Which health signs should I check every day?

Short answer: remember five things — eating, droppings, urine, alertness and weight. Two minutes a day helps you spot changes early.

1. Eating — comes running at the sound of a bag; hay visibly goes down.

2. Droppings — oval, well-formed, dark brown and plentiful; sudden smaller or fewer droppings need attention.

3. Urine — pale yellow to orange, occasional white sediment is common; red urine or straining needs a vet.

4. Alertness — bright eyes, glossy coat, moving and exploring.

5. Weight — weigh weekly at the same time; a drop of over 5% in a week means calling a vet.