New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- Most of us know our pets incredibly well. Yet many pet parents never actually stop to examine their pet from nose to tail unless they are giving them a bath or brushing their coat. The irony is that some of the most important health problems are first detected at home. A small lump, gradual weight loss, or a subtle change in breathing is often noticed by an observant pet parent long before it causes obvious illness. Spending just 5 minutes once a month giving your pet a simple health check can make a remarkable difference. You do not need any medical training to do it. You simply need to know what is normal for your pet.

Start with the nose and face. A warm or dry nose does not automatically mean a pet is unwell. In...