HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SICK DOG
DOG 11
Minor illnesses
Never give your dog human medicines without consulting your vet – they can be dangerous.
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Always consult the vet if your dog is young (under six months) or elderly, or if symptoms
persist over 24 hours. If your dog is vomiting, don’t feed it. Sometimes an upset tummy will cause
excessive drinking which produces further vomiting – so offer small amounts of water
at frequent intervals.
Wait 12 hours after vomiting has stopped and then offer a small quantity (a teaspoon to a
desert spoon, depending on your pet’s size) of bland food, such as boiled chicken with the
skin removed, white fish such as cod or coley, or scrambled egg. Tinned fish such as tuna or
sardines is not a good idea, as it is too oily and rich. If this is kept down, offer a little more
after a couple of hours. Maintain a bland diet for a day or two – add plain boiled white rice if
you like – then start mixing in normal food. Dogs with diarrhoea should also be fed in this
way. Little and often is more easily digested.
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Skin irritation Sometimes dogs get ‘hot spots’ – red itchy patches that cause persistent licking or scratching. Constant licking doesn’t heal – it produces more damage and discomfort. Stop your dog licking by fitting an Elizabethan or a ‘bucket’ collar. Soothe the skin with cool salt water (a teaspoon of salt to a pint of water) bathing or ice application, and apply witch hazel or camomile lotion until you can consult the vet. If you think that fleas are the problem, remember that the most effective products for flea control are bought at the vets. |
Home nursing for invalids
Follow the vet’s instructions and report any deterioration or difficulties to the surgery.
Remember to check before the weekend that you have enough medication.
• Tempting appetite
Sick dogs often don’t feel like eating. Try offering a small quantity of something tasty –
such as cooked chicken with gravy, or tempting invalid foods that can be obtained from
the vet. Serve warm to release an aroma. Hand feed small morsels. Some dogs adore
cat food. Don’t leave uneaten food down – try something fresh later.
• Bedding
Provide a warm quiet area for your dog with a thick bed. Hot water bottles must be
wrapped in a towel to prevent burning. You can buy special heater pads at the pet shop.
• Bathing
Clean discharges from the eyes or nose with warm water, and check that your dog is not
soiled with urine or faeces. Wash this off using a baby shampoo, carefully clip hair if
necessary, minding that you don’t cut the skin. Rinse off and dry – be careful not to burn
the skin if you use a hairdryer. Vaseline applied to bare skin prevents irritation from urine.
Gentle grooming can increase comfort.
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Lifting Sick dogs sometimes find it difficult to stand up. Larger animals can be helped to their feet by passing a large towel under the tummy from one side to the other. The ends are then held together above the back to form a sling supporting the weight. This may then allow the dog to walk. |
Arthritis
Limping or stiff dogs should be rested with only gentle exercise (five to ten minute walks).
Consult the vet about treatment if lameness is persistent or recurrent. Dogs that suffer with
arthritis should be exercised little and often – about 20 to 30 minutes two to three times a
day is ideal. Reduce this if your pet is limping on the journey home.
Arthritis will sometimes flare-up and cause your pet to become very lame for a few days. If this happens, let your dog rest completely for 48 hours with just a short trip out on the lead to go to the toilet. A pet heater pad or a wrapped hot water bottle may help in cold weather.
