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- Abdomen
- -Rounded,
not bulging; soft and flexible, not taunt or drum-like;
not potbellied; no swelling around navel.
- Appetite
- -Enthusiastic
for food; no undue scavenging; no vomiting.
- Anus
- -Clean,
with no stains, scouring, or matting by dry feces.
- Breathing
- -Quiet
and even when at rest; no labored breathing; no coughing;
normally panting to cool down after play.
- Claws
- -No
splitting; no overgrown claws.
- Coat
- -Clean,
pleasant-smelling; free from parasites, loose hairs
or dirt; soft to the touch; not straw-like or brittle.
- Demeanor
- -Curious,
alert, vital; quickly responsive to sounds and calls.
- Ears
- -Alert
to slightest sound; clean, with no brown or yellow
deposits; head and ears held in normal position; no
scratching, rubbing or shaking of the head.
- Eyes
- -Clear,
with no cloudiness of the cornea; not unduly sensitive
to light; no discharge or weeping; not bloodshot.
- Feces
- -Consistently
formed; color varying according to diet; should be
passed regularly two to four times daily.
- Movement
- -Tends
to be very active in short spurts with rest periods
between; young puppies may sleep 16 out of 24 hours;
bouncing, uncoordinated movement normal; young puppies
tend to fall over their own feet; no limping or lameness.
- Nose
- -Condition
depends on environment; likely to be cold and damp
out of doors, warm and dry indoors; no persistent
discharge; nostrils not blocked by dried mucous.
- Pads
- -No
matting of hair between the digits due to contamination
by mud, tar or grease; no cracked pads.
- Skin
Condition
- -Loose
and supple; clean, without undue amount of dander,
inflammation, parasites, or sores.
- Teeth
- -Clean
and white; gums pink except those of the Chow which
may show darker pigmentation; shedding of the milk
teeth normal occurs between two and five months.
- Urine
- -Straw
colored, not cloudy; no blood in the urine; passes
urine frequently, with no difficulty; both sexes tend
to squat to urinate until puberty (starts at approx.
5 or 6 months of age), at which point male dogs may
begin to start lifting their legs' to mark territory,
fixed males may start later.
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Taken
in part with thanks to
"The Official SPCA Pet Guide
Care for Your Puppy"
Published by
William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. London |
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