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Dog's examination and defining of his / her state
1. Examination of sick dog may be started from hair and skin. Separate hair, then thoroughly examine skin and hairless parts of belly and inner side of legs (thighs). If there's suspicion about parasites, use loupe to check.
2. Then define if there's any secretion from eyes and other bodies. Examining eyes, carefully pull lower lid down. Mouth mucosa can be examined easily. To do it, slightly turn up upper lip from the side. If it's possible to open dog's mouth, you will be able to fully examine oral cavity including mucosa, teeth, tongue, etc.
3. Auricle and ear canal shall be viewed in a good light: first raise an ear and open auricle.
4. Intestine state (tenderness, overfill by gases or dung) may be defined by palpation through the abdomen in the inguinal area; inspector is better to stand behind the dog. If dog owner or instructor has some skills, one may use this way to define the level of the ladder fill. Excretion character may be noticed while walking.
5. Thermometry and defining of respiration and pulse rate will help to draw full and exact picture of dog's illness, what is very important to make the correct diagnosis and treatment.
• Thermometry
Skin thermometry using veterinary or medical thermometer, as said before, lets to define dog's state more correctly. As a rule, dog owners use simple medical thermometers. To measure skin thermometry apply vaseline oil onto one tip of thermometer; pick up dog in arms, put sidelong or stand; carefully place the thermometer to the anus so that mercury tip of thermometer should be in the large intestine. If you use mercury thermometer, shake it to make mercury go to the down mark.
Keep thermometer for 3 minutes. After measuring and recording of temperature clear the dung, wash the thermometer in warm soap water and cleanse.
Thermometry is better to be performed at the same hours: 7—9 AM, 5—7 PM.
 Rottweiler's normal skin temperature is 38,5°C / 101,3°F (A. Ringer).
• Defining of respiration rate
Rottweiler's owner must also be able to define dog's respiration rate what is important for both making the diagnosis, and treatment of respiratory system complications.
Respiration rate may be stated counting quantity of inspirations or expirations during a minute using way of enlisted below:
– inspection of chest and belly move;
– inspection of alae of the nose move;
– place palms to the chest to feel inspiratory moves.
Normal quantity of inspirations and expirations for healthy rottweiler is 10–20 times per minute (A.Ringer).
This range of respiration rate depends on many factors. For instance, bitches' respiration rate is higher than males' one; and pregnant or nursing dogs have larger respiration rate, than non-pregnant. Dog' position affects respiration a lot. Animals breath easier when stand. Upon heart diseases or respiratory illnesses animals sit to ease the inspiration.
Hour and season influence inspiration too. Dog's respiration rate is lower at night in rest. It is higher in summer heat and in frowzy flats with high humidity. Dogs breath smoothly and quietly in winter in rest. Muscle work screws up the respiration rate. Pet's excitability does matter. Stranger coming or new ambience may cause hurried breathing.
What shall we understand? Grow of respiration rate may be result of deviation only if it can't be explained by aforesaid reasons and if it lasts long.
• Count of heart beats and pulse rate
To make the diagnosis not only thermometry and defining of respiration rate, but also count of heart beats and pulse rate are important. Heart beat may be easily felt if place palm to the left side of dog's chest under the shoulder blade.
Pulse rate may be found if place fingers to the femoral artery on the inner side if thigh.
Rottweiler's pulse rate shall range from 70 to 100 per minute (A.Ringer).
This range is reasoned: younger dogs have higher pulse rate than elder ones; males' pulse rate is less than bitches' one. Stuffiness, heat, muscle work, emotional disorder make pulse rate grow. Respiration and pulse rate grow also due to sicknesses followed by temperature rise.
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Temperature — 38,5°C / 101,3°F
