• Skin
While grooming your dog, you can check the skin all over. If you notice any hairless or inflamed patches, this should be mentioned to your vet. If you see any sign of fleas - either live insects or, more commonly specks of dark grit like material which may be flea droppings, contact your vet for advice on flea control.
• Eyes
Look at the corners of the eyes for signs of redness or discharge. Some dogs have a slight, watery discharge from their eyes, which can easily be cleaned every day with a piece of damp cotton wool. If the discharge is enough to cause tear staining around the eyes or becomes thick or discoloured, this should be checked by a vet immediately.
• Ears
Lift the ear flaps and look at the opening of the ear canal, also take a quick sniff. Dog’s ears should not be waxy or smelly. If your dog's ears become dirty, this may require veterinary attention. A small amount of wax can be cleaned from around the ear using a proprietary ear cleaner and little cotton wool, but never poke anything down your dog's ears. Many dogs have little fluffy hairs growing from their ear canals which can be a trap for wax. These will need to be plucked out from time to time.
• Teeth
Lift your dog's lips and examine all the teeth, then open his mouth and look inside. The teeth should be bright white, and there should be no redness around the gums. Dogs should not have smelly breath. As your pup becomes older, he may develop deposits of plaque around his teeth and gums. As well as causing the teeth to become discoloured and creating bad breath this can lead to gingivitis, a gum infection which may lead to tooth loss or blood borne infections. If your dog's teeth become affected by plaque, they can be cleaned under general anaesthetic, with a dental scaling and polishing machine.
As with all health problems prevention is better than cure. Certain dry foods and specially designed dog chews will help prevent this, but there is no substitute for regular brushing with dog toothpaste. Animal toothpastes do not froth the way ones for humans do, and do not have the strong taste which many pets find unpleasant, instead they have a savoury flavour which most dogs enjoy. They contain enzymes which gently break down plaque and kill the bacteria which cause tartar and gingivitis to develop, without the need for you to scrub hard. If your dog has become used to having his teeth brushed when he is a puppy, he will not object and will probably enjoy it! Regular brushing allows a dog to become accustomed to having his mouth examined, making it much easier for you to remove dangerous items from him in a hurry, should this ever prove necessary.
• Feet
Pick up each foot in turn, feel it and look between the toes for thorns or tangles of hair and check the nails. Nails should touch the ground when the dog is standing, but should not curl round. It is important that your dog's nails do not become too long. This will cause his feet to be uncomfortable, and long claws can easily become caught on carpets and clothes, causing pain and distress.
If your dog's nails are not being worn down regularly on pavements, they need to be clipped with appropriate nail clippers. It is important that they are not cut too short or they will bleed and be painful, and you should ask your vet for a demonstration if you are not sure how to go about this task. You may prefer your vet to do this.
Do not forget to check the dew claws which are situated further up the leg than the other nails, and may be difficult to find in long coated breeds. Some breeders have these removed shortly after birth but if they are left intact they may grow very long and easily become caught and damaged.
If you notice anything which worries you while examining your dog, contact your vet for advice. Most problems are easily treated if caught early.