Body Handling

Body handling can be a significant stressor for dogs when they visit the vet or when you need to provide home nursing care. The stress can be reduced by introducing this type of contact slowly, in a positive context, with you as their trusted human. Most dogs are more relaxed after good exercise and mental stimulation, which may be a good time to try these exercises. When introducing them to your dog, the goal is to keep them out of fight, flight, or freeze mode. If your dog is stressed, tense, or wants to stop participating, it is best to end the activity. Food rewards can be helpful.

If you have a particularly sensitive dog, break the exercise down and introduce one step with positive reinforcement for brief periods over several days until they no longer seem stressed. Then add the next step and repeat this process until they have mastered the whole exercise.

Paws and Claws

• Hold the leg firmly above the foot, using the other hand to move the foot. 

• Gently observe the top and bottom of the foot.

• Separate and extend each toe individually, making sure to look in between the toes on the top and bottom of the foot. 

• Gently press down on the toe joints, one toe at a time, to straighten it, making the nail stick out farther than the other nails and hold that position.

• Don’t forget the dewclaw (thumb) if your dog has them.

Eyes

• With your dog’s head gently resting on one hand, place your other hand on the top of your dog's head. 

• Without lifting your hand, move the hand on top of your dog’s head to the outer edge of the eye. 

• Rest your thumb and index finger on the upper and lower eyelids and gently move apart. 

• Look to ensure you can see all of the colored parts of the eye.

Mouth

• With your dog’s head gently resting on one hand, place your other hand on the top of the muzzle. 

• Gently lift the lips up and back to see all the teeth. Dogs, without previous extractions, have teeth that extend back to below their eyes, but they often tense their lips to prevent you seeing them. 

• Switch sides and repeat. 

• To brush teeth, start with a soft finger brush, and repeat the above steps and then gently massage the finger brush where the teeth meet the gums. Dogs only get their teeth brushed on the cheek side, NOT tongue side. Once your pet has mastered the finger brush you can switch to toothbrush if you prefer.

• To open the mouth, hold the muzzle behind the canines and stretch their nose to the sky. 

• Use your other hand to gently pull down the lower jaw. This can be helpful to look at their throat, between their large chewing teeth, or under their tongue.

Ears

• When your dog is resting with their head on or near your lap, move your hand to where the ear meets the head. 

• Flip open the ear keeping hold of the ear flap.

• Move the flap in a gentle arch while slightly pulled away from the head to see down into the ear.

• Replace the ear and give them an ear rub if they enjoy it.

Tail

• Start with your hand on their back and slide down to the tail. 

• Wrap your thumb and index finger around the tail. 

• Gently feel all the way down the tail to then end. 

• With your hand near the base of the tail, gently move the tail in all directions.