How to Check a Puppy to Make Sure It Is Healthy

Look at the puppy's environment. The environment the puppy is raised in gives clues to its health. Signs that the puppy has not been raised in the best environment include the following: if it is very dirty, too cold or too hot; if there are other animals there that do not look well cared for; or if no clean water or food is visible in the living quarters (however, it may not be a problem if there is no water or food in a puppy showing area.)

Compare all the puppies, as well as adult dogs. All animals should be healthy-looking and reasonably clean. Puppies are sometimes hard to keep perfectly clean, but there is a difference between a puppy that just rolled in the food dish and one that has not been cleaned for weeks.

Examine the puppy's teeth and gums. The gums should be moist and somewhat bright pink, and the teeth should be bright white, with none missing (unless the puppy has started to lose "baby teeth.") If the gums are very pale, it could indicate an illness. Teeth should be straight, and for most puppies, should close in a scissor bite. Check the breed standard if you are looking at pure-bred puppies. Some breeds, such as the English bulldog, are prone to crooked or missing teeth, so it may not always be a consideration.

Feel the puppy's body and belly. The fur should be soft and shiny. There should not be hairless patches or red, crusty skin. You should not feel any lumps and bumps, with the exception of a possible lump between the shoulder blades from vaccination. Sores on the puppy's body could indicate poor care, but could also be from a reasonable injury -- consider the size and location. Fleas or signs of fleas, such as scratching, tiny scabs over a large portion of the skin, or tiny black dots that fall off when the fur is ruffled, indicate poor care. The fleas can be remedied, but you'll have to have the veterinarian check for anemia, tapeworms or other problems, particularly if the puppy is heavily infested. The puppy should be plump, but a large, round, firm belly is an indication of worms. Most puppies have worms when they are born, but if the puppy has received proper care, it should have been wormed a few times before being old enough to go to a new home.

Check for dehydration or signs of diarrhea. Gently pinch up the loose skin on the back of the pup's neck, and then let it go. If it is slow to fall back down, the pup may be dehydrated, either from illness or lack of proper care. Sometimes a puppy may be somewhat dehydrated even if the skin falls back quickly, so take the puppy's overall appearance into consideration. Inspect the puppy's rear end for redness, swelling or other signs of irritation and diarrhea.

Look inside the ears and check the eyes. The ears should be clean, with no discharge, bad odor or black debris. Eyes should be bright and clear, moist, and without redness or inflammation. Make sure the eyelids are not turned in toward the eyeball, and there is no sign of scratches or injury.

Examine the pup for straight legs, well-formed paws and well-developed muscle for its age. A young puppy of any breed usually has loose, wrinkled skin, but the puppy should be well-balanced, with well-developed muscles, head and legs.

Visit the puppies on different days, at different times, if possible. Young puppies play hard and sleep hard. They play in very short, intense bursts, and spend a large part of the day sleeping. You won't know If you happen to visit when the pups are tired or if the puppies seem tired because they are sick. Even if some puppies in a litter are active and others are sleepy, you can't be sure if it indicates a health problem. It also cannot reliably indicate the puppy's energy level, and more than one family has adopted the "quiet" puppy only to realize later that it was just sleepy at the time they picked it.