Vet's Voice Kathleen Linpus www.vetcaretauranga.co.nz

Early recognition of a serious problem can save your pet's life.

You know your pet better than anyone else, so to decide if they need professional help, get to know what is normal for your pet and give them mini physical exams at home. We call it a 'nose to tail” exam.

The nose should be clean and moist. Check the colour of their gums and how quickly the colour returns after pressing a pink gum above a tooth. It should go white and then be pink again in less than two seconds.

There should be no eye discharge and no colour in the ‘white' of the eye except for a few faint blood vessels. The ears should be comfortable and not smelly. The coat should be clean and shiny and the skin soft and unbroken. When you lift skin on their back, it should drop rapidly. A dehydrated animal's skin will be slow to return to normal.

Watch them breathing when they are resting, how much does the chest and abdomen move with each breath? Normal resting rate is 15-60 breaths per minute.

Feel the heart beat on the lower left side of the chest or the pulse inside the top of the hindleg. Count for 15 seconds then multiply by four, this gives their pulse rate per minute. Dogs are usually 60-120, cats 100-160 beats per minute when resting.

Gently feel the abdomen and limbs with flat hands for swelling or pain. They should be clean under the tail. If you notice something changing, phone your Vet Clinic; it may be time for a checkup.

‘Kathleen joined VCT in 2005. She completed her Veterinary Degree in 2003 and has a special interest in Ophthalmology (eyes) and Oncology (cancer). She is proud Mum to Romey and Manny (dogs) and Woof (cat). Phone VetCare 07 576 9069.