How To Take Care of Your Sick Dog?

Just like us, our furry friends can feel under the weather from time to time. While they can’t tell us what’s wrong, they rely on us to be their caretakers and help them bounce back to their playful selves. Whether it’s an upset tummy or something more serious like post-surgery care, your dog needs you now more than ever. So, here is how to take care of sick dogs. These simple ways of treating a sick dog will help in their quick recovery.

Some of the common causes of dog sickness are:

• Worm infections: If your dog is not gaining weight, worms might be the reason. Take the dog to the vet for a checkup and medication. 
• Allergies:  If your pet sneezes, coughs, or itchs more often than usual, it could have allergies. A vet checkup will help diagnose and treat the problem.
• Heartworm diseases: Another reason dogs are sick might be heartworm diseases. These diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal if left untreated. Heartworm medications are a must in the hot season.
• Fleas and ticks: They can cause skin irritation to your dog. While it’s a common health problem in dogs, it can be managed with timely treatment to prevent it from further spreading.
• Other Health Problems: Other diseases that can make your dog sick are tummy upsets, urinary tract infections, vomiting, and diarrhea. Viruses and bacteria cause these, and they are usually water-borne or transmitted from soil.
• Injuries: Accidents indoors or outdoors can make your dog sick. Ensure that a vet checks your pet after the accident.

Proper rest and exercise

When your dog is sick, it needs extra care. To ensure the same, follow these tips:

• Enough Sleep: The immunity system becomes weak when dogs are sick. They need adequate sleep and rest. Ensure that the pet has a comfortable place to rest. It should be disturbance-free and noise-free; if possible, let your dog rest in a separate area or private room.
• Exercise Break: As per the vet’s suggestions, the pet might need some time off from its regular exercise routine, such as walking, running, playing, or jumping.

Post-surgery care

If the pet has undergone surgery, you will need to take even more care of the sick dog.

• Proper Rest: Just after surgery, the dog might take some time to return to its normal form due to the effects of anaesthesia. Enough rest is key to its fast recovery. You may need to help the pet start walking while it is recovering from the effects of anesthesia.
• Walking Assistance: Its diet and movements may be restricted for some time after the surgery. Ensure that you follow your vet’s instructions for post-operative care.
• Medications: Ensure that you administer the required medications and correct doses to the pet, for example, painkillers, drops, ointments, etc.
• Wound Care: Other activities, such as feeding the dog, cleaning the wounds, bathing, and changing post-op gear, like the bandages and Elizabethan collars, should be handled with care.

Taking care of the tummy of a sick dog

When dogs are sick, their digestive system can become extra sensitive, leading to upset tummy problems. You need to take care of their gut health and follow all your vet’s guidelines.

• Slow Feeding: Make sure the dog eats its food slowly or in smaller servings but multiple times. Eating or drinking quickly causes an upset stomach.
• Give Only Prescribed Foods: If a special type of food has been prescribed for the pet, feed them the same and separate it from other pets. In most cases, the dog will be advised of bland food. Your vet should be consulted for all kinds of dietary changes and restrictions.
• Limit Treats:  Avoid giving small treats to the dog till it is fully recovered.
• Family Awareness: Ensure that everyone in the house is aware of its dietary restrictions.

Food requirements for a sick dog

As mentioned above, no changes should be made to the sick dog’s diet without consulting the vet. Any change can upset the stomach of the pet. Avoid overindulgence, especially during festivals, holidays, and other occasions. It can lead to lethargy, discomfort, or even diarrhea. Always consult a doctor in case of diarrhea over 48 hours or vomiting for more than 24 hours. 

Try these remedies to cause comfort in the case of upset stomach – 

• Grass Remedy: If they need to vomit, allowing them to eat grass may help. 
• Small Meal Portions: Serve them in small amounts at one time.
• Simple Meals: Keep their meals simple in the initial months, like boiled chicken with white rice.
• Hydration Check: It is okay if the pet does not consume solid food for 24 hours. Just make sure that it drinks water regularly. In this case, the dog can go without solid food for up to 48 hours. Beyond this, you need to consult with your vet.

Dealing with dehydration

The signs of dehydration can be easily identified by checking your dogs’ gums. If the gums are pink and slick, the dog is hydrated. Press the gums with your finger. If the color changes, notice how fast the color comes back. It should typically be pink almost immediately. If it doesn’t, the dog is dehydrated.

You can offer Pedialyte, an electrolyte for kids, to the pet. You can also offer Rebound, a dog-friendly product. If the pet is not drinking on its own, use a feeding syringe between the gums and cheek. The dose should be 15 ml per pound per day ( as per the dog’s weight).

Keep monitoring your sick dog

Since dogs cannot say what is happening to them, you must be extra careful. Keep a close watch on the pet. For example, you can monitor the dog’s urine and feces. Be aware of the side effects of the medicines you are giving to the pet.

In the case of post-surgery care, check the wounds for infection and contact the vet for symptoms and untoward behavior. In addition, you can treat your lawn, dog’s kennel, turf, and other areas with eco-friendly pet odor eliminators to keep the urine smell away. This is important as urine smell can bother your sick dog and Turf Hero odor remover can help you create a calm and pleasant atmosphere for your pet. 

Look out for symptoms and signs to ensure that your sick dog is recovering and the condition is not getting severe. For example, if you find the dog panting for breath without much exertion or experiencing seizures, you should take it to a vet. In case of collapsing or toxin exposure, immediate attention is pertinent. Lastly, when your dog is recovering from the illness, spend quality time on a safe and comfortable turf.

If you find this guide on sick dog treatment useful, share it with other pet owners who might find it helpful.