How To Care For A Sick Pet

How to Care for a Sick Animal

If your pet is sick, there are several reasons why you should care for him at home.

Your home is comfortable for your pet, free of the stress and anxiety of being in a veterinary clinic... barking dogs, strange people, and unusual smells aren't healing.

You can provide superior nursing care to what is offered in most veterinary clinics. They are busy places, and can only spend so much time with your pet.

You can offer a range of treatments not usually available at a veterinarian such as natural and holistic medicines,

You will often save money - in most cases this means hundreds of dollars.

You can avoid the serious side effects of many of the traditional medications.

You and your pet both WIN. You will heal your pet at home, and in doing so bond even further with your pet. This deeper emotional connection will make your life more enjoyable and keep your pet healthy.

Nursing Care

Comfortable bedding. Every sick pet needs to be comfortable. Ensure that big dogs have lots of padding, especially if they have difficulty moving.

Quiet environment, but not TOO quiet. All pets that are sick need a quiet area. Place their bed out of the main traffic area, but not so far away that they are isolated. They need regular contact.

Keep the area clean. Your pet may have difficulty getting up and going to the bathroom, and may soil himself. Change the blankets or towels frequently.

Eating and drinking

If your pet won't eat, then there are options. Most sick pets won't eat for 24 hours, and that doesn't concern me. After 24 hours I become concerned - especially with cats.

There are many simple things that you can do to stimulate your pet's appetite.

Hand feeding. The simple act of feeding with your hand. This often works for me.

Warm up the food. When the food is warmer, it is more appetizing, and your dog or cat can smell it easier. If it smells good, they will often eat!

Pet your pet! The simple act of stroking your pet will stimulate positive feelings in your pet and often cause them to begin eating.

If your pet needs force feeding after going 48 hours without eating, you have a few options.

You can pick up high calorie liquid nutrition called Hills ad or Eukanuba maximum calorie. You can also make your own high calorie food.

Home Pet Nutrition booster.

1/2 cup cooked turkey or chicken.

1/4 cup of whole milk

1/4 cup of rice

400mg calcium

1 One a day multivitamin

1tbspn flax oil

Mix this well in a blender or food processor.

Feed 1/2 to 1 cup a day to small pets, and increase proportionally.

In some cases you will have to syringe feed- give frequent small amounts.

Dehydration

It is of utmost importance that your pet doesn't become dehydrated. The first test for dehydration is "tenting" the skin.

Pinch the skin between your pet's shoulder blades and see how quickly it springs back. It should go back in less than 5 seconds. If the skin tent is prolonged, then your pet is dehydrated.

The Eyes. Your pet's eyes will be sunken into their head. In this case the eyes recede into the eye socket. You often notice this in dehydrated cats.

Capillary Refill. Your pet's gums are the best indicator of dehydration. Lift your pet's lips to expose the gums (pink tissue above the teeth). Place your index finger on the gums and press your finger flat to the gum. This temporarily squeezes blood in that spot out of the small blood vessels ( capillaries). When you lift your finger, the blood should return in less than 2 seconds.

This is delayed in a dehydrated pet.

Gum moisture. The gums often feel dry and tacky in a dehydrated pet. When you pull your index finger away from the gums, it should feel wet, and easily slide away. In a dehydrated pet it sticks to the gums.

ON THE ROCKS. Some dogs will readily lick ice cubes when they are dehydrated, even if they are reluctant to drink water. Float the ice in their water bowl.

SQUIRT IT IN. Pet's that are more severely dehydrated will benefit from additional electrolytes. Pedialyte is an oral electrolyte re-hydration supplement for children. A needleless syringe or a Turkey baster works well. Insert the tip into the center of your pet's mouth. Tilt his head back, hold his mouth closed and squirt in the fluid.

A safe rule of thumb is to give 30ml (2 tablespoons) per 10lbs every hour.

To learn more about pet health care please visit Pamper Pet Care today.