By checking your dog regularly (we recommend weekly), you will know what is normal for your dog and more easily spot any changes that might need to be checked by a vet. Health issues are usually more easily treated when detected early with faster recovery times, plus early treatment can prevent any additional issues from developing.
Training your Dog to be Handled for a Heath Check
Start training your dog for a health check as early as possible so that your dog feels comfortable letting you go over the whole of their body. This training also helps to reduce their stress for vet visits which helps both your dog and your vet.
- Choose a quiet, calm space where they are relaxed.
- Start by simply getting them used to be being touched all over their bodies – gentle stroking and touching plus positive association through praise and treats.
- Don’t push it – take a break if they appear stressed (obvious signs are lip-licking, pulling away or turning away from you) and take it slowly to build up positive association.
Remember, always train your dog with positive association and handle them empathetically. See more info on Training.
Home Health Check Tick List
A health check needs you to use your hands, eyes and nose to check your dog over thoroughly. If you spot anything that you are not sure about when checking your dog contact your vet for advice.
Head and face
Look at your dog and check that everything looks symmetrical and both sides are the same. Their head should be straight without tilting to one side.
Eyes
Look into the dog’s eyes and check that the eyes are clear and bright with no excess watering or any discharge. The whites should be white and not red, yellow or speckled, and the pupils should be the same size and shape in both eyes.
Ears
The ears should be in their natural position (candle-flame) and they should feel the same temperature as the rest of the dog’s body. Look inside the ears and given them a sniff. There should be no signs of redness, discharge, or anything crusty, and there should be no obvious smell. Ear wax is normal and that should be cleaned away – see our page on Cleaning ETT Ears.
Nose
An English Toy Terrier nose should be wet and shiny with no excessive discharge or crustiness. Check that the nostrils open and close naturally whilst sniffing.
Mouth and teeth
Your dog should be able to open and close their mouth easily. There should be no signs of drooling. Smell their breath – while it won’t be minty fresh, it should not be noticeably bad either. Bad breath is a sign there is something wrong. Look at their tongue and gums which should be pink, moist and shiny. Check their teeth for broken or wobbly teeth – use your fingers to check for wobbly teeth using a gentle pressure. Look at the gumline where it meets the teeth – there should be no redness or tartar build up. English Toy Terriers need to have their teeth brushed at least twice each week to prevent serious dental and periodontal issues. See our guide on Dental Care.
Neck
Run your hands gently up and down the throat, and along both sides and the back of the neck. Check that everything feels aligned, your dog’s head is not tilting to the side, and that there are no lumps and bumps.
Body
Run your hands over your dog’s body gently. Everything should be symmetrical. Feel for any lumps or bumps, and changes in coat condition. Watch their rib cage expand and contract for their breathing pattern – it should be relaxed and regular. Check their nipples – girl dogs and boy dogs have them! They should not be swollen or red and there should not be any discharge. Look at your dog from above and check that you can see their waist – if you can’t see a clear waist then your dog is overweight. Check also that their ribs are not obviously visible – if they are they may be underweight. See our guide on Food & Nutrition.
Coat and skin
Use your hands and eyes. Check for lumps, bumps, cuts and grazes, patches of hair loss or thinning, redness and irritation, any thickening of the skin under the coat, dryness and dandruff. Also look for parasites – ticks, fleas and mites. English Toy Terriers are particularly susceptible to Demodectic Mange (also known as Demodicosis), a skin condition caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites and it really is essential to check their coat and skin regularly. See our guides to Parasite Prevention and Coat Care & Bathing.
Legs and paws
Feel your dog’s legs checking for lumps, cuts and grazes. Also check their paws – nails, paw pads and toes. When handling your dog’s legs and paws, only ever lift and move them in the direction that their joints allow naturally to avoid hurting your dog.
Tail
The tail should be carried in a natural relaxed position and move easily. The tail should not hang obviously to one side, and check that the tail carriage (how your dog “holds” their tail) is normal. Check for signs of any damage – kinks, lumps, swelling, and hair loss.
Genitals and anus
Check your dog’s “bits”. They should be clean, without any swelling or any signs of inflammation or irritation, such as redness. Around the anus, check that there is no visible swelling either side of the anus which might be a sign of a blocked anal gland.
Behaviour
If you notice a change in behaviour in your dog, then it is worth paying attention to and investigating. These changes can be wide and varied, and some examples include: a dog becoming lethargic for no obvious reason, going off their food, not wanting to run or pulling up quickly if they do run, drinking frequently or excessively, aggression or biting, etc. Also look out for signs of excess rubbing or licking of any body part, excess scratching against a surface e.g. scooting their bottom along the floor or rubbing their head repeatedly on the floor. All of these can be signs that there is something wrong with your dog and need investigating.
A weekly health check is one the essential grooming tasks required to ensure your dog’s health and well-being along with regular dental care, nail care, ear cleaning and coat-care and bathing.