How to Check Your Pet’s Health All by Yourself

If they have an erratic heartbeat As a pet owner, the health of your pet should be one of your top priorities. This will often involve regular visits to the vet’s as well as a proper diet. 

As a pet owner, the health of your pet should be one of your top priorities. This will often involve regular visits to the vet’s as well as a proper diet. 

But keeping your furry friend healthy goes beyond the scheduled visits to the veterinary clinic.  You also need to learn how to check your pet’s health on your own. This will help you spot any problems early on. This will make it much easier to treat them. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your pet is in good health.

Check their heartbeat

Just like your own heartbeat, the heartbeat of your pet is an indicator of their well being. If they have an erratic heartbeat, or their heart is beating too fast or too slow, you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible. To check the heartbeat of your pet, place one arm on the chest behind the elbow. Count the beats for 15 seconds, and then multiply the number by four. 

Different pets have different heartbeat rates. Smaller animals tend to have faster heart beats that bigger ones. For instance, a ferret has a heart rate of between 200 to 250 beats in a minute while a dog’s heart rate can range anywhere between 70 to 120 beats per minute. 

Ask your vet what the right heart rate for your pet should be. Armed with this information, it will be much easier to know when something is wrong with your pet should their heartbeat change. Before making any conclusions from the pet’s heart rate, make sure that they are in a normal state. If they have just been engaging in a physically intense activity, their heartbeat will be considerably higher than normal. If on the other hand, they are just for sleeping, their heart rate will certainly be lower.

Check their eyes

Your pet’s eyes can get hurt when they are playing outside. Usually, pets that spend a considerable amount of time outdoors are more susceptible to injury than those which stay indoors

Eye injuries can be disastrous. Not only can they cause infections, but they can eventually lead to blindness. This is why you should check their eyes often. If you notice any dirt, wash it away immediately. If there is a scratch or any kind of injury, make the trip to the vet. Your pet will thank you for it.

Check their temperature

It is also important that you learn how to take your pet’s temperature regularly. The best way to do this is by using a special animal thermometer, although an ordinary rectal thermometer will work too. Simply place the pet thermometer probe in the pet’s ear and read it. If your pet’s temperature is way off the mark, be sure to take them to the vet’s.

Check their ears

Like their eyes, the ears of pets are susceptible to injuries and infections. You should check them regularly for any injuries or scratches. Bruises and excessive wax should be a cause of concern for you. You can learn how to offer first aid to your pet for injuries by visiting the Fuzzy Rescue from Australia website. Lumps and inflammation, however, warrant a visit to the vet.

It is important that you know how to check your pet’s health by yourself. That way, you can tell in good time when your pet is not doing well. Monitoring your pet’s well- being by yourself is really not a hard task. It also doesn’t require expertise or expensive equipment, but its benefits are numerous. Start checking their health today- it will prove to be well worth the effort.