Does Your Pup Need A Trip To The Vets?
Dogs are great to have around and are a family friend for life. When our pets seem ill, we can panic and get a little too worried. But it’s understandable! There are some common problems that dogs have that need veterinary attention. There are also other problems dogs may have, which are treatable at home. Here is a little advice, so you know what to look out for when it comes to your furry friend.
Fostering An Unwell Pet
When you’re fostering or adopting an animal, you might find that many of them are unwell. Sometimes owners give their pets up when they get an illness as they don’t want to deal with it. If you’ve decided to take on the care of a sick pet, well done! It’s a fantastic thing to do, and you can guarantee the pet will appreciate it.
When it comes to fostering or adopting, the animal shelter will be able to explain to you any issues they’ve noticed in the dog. You might want to take the dog for a second check up once while it's settling into its new home. Remember to follow any instructions from the animal shelter or vets, and you should be plain sailing.
Managing Fleas
Fleas are one of the most frequent things dog owners will have to tackle. And nobody wants fleas in their home! If your dog has picked up fleas, make sure you treat it as soon as possible.
Delouse your pup as soon as you can then work on your home. Once you've done both of these things, you can start to think about treating the fleas.
Over-the-counter treatments can be effective if used correctly. We recommend trying a treatment such as Frontline for dogs. Frontline is for the treatment and prevention of flea and tick infestations in dogs. Remember, with many flea treatment products, if you wash your dog too soon after, you might wash away the treatment. If your dog seems to be reacting particularly badly to flea bites, seek a vets advice immediately.
The best way to treat fleas is to avoid them in the first place! Even if your dog is healthy, use flea treatments and wash them with flea repellent shampoos from time-to-time.
Dealing With Tapeworms
Tapeworms are something else that you’re likely to have heard of in passing. A tapeworm is another kind of parasite. This parasite is usually seen in dogs who’ve swallowed an infected flea. Tapeworms will live in your dog’s gut and cause your dog issues. If you have a puppy, the damage a tapeworm causes can be more severe.
You might notice your dog dragging itself on the floor in an attempt to relieve the itching. You could also see unusual vomiting or bowel movements. Many owners will spot that their dog is eating fine but losing a lot of weight due to the tapeworm.
If you suspect your dog has a tapeworm, you need to do the following. Take your dog to the vet and have them checked over. The vet will look at how severe the infection is and prescribe an effective course of treatment. The vet may give you some advice for preventing future tapeworms so listen carefully.
As fleas are the most common cause of tapeworms, the best way to prevent them is to target those fleas! Always make sure you clean up after your pet too, out of the home as well as at home.
Looking After Ear Infections
Dogs are susceptible to ear infections so there is a chance that your pet may catch one at some point in its life. Ear infections can come about because of a variety of reasons. Your dog may have an allergy, ingrown hairs or mites trapped in their ear.
If you notice your dog scratching its ears and shaking its head more than normal, this can be a sign of an infection. Your dog may also have an unusual colour to the inside of the ear and be producing discharge. Another thing you can look out for is swelling.
Once you spot the signs, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Your dog will only make it worse by scratching at the problem site. The vet will clean up your dog's ears and often this is enough to get rid of the infection. Sometimes, the vet may prescribe specialist medication. If it is an unusually severe infection, your pet may need to go through surgery. Speak to your vet about any concerns you have if that is the case. The thought of surgery can often scare pet owners.
Top Tips For Unwell Dogs
If your dog has any of the above illnesses or anything else, there are few things you can do to help.
Always follow the instructions when you give your dog any medication. If you take shortcuts, you could make your dog much more ill.
As we’ve mentioned, you must always listen to your vet too. They are there to offer you the best advice when it comes to looking after your pets health. If the vet gives you instructions, follow them to the letter. This way, the vet can check properly if the treatment has worked. If you’ve skipped a step, you might not get the results the vet intended for your pet.
Sometimes illnesses can become serious, so you might want to consider taking out pet insurance. The last thing you need when you have an ill dog is stress from vet bills.
To prevent any sickness in your pet, you should be taking them to regular check-ups with your vet. This way, you’ll be able to spot anything out of the ordinary quickly. You also need to make sure you look after your dog's hygiene. Things such as bad dental care can also be harmful to your dog. The final thing to be wary of is your dog's diet. A poor diet will cause many problems in your dog. If your pet is eating badly, it may also affect their recovery when they are sick. If your dogs ever do get ill, make sure you make them comfortable.
All animals get sick from time-to-time, so don’t worry too much. Look after your pet well and it’ll be healthy and happy.
