Know That's Normal - Canine Edition
Cultivate the habit of knowing "normal" as a defense against management by emergency
Well, hey there…good morning to you. So glad to find you here. I hope this finds you warm-cuppa-something-good in hand, peaceful in the Lord, with your dog recently scratched & told “good morning” as well…because that good friend of yours will be at the center of our conversation today.
We’ll circle the wagon back around to focus on dogs in particular, but by way of introduction, I’d like to first give you a peak into one of my deepest motivations for writing to you.
Here’s a common problem you may have encountered… One of your animals is sick. Thinking back, you may recall that they were a little “off” for the past couple of weeks, but didn’t think much of it. You call your local vet only to find that they are booked out 10 business days. You call around and discover the problem is across the board, none of the vets in town have openings in their schedules. You’re concerned about your animal - now what?
There is no easy solution to this issue, things are tough all over. And unfortunately, there’s not a foreseeable resolution in sight. Veterinarians are handling overwhelming caseloads, and it’s going to continue to be challenging to get your animals into their hands for care. (This topic is a whole article in and of itself, so we won’t dive too far down that rabbit hole just yet.)
There’s simply no substitute for your veterinarian. And especially in an emergency, they are your animal’s lifeline. So if limited access to veterinary care is going to continue to be an obstacle, what can you do as an animal owner? Jump online and see what kind of knots Dr. Google can twist your worried mind into? Get mad, call the vet’s office, and yell at the poor part-time receptionist that can do all of nothing about it? Throw up your tied hands in helpless defeat?
While those options are A, B, and C on the list of responses much of the general public resorts to (ask me how I know), they are strongly discouraged for, hopefully, obvious reasons. And I’d argue that, since you are here, you are above such counterproductive reactions. You are for proaction. You are for husbandry.
In last Wednesday’s installment of “HOH 101”, we touched on one of the freedoms that good husbandry provides: freedom from constant management by emergency. (Read article here). Husbandry helps to minimize how much we function in crisis-mode, encouraging us to cultivate the habit of understanding what “normal” looks like in our animals, so when abnormal creeps in, we recognize it early, and can get ahead of it.
All of that to say, I feel a burden to help you sharpen your appreciation of what normal looks like in your animals - so you have tools to work with and can start to build your husbandry toolbox, so you’ve got a little confidence in your back pocket. Emergencies will still happen, but you will have a defense to help keep them to a minimum. Furthermore, time will be less of a ruthless enemy. If you recognize some problems early enough, that appointment in 2 weeks won’t be too far out to provide beneficial help.
And now…the dog…in my own biased opinion, the absolute best animal in all time and space.
After over a decade in clinical practice, I’ve witnessed the spectrum of concerned dog owners. From clients who will rush their pet to the emergency service at the first sign of an itch, to folks who only make visits to the vet if their dog has been attacked by a bear (literally), I think it’s fair to say that the definition of a “normal dog” has a multitude of, shall we say…interpretations?
Here is what I’m shooting for in this article: to give you a broad overview of what you should expect in a normal, healthy dog. So basic, right? But so imperative. If you don’t have a good handle on what’s normal, it’s easy to over- or under-interpret what you observe in your animal, putting you at odds with money or time, respectively.
This is the view from 30,000 feet, recognizing that canines come in the most astonishing range of shapes and sizes (just compare a Teacup Poodle to an Irish Wolfhound), and that what may be “normal” for one may be quite the opposite in the other, in some cases. The same applies to variations across age groups.
Furthermore, humans have bred traits into dogs, such as alopecia (Chinese Crested), mucinous skin folds (Sharpei), chondrodystrophy (Miniature Dachshunds), and brachycephaly (French Bulldogs), and so on, that have not only given those breeds their characteristic phenotypes, but have also forced redefinition of what is tolerated as “normal” for those breeds.
Your job its’t to diagnose your dog - that’s what your vet is for. But I want you to be confident in recognizing when Khloe is good to go on that two day hike with you, or when Raider’s slowing gait is telling you he could use some help.
And, perhaps most importantly, I want to impart to you the habit of recognizing trends. While oftentimes it seems like a problem is absent one day, there the next - that is usually not the case. Animals in general are pros at masking problems until they can be stifled no more, then we see them and it seems they just appeared. But we can hone our senses to identify subtleties by watching trends.
So here we go.
*Note: The dog’s used as examples are real. While some scenarios are based on a particular dog’s real life, they are not all necessarily applicable to that specific pet, but are used for illustrative purposes only. Thanks to all of those who’ve shared their dog’s stories with me!
Normal #1: Activity
- A dog’s activity level should be relatively consistent from day to day.
This is the easiest thing to appreciate about your dog. The second you bring Tink, that fuzzy ball of joy home, what do you do? You play with her! She’s active! Dogs are built to move (err…most of them - we’ll talk about severely chondrodystrophic breeds another day) and will readily teach you what their normal activity level is.
You know Toby the terrier’s happy dance for treats and going outside, and you learn relatively quickly just how long Parker the Wirehaired Griffon is willing to play fetch.
If a dog is an exuberant, high energy individual-we should expect that go get ‘em attitude on a daily basis. If Cleo regularly walks a mile with you every evening, but this week has been slowing down before you’ve rounded to corner to head home, then you know her hips may be bothering her again and she may need more intervention to help keep her active.
Normal #2: Routines
-Dogs like routines, and will usually stick to them given the opportunity.
You know what I’m talking about. Skippy’s nails hit the floor at 6am and you know he’s trotting out the doggy door, then back to your bedside to beg for breakfast, wet feet and all.
Dogs are creatures of habit. And developing your habit of recognizing their habits will help you in identifying issues down the line.
Normal #3: Appetite
-A dog’s appetite should remain about the same through a given life-stage.
Knowing what to expect in your dog’s current stage of life is important for knowing what’s normal for them, and this applies to appetite as well.
Most puppies are thrilled to eat, and do so with reckless abandon. However, as they reach the peak of their growth and their caloric needs are plateauing, their appetites often decrease accordingly.
Yes, I know! You have a 5 year old Lab who’d eat ’til he explode if you let him - I know! They don’t all read the same rule book. Remember, this is a 30,000 foot overview - we’ll get into breed variations later. ;). For now, let’s accept that some dogs are more food-motivated than others, and this behavior stays relatively consistent after they’re finished growing.
If your dog is like Shade (our Kangal cross) - an annoyingly picky eater most of the time, a sudden onset of ravenous appetite would be a red flag. Conversely, if Izzy the Chihuahua has been faithfully cleaning up under high chairs for years, but has now left the mess for you to address two nights in a row, you know she’s telling you she doesn’t feel well.
Normal #4: Fluid balance - water intake & urine outputs
-Dogs’ water consumption should be proportional to their activity level & ambient temperature.
Urine outputs should remain consistent, as should urinary habits.
Keep a mental log of how much of the water bowl your dog drinks, on average, each day. Say Luci likes to lounge on her bed in the house during the day, and usually drinks about half of her bowl of water in 24 hours. But for a few days, despite no change in her activity, the bowl has had to be refilled twice a day. This is never normal. A significant increase in a dog’s water consumption, in the absence of increased energy expenditure or high ambient temperatures, is indicative of an underlying issue and should be investigated by a veterinarian.
Urination habits should remain consistent as well. A dog that is house trained should remain house trained - accidents in the house are a call for help. Frequency in urination shouldn’t change much either. If Maisie starts to wake you up at night to let her out to pee, when for years she’d made it through the night without a peep, it’s cause for closer observation.
Normal #5: Disposition and cognitive function
-A dog’s individual disposition may mellow with age, but should remain distinctly theirs.
-While cognitive decline is common in senior dogs, it should have a slow, gradual onset.
You know - dogs have such characters of their own, which should be relatively consistent through their lives, with the exception of the natural tempering which progresses with their years. A worried, suspicious-of-his-own-shadow, Trevor the Chihuahua may grow more trusting of the dark figure of himself on the ground, but he’ll persist in some level of anxiety throughout his life. And that’s just going to be Trevor.
As time transforms him into an ol’ gray-faced, senior guy, it’s not uncommon to see some cognitive dysfunction set in. But these changes should be gradual, and relatively slow in coming on.
Normal #6: Gastrointestinal stability
-Vomiting and diarrhea should be very occasional and mild through the life of a dog.
All dogs experience some level of gastrointestinal upset intermittently. However, this should be a rare occurrence and should not interfere with the dog’s appetite or energy level. Persistent vomiting or diarrhea, or GI upset accompanied by lethargy or inappetence should be addressed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Normal #7: Respiration
-A dog’s respiratory (breathing) rate and character should be consistent.
Breed variations come into play here. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs are prone to pant, snore, and breathe noisily, even at rest. Some are so severe, they require reconstructive surgery to allow them to breathe in a manner that is compatible with life.
However, if your dog is not brachycephalic, an onset of these respiratory signs would equal warning signs.
Watch how your dog breathes when she is sleeping. Get a mental picture of her respirations when she’s relaxed. As she ages, changes in sleeping respiratory rate and character (what breathing looks like) can be early indications of disease, such as cardiac or lung problems, which are best caught in their infancy.
Also keep an eye out for a consistent or predictable cough, especially in small breeds. If Winnie develops a cough that doesn’t necessarily slow her down, but crops up every time she exerts herself, we need to check it out.
Normal #8: Infrequent licking/scratching
-A normal dog is not persistently itchy. Period.
This is an easy one. A dog should not be perpetually chewing or scratching at themselves. If they are - as a human with an atrocious poison oak allergy - I assure you, the dog is miserable.
I also assure you that unless your dog has fleas, which is easily remedied, addressing the itchiness will be an exercise in frustration. It’s not easy. But it’s got to be done.
Normal #9: Body condition and conformation
-A dog demonstrates their normal body condition and conformation in their early years.
With a few exceptions, young dogs are well muscled, an acceptable weight for their frame, and are devoid of lumps & bumps. Thus, this standard set in youth is a good gauge against which to measure deviations as your dog ages.
Jack is a youthful, muscular, pit mix who uses his fit body to chase delivery trucks off his property - the joy of his life. In the interest of maintaining his happiness, even with age we want his muscle mass to stay consistent and symmetrical over his topline and down his limbs, his skin and coat to stay smooth, and his belly to maintain its taper from his sternum to his flank.
Normal #10: Ambulation
-A normal gait will include all 4 paws hitting the ground with relatively equal pressure, coming up off of the ground at a regular rate to a consistent elevation, with the head remaining in a level position.
There are obvious signs of lameness, like holding a paw up in the air. But what if you just start to notice that as Desi trots to put the escapee horse away away (again), her head bobs up every time her left front leg touches down? You’ve just identified a left forelimb lameness that she just isn’t complaining about. And for a big dog like her, the sooner you address it, the more longevity she will have as she ages.
Watch for subtle imbalances when your dog is walking, head bobbing at a walk or trotting gait, sluggishness in getting the hind end up in the mornings, excessive wear of toenails on one paw compared to the others (especially hind paws), scuffing a paw when walking, skipping on a hind leg (little dogs in particular), bearing weight on the tops of the toes or standing with hind legs crossed. These can all be signs of orthopedic and/or neurologic dysfunction - processes which for the most part, can be significantly slowed if addressed sooner than later.
This is far from an exhaustive list of canine normals, and I’m sure I’ll be back periodically to edit and add to the information provided here. Every body system carries its own index of them are far beyond the scope of this discourse.
I do hope this foundational discussion has helped you to start to look at canine husbandry from a new angle, and has put a little confidence in your back pocket for when you need it down the road. Cultivation of good husbandry is a process, it builds on itself and evolves the longer you it’s practiced. I hope this marks another step away from management by emergency, and toward comfort with what is normal, development of your husbandry senses, identification and appreciation of trends, while keeping time on your side.
Give that good dog of yours an extra scratch under the collar today.
Cheers.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only, and does not replace the advice of your own veterinarian. A valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), is required in order to diagnose or treat your animal. If you are concerned that your animal is ill, please contact your local veterinarian.