Learn How to Take Your Golden Retriever’s Temperature,
Read His Pulse, & Collect Potty Samples
O.K., this is probably not the topic many of you would like to read about.
But let’s face it, for the love of our dogs, the following information could
prove quite useful.
As your dog's constant companion, you are probably much attuned to
fluctuations in his behavior. If you observe that your dog seems more
sluggish or less comfortable than normal, take a careful look at him. Does
your dog have a runny nose? A cough? Is his appetite normal? Does he have
diarrhea? Is he drooling excessively? Is he whining? These are all examples
of warning signs that may accompany an illness and you may have to do some
minor investigating. To get a better understanding of what ails your dog,
here are some tips:
How to Take Your Golden's Temperature
If your dog seems sluggish, has a hot, dry nose, dull eyes, and/or feels
warm, he may have a fever. The only reliable way to take your dog's
temperature is with a rectal thermometer. Shake down the thermometer and
grease it well with petroleum jelly.
Not many dogs will stand still while you insert a thermometer into their
rectum, so it is best to get someone to help you. If no help is available,
make your dog lie down on his side and hold him as best you can, all the
while talking to him soothingly. Lift his tail and gently push the
thermometer in with a twisting motion. Insert the thermometer from one to
three inches, depending on the size of your dog. Hold the thermometer in
place for at least two minutes.
Remove it, wipe it clean, and determine the temperature by the height of the
silver column of mercury on the thermometer scale. A temperature of 100.5
degrees to 102 degrees is normal. A temperature above 102.5 or below 100.0
is cause for concern, and merits a call to your veterinarian. Do not let go
of the dog or of the thermometer. You do not want to risk having the
thermometer break in the dog's rectum. If the thermometer does break off, do
not attempt to find and extract the broken end. Give the dog one to two
teaspoonfuls of mineral oil and call your veterinarian.
How to Take Your Golden’s Pulse
The most reliable way of taking your dog's pulse is to locate the femoral
artery. Your dog can either be standing or can be lying on his back for
this. Put your fingers inside your dog's groin, where the leg joins the
trunk. Feel around until you detect a pulse. Another method is to press
against the rib cage over the heart while your dog is standing. You should
be able to detect a pulse just below the elbow joint.
Of course, if you are at all unsure about your dog’s health, be sure to
consult with a veterinarian.
Collecting Urine Samples
For male dogs, use a wide-mouthed jar. When your male dog lifts his leg to
urinate during a walk, reach down gently and collect about a quarter cup of
urine. For a female dog, place a flat pan under her when she squats to
urinate.
Collecting Stool Samples
Stool samples are used to determine the presence of intestinal parasites. A
sample is often requested as part of your dog's routine examination. Try to
collect as fresh a sample as possible and place it in a plastic bag. If you
are taking it from outside, avoid soil; organisms on the ground could make
their way into your dog's fecal material, resulting in an inaccurate
reading.
Count how many beats there are in a fifteen-second period, and then multiply
that number by four. The normal range is wide - anywhere from 70 to 130
beats per minute. Smaller breeds
and puppies usually tend toward faster pulse rates, while larger breeds and
healthy dogs that get plenty of exercise often have a slower pulse.
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