Archive for September, 2011

Vomiting is common in dogs thus owners would not really be concerned with the condition of the pet. Even healthy dogs will be seen vomiting once and a while thus dog owners would not really be concerned if the pet up chucked the contents of the stomach. Dogs are not only voracious eaters, they also have the inclination to eat spoiled food and other non-edible substances. The tendency to eat too much as well as the indiscriminate eating habit often ends up in a spate of vomiting.

Dog owners would see the pet gagging and expulsing partially digested food, fluid as well as objects that are not supposed to be swallowed by the dog. This is the reason why dog owners are no longer surprised to see the pet vomiting plastic wrappers, little bits of wood and even parts of the dog’s toys. Dogs can easily induce vomiting as it is their way of removing unwanted and offending substances and objects from their stomach. After a spate of vomiting, the dog will act as if nothing happened. The dog will be its normal active self and some instances, the dog will be seen eating what it has vomited.

Acute vomiting or a one-time expulsion of the contents of the stomach and the small intestine is usually caused by the dog’s dietary indiscretion. The dog’s habit of eating too fast, of eating too much and ingesting spoiled food would naturally cause stomach upset. The introduction of a new diet can also make the dog vomit. Vomiting arising from this kind of situation would not require treatment. The pet parent can withhold food for about 24 hours to give the dog’s stomach a chance to rest

The dog would certainly need medical attention if it vomits every now and then as in most cases, chronic vomiting is an indication of a medical concern. The dog’s dietary indiscretion would not be the cause of chronic vomiting. Throwing up can be a symptom of pancreatitis, peritonitis, as well as liver and kidney disease. Vomiting can be a sign of intestinal parasite infestation or intestinal cancer.

Chronic vomiting can result to dehydration. To stop the dog from throwing up anti emetic medication is administered. Chronic vomiting is a symptom and not a disease in itself. Treatment for the dog’s condition will depend on the cause. Professional medical attention will be very necessary for chronic vomiting. The dog will have to undergo a full clinical examination before the right treatment that would resolve the dog’s health concern can be administered.

What to do when your dog is throwing up? You already have some information about this topic. But you can still find out more about how to care for your sick dog at Sarah’s Dogs.

A first aid kit is a must in a home with animals. With a first aid kit, a dog owner can deal with the possible injuries the dog can sustain. The pet’s first aid kit has to have medications, equipments and different sizes of bandages. Applying bandage is a basic skill that must be learned by a dog owner as these very active animals are prone to accidents that can result to fractures and to wounds.

A bandage has many useful uses for the injured dog. Injured dogs would be very hard to restrain thus it is common for the pet to sustain another trauma. One of the functions of bandage application is immobilize injuries that needs to be restricted. Bandage keeps the wound from getting dirty and because of the pressure exerted on the wound, swelling is controlled as well. Before professional medical care is given to the injured pet, bandage is used to stabilize the fracture or to stop the bleeding. An injured pet can gain these first aid benefits only if the bandage is correctly applied.

Applying bandage is a first aid basic skill a dog owner has to learn. The bandage can be applied easily but keeping the bandage on the dog will be challenging as these pets would incessantly worry the bandage until it is removed. For obvious reasons, adhesive bandages will not do for these furry friends. Dogs would have no idea why the master applied the bandage thus it would pull, bite and chew until the bandage is removed. When applying the bandage the owner has to make sure that it would stay in place.

Bandage must not be applied on a dirty wound. It is necessary to thoroughly clean and disinfect the wound before the application of bandage. Dry the affected area and cover the wound with a double strip of gauze. This strip of gauze must be again covered with several layers of bandage and secured with adhesive tape. To prevent the bandage from slipping, the adhesive tape must be connected both to the bandage and to the dog’s fur.

Severe bleeding of wound can be controlled with bandaging. A sufficient amount of bandage applied to the bleeding also puts on pressure that controls bleeding. The person applying the bandage must make sure that it is not applied too tight as it can cut off the circulation. A wound can get infected if the bandage is not kept clean and dry thus it has to be regularly checked. Swelling and bad odor emanating from the bandaged wound are signs of infection. While the dog’s injury is healing, it would be a good idea to keep the pet indoors to prevent the bandage from getting wet and dirty.

Learn more about bandaging and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.