Do a weekly checkup. Start at the nose and work to the tail, “feeling and looking for any abnormalities”—like pale gums (a symptom of anemia), any discharge (infection), or potentially cancerous lumps. Learning what’s normal will help you identify problems sooner.
Clean the teeth. Dental disease can cause heart, liver, and kidney problems, so brush daily with animal toothpaste. Dental chew treats also help.
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