Summary: In this episode, I will teach you how to do a weekly, 5-minute scan at home that will help you understand your dog on a whole new level. This scan is a hybrid of a petting your dog and a pattern of scanning his/her body in a repeatable way. Petting meets pattern so I’ve dubbed it THE PETTERN. By practicing this simple, hands-on PETTERN repeatedly over time, I hope you will develop a better relationship with your veterinarian and become more informed about your dog’s health. Every day veterinarians leverage knowledge, skill, and experience to detect abnormalities, put together the pieces to make a diagnosis, and then formulate the optimal treatment plan. My goal is not to replace your vet. The practice act for every state in the United States says that diagnosis and treatment can only be done by licensed veterinarians. I don’t want you to diagnose anything; I just want you to be observant and proactive in watching for changes. This will empower you to embrace your roll as your dog’s first line of defense so that you can work with your veterinarian to fast track diagnosis and treatment. Just like human medicine, early detection is key to successful outcomes in most cases. Always remember that you are your dog's voice. You are your dog's advocate. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to help equip you for that role.
