Snout to Tail Assessment… Or, the vital tracking of your pet’s health and wellness Ingrid Braulini - Grantham, NH
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n other articles I have referred to the Snout to Tail Assessment as the most vital health practice you can do for your pet along with an annual vet checkup. Although I will be concentrating on dogs and cats in this article, I urge you to research the fundamental baseline for your particular pet’s health whether it be a ferret, a pot-bellied pig, parrot, or a bearded dragon. These fundamentals are heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, capillary refill time (not possible in nonmammals), mucous membrane color, and weight. Although not always easy to determine they are an important part of establishing general health. As soon as you acquire a pet, establish its individual baseline, and track it at least monthly (I do my dogs and cats when they get their flea and tick meds) and compare it to the month before. Please keep track of this so you can refer to it and share it with your vet as needed.
16 4 Legs & a Tail
When you begin an assessment be reminded that most mammals find this a wonderful bonding experience. After starting with full-body caresses and gentle, reassuring words, you start at the head beginning with the snout. It is not accurate that the snout needs to be cold and wet. What it needs to be is pliable and soft. There should be no discharge, nor should there be a cracked, dry nose. Run your fingers along the muzzle checking for bumps and cuts. Be gentle in lifting her muzzle to investigate the mouth. The gums (mucous membranes) are a sign of the immediate health of your pet and should be bubble-gum pink (unless you have an animal with black gums). If they seem white or very pale this can be a sign of anemia or shock. If they are yellow, or yellow-tinged, it can be jaundice or a liver issue. If they are grey or blue, it can signify a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) or shock. Her teeth should be white and
there should be no unusual bad breath. Now is the ideal time to check the CRT (capillary refill time) by pressing down on the gums gently but firmly and releasing. It should only take 1.5-2 seconds to have the color fill back in. Any longer time may mean “circulatory shock” as in cases of poisoning, heat exhaustion, and others. Now check her eyes. They should be clear with no discharge, should track movement, not be pinpointed, dilated, or unequal. As you move to her ears check the skull. It should be free of lumps, bumps, with no pain response, heat, or fluid. The ears should have no odor, no discharge, debris, or be painful to the touch. Anchoring the spine at the neck with one hand, slide the other down her neck and spine checking for bumps, tenderness, sores, or abrasions. As you begin checking the chest you may prefer to have your pet on her side for better access.
Summer 2021
