Are there times you wished you had written something down?
Your dog has a less-than-perfect poop today, and you wonder what could have caused it. You notice your dog’s hacking cough is happening more often, and you try to remember how long this has been going on. Your dog hesitates when he tries to jump on the couch or climb stairs, and you wonder if you need to adjust his joint supplement dosage.
These are just some of the cases where a dog journal can come in handy.
At the beginning of this year, my dog developed an ear infection. Piecing together what could have contributed to his yeast buildup became a challenge, as there were many changes occurring before and after the holidays.
That’s when I finally decided to start a journal for my dog.
In it, I record everything from diet choices to behavioural changes. In just one month, I have already seen the benefit of this new habit. For instance, I can alter his diet or bones based on bowel movements. Or I can make a change to address noticeable signs of body detox.
A journal helps you retrace your steps, put two and two together, so you can make adjustments along the way or consult professionals for more information.
It doesn’t have to be a complicated commitment. Just purchase a simple daily planner from an office supplies store. Depending on the planner, ensure there is adequate space for each day to record all the information you need for your dog. If you have multiple dogs, I suggest using a separate journal for each one (or it may get confusing).
I purchased a weekly Day Minder for my dog’s journal. It displays a week at a glance when opened to two pages, with ample room for each day’s recordings. If your dog has many medical issues, you may need a planner with one full page per day.
Teko checks out the specs of his journal.
Here are some of the observations you can include in your dog’s journal:
1. Diet
If you feed your dog the same thing every day, this may not be relevant. But if you feed a variety of meats and bones (in a raw diet), this can be very valuable information when your dog experiences any digestive problems like diarrhea or constipation. Don’t forget to include all the treats your dog has consumed each day. In addition, write down all portion changes when addressing a weight problem.
2. Supplements
Record the type of supplement and dosage. Some supplements are added on an “as needed” basis. Others are given daily. You might need to alter the dosage, depending on additional information you acquire or based on your dog’s needs. You might use some supplements to address a short-term problem only, like Slippery Elm Bark powder (for digestive upset), which we discussed in a previous post. If you give the same supplements daily, you don’t need to record it every single day. Just write down any new additions or eliminations.
3. Medicine
Depending on your dog’s condition, it can take time to fine-tune an effective dosage. Recording your dog’s response to each dose amount can help you find the proper one. Also, it’s crucial to keep track of any reactions. A journal is also helpful when administering homeopathic treatments, as you may need to keep track of type, amount, and dose for multiple remedies.
4. Health Care Treatments
Record veterinary and other health care providers’ suggestions, prescriptions, and treatments. If your dog receives acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, or hydrotherapy sessions, write down noticeable benefits you see, prices of treatments, and your dog’s reaction. This information can help you tailor a health care plan that suits the individual needs of your dog.
5. Behaviour Changes
This may include: disinterest in food; changes in mood (might indicate pain); obsessive licking or chewing of paws; increased scratching.
6. Body Changes
Examples: Weight gain or loss; bowel movements; coat quality; changes in muscle mass; bad breath (teeth or gum problem); eye or nose discharge (sign of body detoxification); lumps (size changes); change in gait (limping); persistent coughs or sneezes; excessive panting.
7. Exercise
Write down anything significant that may have occurred during a walk, the length of the walk, the dogs you met up with, and where you went. You may notice your dog quickly eat something off the ground. This may be important later, depending on what it was. There may also be something interesting to observe during a play session.
8. Training
If you’re trying out some training techniques, it’s helpful to record what worked and what didn’t, so you can discuss this with your trainer or research solutions for yourself. Recording daily progress allows you to see how far your dog has come in a concrete way.
It may sound like a lot of work, but it really isn’t. You don’t have to write in the journal every single day. But if you remember to write down changes and observations that are out of normal, it can be a helpful guide when you really need to solve a problem or discuss symptoms with a health care professional.
