Often times a disease will cause discharges from different body orifices, including the eyes, ears, nose, and anus. Many sick dogs are left feeling miserable by the accumulation of the discharge that they cannot remove and can irritate underlying tissues.

Here are a few easy cleansing methods that offer great relief to your pet:

Eyes: In order to clean crusts and secretions from the eyes and eyelids, you can make a natural, non-irritating salt solution by mixing teaspoon of sea salt to a cup of filtered or distilled water. Stir the mixture well and use it to clean the eyes using a cloth or gauze. Once the eyes are clean, apply one drop of one of the following natural treatments in each eye: You can use almond oil for a mild irritation, castor oil for more irritated and inflamed eyes, or cod-liver oil for eyes that are extremely dry or ulcerated.

Ears: For ears that contain too much oily or waxy secretion, drop about teaspoon of almond oil into the ear hole. You can do this by using a dropper or a squeeze bottle. To start the procedure, warm the oil in a cup that is partly immersed in a sink or a bowl of hot water. Gently but firmly lift the ear flap or tip. Have someone help you hold the dog's head to keep it in place and also keep the dog distracted. If you let go or the dog pulls away before you finish with the procedure, he will shake the oil all over you. Make sure the almond oil runs down into his ear for a few seconds. As you are holding the ear flap, reach down with your other hand and gently massage the outside of the ear canal at the bottom of the ear opening. It will feel like a firm plastic tube that you can compress as you massage. When done right, you should hear a squishy sound. This procedure loosens up and dissolves the lodged wax. Use a tissue to remove the excess oil and debris. Use a cotton swab to wipe around the ear opening, but never inside the ear canal.

Nose: Carefully clean the secretion using a cloth or gauze saturated with warm water. This procedure takes patience because it involves waiting for the debris to soften so you can easily remove it. It may be necessary to have two or three short sessions instead of a single long one. Once the nose is clean and dry, gently smear the area with almond oil, either alone or mixed with vitamin E oil from a capsule. Repeat the process two to three times a day.

Anus: The anus will often get inflamed because of excessive diarrhea which causes the surrounding tissue to become irritated and get infected with bacteria. When the dog is suffering from diarrhea, you can keep the anus clean by dabbing it gently using a damp cloth. Do not rub the area to avoid further irritation. Pat it dry and apply calendula ointment two to three times a day.

Practice basic check-ups with our dog for early detection of disease

In order to keep health problems in your dog from getting serious, you need to detect them early. Sometimes just watching your pet and catching abnormal behavior can tell you that there is something wrong, even before the actual signs start to appear. Therefore, it is necessary to give your dog a basic check-up about once a week. This check-up takes no more than a few minutes, and it can help prevent problems as well as expenses down the road.

Start with a body rub. This makes your pet comfortable. While giving him his rub, check for any signs of flaking or scabs which can be a sign of parasites, a skin disorder, or allergies.

Also check for any lumps and bumps. Although they are a normal part of aging in dogs, they can also be a symptom that there is something wrong. Check for any swelling that could indicate parasites, heart trouble, or cancer.

His breathing should be smooth and quiet, unless he is panting. If his breathing is raspy or rattling, he could have a respiratory problem.

Your dog's heartbeat should be regular and strong. To check for his pulse, place your hand against his chest by his left elbow. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply it by four. The rate should range between 60 and 160.

Examine his ears, eyes, and mouth and check for any signs of abnormalities.