Puppy Care

Home Care For One Of The Most Common Conditions In Dogs

None of these articles are intended to take the place of your veterinarian's advice but to help you make good informed decisions if you can't see a vet for some reason.

Following you will find info on:

     Home care for the Vomiting Dog
     Hone care for the Dog with Diarrhea
     Home Care for the Dog with an Ear Infection
     Home Care for the Dog with a Laceration

Home Care for the Vomiting Dog
Most pets will vomit occasionally. It happens. When it does, many pet owners will call to ask a local veterinarian for advice rather than bring their dog in to the clinic to be seen. I understand why people do this, but vets can't really give you advice without having a client-patient relationship.

Every pet parent should know how to care for a vomiting pet, so I'd like you to read this article.

Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms dogs have. It can be a minor problem or a very significant major problem. As a pet owner, you may not know what to do when this happens, so this article will focus on what you can do for your pet at home.

Here are some of the most common questions pet owners ask about vomiting.

What is vomiting?

Vomiting is the act of expelling contents from the stomach through the mouth.

What causes vomiting?

Vomiting can be caused by a variety of problems including eating too quickly, eating too much, eating something that is not digestible, eating a different type of food, eating spoiled food or eating garbage. Vomiting can also indicate a systemic problem such as cancer, kidney failure, diabetes and other infectious diseases.

What can I do at home?

Specific home treatments are dependent on the cause of the vomiting. Here is the general approach to treat a vomiting dog:

If your pet vomits once and then eats normally with no further vomiting, has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own.

If you can find any predisposing cause such as exposure to trash, change in diet or eating plants, always eliminate the source of the problem.

If your dog vomits several times and you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

- Administer only prescribed medications. Please check with your veterinarian before giving ANY medications.

- Withhold food and water for three to four hours. Oftentimes the stomach lining may be very irritated. Some dogs will want to eat even though their stomach is irritated, and they will continue to vomit. Give the stomach time to rest for a few hours.

- After waiting the three to four hours, if your pet has not vomited, offer small amounts of water (a few tablespoons at a time). Continue to offer small amounts of water ever 20 minutes or so until your pet is hydrated. Don't allow your dog to over-drink as this may lead to more vomiting.

- If there has been no vomiting after the small increments of water are offered, then you may gradually offer a bland diet.

- Small frequent feedings of a bland digestible diet such as: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat are usually recommended. You can make a homemade diet of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Feed small amounts at a time. Don't over feed as your dog may eat the entire bowl and vomit again. Feed a meatball-size portion. If there is no vomiting, offer a small amount more about one hour later. Give small amounts frequently – every three to four hours for the first day. You can gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency as your dog tolerates.

- Many veterinarians recommend Pepcid AC® (generic name is Famotidine) to decrease stomach acid. This helps many pets. The dosage most commonly used is 0.25 to 0.5 mg per pound (0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg) every 12 to 24 hours. A 20-pound dog should get about 5 mg to 10 mg total dose once to twice daily. This is an oral medication, which can be found at most pharmacies in the antacid section. Pepcid (Famotidine) does not require a prescription. It is often used for three to five days.

- Feed a bland diet for two days.

- Then gradually return to regular dog food over the next one to two days. At first, mix a little of your dog's regular food into the bland diet. Feed that for one meal. Then feed a 50/50 mix for one meal. Then feed ¾ dog food and ¼ bland diet for a meal. Then, return to feeding your dog's regular food.

- Leash-walk your pet to allow observation of bowel movements, normal urinations and any additional vomiting that may otherwise occur without your knowledge.

- This is important! If vomiting continues at any time or the onset of other symptoms is noted, call your veterinarian promptly. If your pet is not eating, acts lethargic, has continued vomiting or has any other physical abnormalities mentioned above, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your pet needs your help and the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Those recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When is vomiting an emergency?

If the vomiting continues after your pet eats, or if your pet acts lethargic or doesn't want to eat, then medical attention is warranted. See your veterinarian.

If your dog is losing weight, if you see blood in the vomit or if your dog has ineffective vomiting (he is retching but unable to product vomit), this is an important medical emergency. It can be caused by a life-threatening emergency called Bloat. Seek veterinary treatment immediately.

Home Care for the Dog with Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common problem seen in veterinary clinics. In fact, is it one of the most common reasons people take their do to a vet.

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is the act of having abnormally loose or liquid stools. This can also be associated with an increased frequency of bowel movements. Some dogs will have a large amount of liquid or abnormally loose stools once and others will have semi-formed stools frequently with straining.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and it is an important sign of intestinal disease in dogs.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many different conditions. It can be caused a number of problems including:

A change in the dog's food

Eating garbage or food that does not agree with their system

Eating indigestible objects

Infectious agents including bacterial, viral or parasites

Systemic problems such as pancreatitis, kidney disease or liver disease

It can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.

Home Treatment of Diarrhea

Specific treatments of diarrhea are dependent on the cause. Here is the general approach to dealing with a dog with acute diarrhea:

If your pet has diarrhea once then has a normal bowel movement without further diarrhea or has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own.

If you can identify it, always eliminate any predisposing cause such as exposure to trash, abrupt change in diet and eating plants.

If your dog has diarrhea and vomiting (gastroenteritis), we recommend that you see your veterinarian – don't attempt home care.

If diarrhea occurs several times and you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

- Administer only prescribed medications by your veterinarian.

- Stop feeding your dog for the first 12 to 24 hours.

- If there is no vomiting, provide plenty of fresh clean water or oral rehydrating solutions to help prevent dehydration.

- Temporarily change the diet to something bland. Bland diets can be made at home or prescription type diets can be obtained from your veterinarian. A bland digestible diet such as: Hill's prescription diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat is usually recommended. You can make a homemade diet of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Feed small amounts at a time. Don't over feed as it may induce vomiting. Feed a meatball size portion and if there is no vomiting for a full hour, offer a small amount more. Give small amounts frequently – every 3 to 4 hours for the first day. You can gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency as your dog tolerates.

- Feed a bland diet for 2 days.

- Then gradually return to regular dog food over the next day or two. At first, mix in a little of your dog's food into the bland diet. Feed that for one meal. Then feed a 50/50 mix for one meal. Then feed ¾ dog food and ¼ bland diet for a meal. Then feed your dog's regular food.

- Leash-walk your pet to allow observation of bowel movements while watching for normal urinations and any vomiting that may occur otherwise without you knowing.

- Observe your dog's general activity and appetite. Watch closely for the presence of blood in the stool, worsening of signs or the onset of vomiting.

- Have your pet examined by your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

- Some veterinarians recommend Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate (for dogs only!) ® The active ingredients are generally subsalicylate and Bismuth. Two tablespoons of Pepto-Bismol contain almost as much salicylate as one aspirin tablet (which is toxic to cats). Do NOT give cats Pepto-bismol or Kaopectate! The subsalicylate, an aspirin-like compound, can decrease diarrhea caused by intestinal infections. The bismuth agent is a chalk-like compound designed to coat the lining of the stomach and intestines. This helps some pets with diarrhea. The typical dose administered to dogs amounts to approximately two teaspoons (10 ml total) per 10 pounds per day, ideally split between two to four doses. This be found at most pharmacies and does not require a prescription. It is often used for one to two days. DO NOT USE IN CATS.

- Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. Please do not administer to cats without first consulting with a veterinarian to avoid toxicity.

- This is important! If the diarrhea continues at any time or the onset of other symptoms are noted, call your veterinarian promptly. If your pet is not eating, starts vomiting, acts lethargic, has continued diarrhea or any other physical abnormalities mentioned above, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your pet needs the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When Is Diarrhea an Emergency?

If the diarrhea continues after your pet eats or if your pet acts lethargic, doesn't want to eat and/or starts vomiting, then medical attention is warranted. Please see your Veterinarian!

Home Care of the Dog with an Ear Infection

Ear infections are very common in dogs. An ear infection, also known by the medical term Otitis Externa (which means inflammation of the outer ear), is a common condition that may affect more than 20% of all dogs. In fact, it is one of the top 10 reasons dogs go to their veterinarian.

Below are some common questions dog owners ask about ear infections. The focus of this article will be "what you can do at home".

What Is an Ear Infection?

An ear infection is an infection of the ear canal. Most commonly it occurs in the outer ear but it can also extend to the inner ear.

What Causes Ear Infections?

Several factors can predispose dogs to ear infections including long floppy ears, water or hair in the ears, allergies, trauma, tumors, foreign material in the ears, allergies, autoimmune disease and generalized skin diseases.

A common question pet owners ask is, "How can I treat an ear infection at home?"

Home Treatment of Ear Infections

Specific treatments of ear infections are dependent on the underlying cause. Here is the general approach to treating ear infections:

Be able to hold your dog to evaluate the ear. If you notice blood or extreme redness and irritation, the best thing to do is to see your veterinarian. Many infections require prescription antibiotics.

If your dog is shaking his head and/or has ear discharge and you can not take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

Administer only prescribed medications. Please check with your veterinarian before giving ANY medications to your dog. Do not put anything in your dog's ear that was not made for the ear.

One issue with ear infections is that they can have different underlying causes. For example, ear infections can be caused by any of the following: ear mites, fungal organisms and/or bacteria. Many dogs with ear infections have allergies as a predisposing cause. To be most effective, the medications for each cause can be different.

If possible, clean the debris from the ear. Use a commercial ear cleaner, which you can get at your veterinarian's office or at many pet stores. Here are some tips on how to clean your dog's ear.

- Restrain your dog. Start by wrapping your small dog in a large thick towel with just the head exposed. Or, if you have a larger dog, let someone help by holding your dog's body and legs.

- Clean the ear lobe. Using a cotton ball, paper towel or gauze sponges moistened with water. Gently rub the large pieces of dirt, wax and debris off the ear lobe. Repeat on the opposite ear.

- Clean the cartilage of the ear. After most of the debris has been removed with the moistened cotton ball, use a cotton swab (Q-Tip®) moistened with water to gently remove the pieces of debris trapped within the cartilage of the ear. Be very careful not to place the swab down the ear canal. This will stimulate head shaking and can lead to ear trauma. It is safest to clean only the parts of the ear you can see. If there is significant wax just inside the ear canal, you can briefly place the tip of the Q-tip into the ear canal to remove the debris. However, and this is important, you should ALWAYS be able to see the cotton tip of the swab.

- After cleaning the ears, it is a good idea to offer a treat. This will help make the next ear cleaning session a little smoother.

For deeper cleaning, you can use an ear-cleaning solution. To use, flush a small amount into your dog's ear. About a teaspoon is adequate for most dogs. Gently massage the base of the ear. You should hear a swishing sound in most dogs. Then dry as directed above using a cotton ball or gauze sponges.

Many organisms that live in the ear prefer an alkaline environment. One inexpensive ear solution you can make at home is a 50% water and 50% white vinegar mix.

To prevent future ear infections, check your dog's ears regularly. Dry your dog's ears well after swimming by using cotton balls to gently absorb water in the visible out bits of the ear.

This is important! If the ear infection continues at any time, or if other symptoms are noted, call your veterinarian promptly. If your pet is not eating, acts lethargic, is vomiting or is having diarrhea, or if any other physical abnormalities begin, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your pet needs your help and the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When Is an Ear Infection an Emergency?

An ear infection is an emergency when your dog is in pain, you cannot touch or look in your dog's ear, the ear is red and swollen, and/or your dog has a head tilt. All ear infections should be examined and treated by a veterinarian.

Home Care for the Dog with a Laceration

A laceration is a wound produced by the tearing of body tissue. The edges can be smooth, jagged or irregular depending on the initiating factor.

Lacerations are one of the most common reasons dogs go to veterinary emergency rooms. They can be a minor skin problem or a very significant major problem.

Depending on the underlying cause, depth and force of the trauma, there can be damage to underlying soft tissues and structures. Muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels can be damaged. Penetration into the chest or abdominal cavity can even occur as a result of the trauma that produced the laceration.

Minor trauma may only produce skin damage.

.Deeper or more forceful trauma can cause severe damage to the underlying structures that could even be life threatening. The traumas that most commonly lead to lacerations are usually associated with contamination from debris, dirt and bacteria.

Below are answers to some common questions pet owners ask when their dogs suffer lacerations. This information will focus on what you can do for your dog at home.

What Causes a Laceration?

A Laceration can be caused by a variety of traumatic events. The most common causes of lacerations in dogs include getting cut on glass or sharp objects in the yard (especially rough wires around fencing), jumping through a glass window, bite wounds and injuries that break the skin as a result of being hit by a car. Some dogs come in bleeding with a laceration and their owners never know what happened.

Home Treatment of a Laceration: What Can I Do for My Dog at Home?

Specific treatment of a laceration depends on the degree and depth of injury, in addition to associated or secondary injuries. It is very difficult to give advice here without knowing the full extent of the injury. The best thing to do is to take your dog to your veterinarian to help you determine the extent of the injury.

If you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian – you can do the following:

Carefully evaluate your dog's wound. He could be in pain so take special care not to be bitten when examining the wound.

If your dog's wound is bleeding, take a clean towel and gently apply pressure. Again – be careful.

If the wound is superficial – if possible, try to clip around the wound. Take care not to get hair in the wound. You can place sterile KY Jelly in the wound to protect it while clipping the hair. This allows the hair to stick to the KY Jelly instead of the wound.

Examine the extent of the injury. If the wound is deep – if it seems to go deeper than the full thickness of the skin – and it is bleeding profusely, or if the wound is longer than about 1 inch, it really is best for you to see your veterinarian. The wound should be examined and most likely sutured.

Again, this is not the ideal course of action, but for those of you that simply cannot take your dog to the veterinarian, then you should do the following:

1- Clean the wound with lukewarm water. Flush it like crazy. You can't use too much water. If you have a syringe – you can drawl up water into the syringe and squirt it into the wound. If you also have a syringe with needle – you can squirt the water into the wound through the needle. The needle and syringe should never touch your dog. Squirting water through the needle actually applies enough water pressure that can effectively remove debris from wounds. What you are trying to do is use the water and the pressure of the water to remove debris from the wound. If you don't have a syringe – you can use a kitchen baster. If your dog is small – you can use the kitchen sprayer or if he is big – a sprayer from the hose on a gentle spray. The force of the water jet should never be enough that it would hurt you or your pet.

2- While you are cleaning – you can better evaluate the wound. If the laceration appears superficial – you may be done with cleaning it. Dry the area around the wound.

If the wound is deep or draining – the best thing to do is see your veterinarian. Some deeper or draining wounds can benefit from a bandage. You need to be VERY careful. Most bandages that veterinarians see that are applied by owners are bad news. NEVER make the bandage too tight. To apply a bandage - you can use a 4 x 4 then wrap it with gauze. If the wound is open, we prefer using a bandage material called Telfa. It is a gauze-like material impregnated with a substance that keeps it from sticking to the wound (which can hurt when removing the bandage). So you would have the telfa next to the wound, then some absorbent cloth if the would is draining a lot, and a wrap to hold it in place and keep it on the pet.

3- The typical bandage consists of gauze or telfa next to the wound, cast padding or gauze type wrap followed by an outer wrap consisting of Vetwrap®. A small strip of tape can be used to help secure the outer wrap.

4- If you place the bandage on a leg, make sure it is not too tight. Check the toes every few hours for swelling. If you see swelling – remove or loosen the bandage.

5- Observe your dog. For minor injuries, your dog should be otherwise acting normal – eating and drinking okay, no vomiting or diarrhea, normal urine and bowel movements. If your dog is vomiting, having diarrhea, acting lethargic, or if your dog won't eat or appears to be having difficulty breathing – please see your veterinarian.

6- Keep your dog from bothering the wound or bandage. One way to do this is to cover it. Or, if your dog is bothering the bandage, you can prevent him from getting to it by using and e-collar. (An e-collar is a cone-shaped object that goes around the neck of a pet to prevent him from licking or chewing.) For more information, go to: "E-collars in Dogs". You can also cover some wounds on the chest or abdomen with a t-shirt.

Small dogs can often be dressed with toddler t-shirts. Simply place your dog's head through the head opening and the front legs through the armholes of the shirt. This can work well to cover wounds on the sides of the body that a bandage cannot easily cover.

7- If you see drainage coming through the bandage – change it. Examine the wound. If no drainage is coming through – the bandage should be examined and changed in 8 hours. If the wound looks clean, dry and closed, you may be able to leave the bandage off. Make sure your dog can't lick at the wound.

8- Change the bandage as needed. This may be once to 3 times daily until it looks like the wound is healing.

9- Signs of wound infection are swelling, pain, redness, foul odor and discharge – especially bloody or yellow discharge.

10- If possible, take your dog's temperature twice a day. Normal temperature in a dog is approximately 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dog's temperature is over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, contact your veterinarian.

This is important! If you notice any of the following signs, SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN:

your dog appears to be in pain

swelling

a foul smelling discharge

redness

your dog is not eating

your dog acts lethargic

Most lacerations are dirty wounds and pets with these types of injuries require antibiotics. Your pet needs your help and the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having any of the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When Is a Laceration an Emergency?

A laceration is always an emergency and should always be examined by a veterinarian. Even small cuts can be deep and can penetrate important structures that require sutures or additional treatment.

Disclaimer: Advice given in the Home Care series above is not meant to replace veterinary care. When your pet has a problem, it is always best to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. But in some cases, it is not always possible to seek veterinary care. You could be traveling, it could be after hours and there are no 24-hour clinics near you, or maybe you simply can't afford it. Whatever the reason, when your pet has a problem, you need answers. Most vets will not give you any information over the phone – they will tell you to bring your pet in for an office visit. So, when these difficult situations arise, many pet owners don't know what to do – and they end up doing the wrong thing because they don't have sound veterinary advice. When your pet has a problem and you can't see your vet, the information in this series of articles above can help guide you so that you will not inadvertently cause harm to your pet. However, this information is not a replacement for veterinary care.

We hope these tips help you and your new puppy enjoy a long healthy life!!