Part 1 of 3.
On Saturday afternoon one of my clients wanted me to evaluate a rescue dog that she was thinking of bringing home.
She and her husband had already met the new dog at his foster home and liked his playful nature. And now they wanted my professional opinion…
Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group is a wonderful way to save a life, and at the same time, add new life to your family and other dogs.
However, it is important to do your homework if you want to find the perfect dog for you and your family.
The following physical evaluation can help you adopt a pet that is the right match for you and your pack.
The first step: check out the dog physically.
· Is the coat shiny and thick? Or is the coat missing hair? Are there any hot spots?
· If the dog has long ears, pick them up to see if they are healthy and pink or red and inflamed on the inside.
· Are there any fleas or ticks?
· What does the dog’s breath smell like? (If it smells rancid or sour the dog may have some health issues or just need a good teeth cleaning!)
· Does the dog walk, run, and play without limping?
Some rescue groups x-ray a dog’s hips or elbows to make sure the dog does not have dysplasia.
· Are there any lumps, bruises, or sore spots on the dog’s body?
· Does the dog have runny eyes or a drippy nose?
· Are the eyes cloudy or clear?
· Are the dog’s paws red, sore, missing hair, or deformed?
· Can the dog physically hear you?
· Is the dog constantly itching?
Any physical issue can be worked with, adapted to, or changed.
However, if you go into a relationship knowing that the dog has allergies, or walks with a limp because he’s had surgery after being hit by a car… you will not be unpleasantly surprised if the dog needs extra veterinary attention for health issues.
In case you are curious, my client’s pet rescue passed my initial physical evaluation with flying colors.
· When the puppy ran, he leapt, bounced and soared on all four paws. He was definitely sound on all four legs with nicely shaped paws.
· His chest was narrow which angled his front feet. However when his chest drops it should straighten out his front end. But most importantly, the angle of his front legs didn’t interfere with his movement in any way.
· The rescue group had already x-rayed his hips to see if he had hip dysplasia (he didn’t).
· He had no lumps, bruises, or sore spots on his body.
· His coat was clean, with no fleas or ticks.
· His eyes were clear and his hearing excellent.
Part 2 will discuss the second step which is to observe a dog’s interactions with other dogs.
