healthy and the physician can identify health defects and any medical problems that you might not have noticed when you picked up your dog.
If you have a puppy, carry her in and out of the veterinarian's office either in your arms or in a crate. Her immunity isn't fully established yet and you don't want your puppy to come in contact with something from another dog.
Be sure to schedule your initial visit when you have plenty of time and don't have to leave early to do something else. Your first holistic veterinary appointment is going to take longer than what you might expect — often more than an hour. If time is a consideration, call ahead to ask the receptionist to estimate about how long you might have to wait for the doctor and plan accordingly.
What to Bring
A puppy should be carried or in a crate when you visit the veterinarian. An adult dog must be on a leash when you enter the veterinarian's office. Other dogs in the waiting room may not be very friendly and you can keep your dog away from trouble by containing your pup or controlling the leash.
It's normal for your dog to be frightened in the doctor's office. There are new sights and smells he's unaccustomed to experiencing. Just don't coddle him and tell him, “It's okay!” This just affirms your dog's fears. A better thing to do is to ignore his behavior and stay calm yourself. Your dog will pick up on your cues and relax.
You probably have saved up a list of questions or issues to discuss with your veterinarian about your new dog's health or behavior. If you didn't talk about vaccines with your veterinarian during your initial interview, now's the time to discuss her views. Remember that no question is off limits! This is your time to have everything explained.
Be sure to bring along your dog's health record, including a list of any medications he is currently taking. Your veterinarian should know about any prior vaccines and dewormings.
Let your vet know what kind of food your dog is eating. If you're feeding him a commercial diet be sure to give her the name of the brand and its ingredients.
A few hours before you leave for the vet's office, collect a small stool sample from your dog and place it in a plastic bag or a small disposable food container with a lid. Bring it with you to your appointment. To make sure that it's not accidentally mixed up with another dog's at the office, write your name on the bag or container. Your veterinarian will check the stool for the presence of internal parasites.
The Exam
When the doctor enters the exam room he'll greet your dog and begin establishing a relationship with her right away. Gaining your dog's trust enables him to examine her without causing a fearful or stressed reaction in the dog.
How do you collect a stool sample?
It should be fresh, so collect it soon after your dog leaves it. Wrap a new plastic bag around your hand or use a small clean shovel to pick up a tablespoon of your dog's stool. You don't need to take all of it. Keep it chilled until you leave.
Your veterinarian will take a detailed history of your dog and will want to know everything about her day-to-day activities — how much and where she sleeps, what she eats, how much physical activity she has, and any behavior issues. Your observations help the veterinarian assess your dog's condition, so don't leave out any details. Most veterinarians, however, can take one look at their patients and know right away if something isn't quite right. The physical examination includes checking your dog's:
Weight. This establishes a baseline as your puppy grows and continues to gain weight and makes sure she doesn't get too heavy.
Temperature. A dog's normal body temperature ranges from 100°F–102.5°F.
Eyes. While some breeds have more eye problems than others, your dog's eyes should be checked for signs of glaucoma, cataracts, cloudiness of the lens, and discoloration, discharge, or swelling.
Ears. The inside should not be red or have an odor or discharge, and your dog should not be scratching her ears or shaking her head, which may indicate an ear infection.
Mouth. Teeth are not impacted, gums are a healthy pink, and there are no unusual sores.
Skin and coat. Feel the body for any growths, abnormalities, unusual spots, or hair loss.
Heart and lungs. The heart rate should be normal without any murmurs, which may be a sign of heart disease, and there is normal and unobstructed airflow through the lungs.
Anal area. There should be no obstruction or infection.
If you have a puppy who is nine weeks of age or older who has not already been vaccinated, your veterinarian will administer distemper and parvovirus vaccines. More information about vaccines is found in Chapter 9.
The veterinarian may also want to take blood and urine samples to detect any problems in the kidneys, liver, pancreas, and thyroid gland. This diagnostic testing is especially important as your dog gets older.
