| First and foremost, if the
animal is in pain, you may want to use a muzzle before stepping
in. Any dog may bite out of fear given the circumstances, so be
sure to protect yourself. |
| Apply pressure to stop
bleeding from a puncture wound or deep cut with a clean cloth until you
can get medical attention. |
| Overweight animals, and
those with long or thick coats can be at increased risk for heat
stroke. Be sure to provide proper shelter, and fresh water during
summer months. If your dog is overly active, or high strung, you
may contemplate a quiet space in the house during the heat of the day. |
| Do not use any type of
ointments, oils, or creams to sooth burns (contact your vet
immediately)! |
| Bite or puncture wounds are
easily infected, make sure you clean them immediately and thoroughly. |
| Most of the chemicals found
in a normal household are poisonous. make sure to keep them put
away, but in the case of contact, refer to poison control. |
| Use a baking soda paste
(mixed with water) to sooth discomfort from a bee sting. |
| Use vinegar to relieve the
discomfort of a wasp sting. |
| Use Benadryl or an
antihistamine to reduce swelling from an insect bite. In the case
of a severe reaction to an insect bite, pursue IMMEDIATE care. |
| Cutting toe nails to short
can often be a messy experience and also cause the dog to bleed for a
long period of time. If you have superglue, dry the nail the best
you can and add a dab of superglue to the end of the nail and adhere a
small piece of tissue (like a man would to a knick on his face from
shaving). Repeat this process if necessary. |
| Hot Spots - Clean the area
well with a mild soapy water, and clip any hair sticking to to the
top. The first thing is to create an open ventilation, so the hot
spot can breathe. Keep the area clean for the first 24 hours, if
you don't see any drying and healing, contact your vet for an antibiotic
ointment. |
To determine whether your
pet's diarrhea requires a veterinarian's care, ask yourself the
following questions:
1. Is the diarrhea associated with sever vomiting
and a lack of appetite?
2. Is your pet sensitive to having it's abdomen touched?
3. Is your pet current with all of it's vaccinations?
4. Does your pet seem dehydrated?
5. Has the condition persisted for longer than 24 hours?
6. Do you feel that your pet might have come in contact with or
ingested material that could be toxic (house plants included)?
7. Does your pet have a preexisting medical condition or is your
pet elderly?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, the diarrhea your pet is
experiencing could be serious and warrants a trip to a veterinarian. |
| Dogs scooting their behinds
across the grass or carpet is not always a sign of worms. Your dog
could be experiencing impacted or infected anal glands. |
