Early detection of disease such as cancer, flea and/or tick infestations, lumps and bumps, wounds, infections, can mean the difference in saving your pet (and you) a lot of pain and heartache and keeping your pet healthy.
You can begin by getting your pet used to your touch, all over the body, when the pet is new and/or young. Start by stroking your pet to keep him/her calm.
Some pets, dogs especially, view direct eye contact as a threat. If your pet is one of these, do the best you can. Look at the eyes searching for any discharge, bulging, cloudiness, redness. If there are any lumps in the area of the eyes, they could be symptoms of a nasal problem. If you discover anything unusual, have your vet examine your pet. Never medicate your pet without your vet’s approval.
To check your pet’s ears, begin at the base gently rubbing as you work your way up to the tip. Then look inside the ear to make sure all is clear and give it a sniff for any unusual odors. My Dad used to say, the only thing you put in an ear is your elbow. In a pet’s case, use only cotton balls to clean the ear and an ear solution approved by your vet.
Gently lift your pet’s lips and try to get his/her mouth open for a look inside. You can do a more thorough check of your pet’s teeth when you brush them.
Next gently run your fingers through your pet’s fur and over the entire body. It’s the perfect opportunity to try a little massage or TTouch to make your pet feel good. You should be able to feel any lumps or bumps that shouldn’t be there. Keep your eyes open for any fleas or flea dirt and ticks.
Although your pet may not be too happy about it, life the tail for a quick look to make sure everything is normal.
Following this procedure a few times a week helps to discover any problems before they develop into something serious. Added to that the gentle touching is another way of bonding with your pet.
