Your dog should be active, alert and friendly and its appetite good, but not ravenous. General signs of good health for your dog include:

Eyes: Bright and clear and without any discharge.

Ears: Clean, without wax.

Teeth: Firm and clean. Dogs gums should be pink, the breath free from odor.

Coat: Clean, un-matted, free from skin rashes and parasites. Dog skin is not itching.

It's important that you learn to recognize any signs of disorders. Unless your dog is unconscious, bleeding, or otherwise visibly distressed, how can you tell if he is sick?

Types of unusual behavior that may signal dog disorders include: loss of appetite; lack of interest; hiding in dark places; chewing at skin, feet or coat; persistent coughing, head shaking or scratching; unpleasant odor; skin rashes; repeated vomiting.

Your dog cannot tell you when he feels badly. Growling, snapping, or aggressive dog behavior because you touch him may indicate that your dog is in pain.

We humans must look at our dog and see what he tries to tell us in his actions and behavior.

Other behavior that can indicate pain:

Limping
Unusual mouth movements
Turning the head to look at an area frequently
Running in circles
Unpredictable movements
Snapping at people, other dogs or self
Reluctance to get up or lie down
Out of breathe for no obvious reason
Food denial for more than three days

First Aid Pet Medication

Remember: You will not see your dog verbally express himself when he suffers from a disorder! You need to watch for the signs!