When is it Time to See the Vet? – Part 1
We get many questions here about dogs and cats with health issues–from tummy troubles, itchy skin or ear infections to cancer. Sometimes, however, the condition of the animal is not so clear and the pet owner is not sure where to turn. A trip to the veterinarian can be stressful and costly, so some folks hesitate to take their companions to the hospital right away. Sometimes waiting is reasonable and an animal can recover from a bout of diarrhea or itchy skin at home. Sometimes, however, waiting too long can have detrimental consequences for the animal. Below we have outlined some instances where home care is likely to be sufficient and some indications that require a trip to the vet. Keep in mind, however, that this is only a partial list and a rough guideline–whenever in doubt CALL your veterinarian’s office.Minor Injuries, scrapes or bruises can sometimes be handled at home. If an animal has a scrape or wound in an area of an inch or two, first aid may be all that is needed. Larger or deeper wounds need medical attention and cat or dog bites always need veterinary attention.
You may need to begin by calming and muzzling the animal to protect yourself during first aid treatment. For immediate treatment of injuries or trauma we recommend keeping two products on hand HomeoPet Trauma and Emergency Rescue Flower Essences. HomeoPet Trauma jumpstarts the healing process and Emergency Rescue Flower Essences treat the emotional trauma that accompanies most injuries. Both are safe to give even when veterinary care will be needed and medications may be administered. They should be given very frequently immediately following the trauma–every few minutes, and then tapered off as the animal begins recovery.
For smaller wounds clip the hair away from the area, gently wash with warm water to remove debris, and apply an antibiotic cream. Keep the animal from licking the ointment off by stroking or brushing for 10–15 minutes while the medication has a chance to do its job. Apply ointment several times a day. You should see healing beginning and improvement in the area within several days. If you don’t see improvement then it’s time to go to the vet.
Puncture wounds need to be treated with caution as they can be worse than they appear and can become infected more easily than surface wounds. Clean and treat with antibiotic ointment as described above, but call your veterinarian if you see any swelling or inflammation.
For bruises or minor strains the key is usually rest and protection of the affected area. Keep the animal confined if necessary–going outside only on leash. Some sprains can take weeks to heal, so don’t let the animal become overexcited or let them begin normal exercise too soon. Traumagesic by Tyler Encapsulations can speed healing of bruising, sprains and strains. A calming remedy such as Only Natural Pet Relaxi-Herb or Love My Pet Stress Relief can help during the confinement period for restlessness or anxious animals. Provide some good chews for dogs to help them work off energy that can’t be expended through exercise.
When to see a vet for injuries, scrapes or bruises
- Wounds larger than 1-2” andor deep wounds
Bite wounds–dog bites can cause more damage under the surface than you see and can become infected; cat bites very frequently become infected and antibiotics are almost always necessary.
- Deep puncture wounds or punctures accompanied by swelling, puss or foul smell.
Wounds that seem to spread or become infected (red around the edges or oozing puss)
If animal appears in significant pain–there may be injuries that you cannot see or the animal may need pain medication.
- Persistent limping or soreness in an older animal (possible signs of arthritis).
Minor stomach upsets involving diarrhea or vomiting can often be monitored at home for a day or two before heading to the veterinarian’s office. These symptoms can often be traced to something simple such as ingesting something unusual (like the kitchen garbage), or eating too much or too fast, or exercising shortly after eating, etc.
For the occasional bout of diarrhea, adding some canned pumpkin and probiotics to the food and feeding a bland diet for several meals may be all that is required. Canned pumpkin is an essential in every guardian’s pantry as it can help both diarrhea and constipation. Cats can get 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, dogs 1 tablespoon to ¼ cup or more depending on size.
For occasional vomiting, a short fast (one or two meals), small drinks of water and a bland diet can do the trick. (A big drink of water can further irritate a troubled tummy and cause more vomiting). A bland diet would be equal parts of boiled chicken and white rice–given in small meals. Hamburger and rice can be substituted with as much of the fat drained as possible.
Handy remedies to have on hand for minor stomach upsets include
VetriScience Fast Balance–GI or Pet Naturals Quick Relief for fast (almost immediate in many cases) relief from diarrhea and stomach upsets. Slippery elm bark or marshmallow (readily available at health food stores) can also help calm and sooth the digestive tract.
When to see a vet for stomach upsets
- Vomiting and diarrhea occur together
- Blood in vomit or diarrhea
- Vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than a day or two
- Animal appears listless
- Multiple bouts of vomiting or diarrhea over a short period of time
- Animal trying to vomit unsuccessfully (sometimes with profuse drool)
- Distended abdomen or bloating present
- Abdomen tender to touch
- Animal shows labored breathing or appears in pain
Animals with chronic loose stools or diarrhea, or chronic vomiting should be evaluated by a holistic veterinarian for food intolerances, allergies or other underlying illness.
Itchy Skin, paws or ears can be a sign of allergies or fleas. Itchy skin is never “normal”–there is no reason that any dog or cat should be chronically itchy. Dry skin is not “normal” no matter how hot or dry the air where you live. An animal who begins to scratch consistently needs immediate attention because it will only get worse if you wait.
First determine whether fleas are the culprit. A flea comb is an absolute essential tool for every household with a dog or cat. Even if your dog or cat is an indoor pet, fleas can find them. Check for fleas first and foremost because if you don’t and the fleas continue to multiply while you start treating for allergies, by the time you realize you have fleas they will be much harder to eliminate.
Run the flea comb through your pet’s hair and gather a bit of hair and “dirt”. Then put this between two damp white paper towels and press them together–if the “dirt” creates rusty looking spots on the paper towel, then there is a flea somewhere–most likely a family of fleas–on your companion. If you persist, you will likely trap some of them in the comb. Drown them in SOAPY water–fleas have been known to jump out of plain water. If your flea test is positive, please read The Natural Approach to Flea Control in our article archives. If the flea test is negative, then move on to treating for possible allergies. This includes three simple steps
1. Change to a hypoallergenic food.
2. Add digestive enzymes such as Prozyme 200g Powder to every meal.
3. Add essential fatty acids (preferably fish oil) to the diet.
Please note Many high-quality foods now add digestive enzymes and essential fatty acids to their formulas, but they DO NOT contain sufficient quantities of either to help eliminate allergic reactions and itchy skin. Please see the article Alleviating Your Pet’s Itchy Skin for more information about solutions for an itchy companion.
For more Dog First Aid Information go to : When is it Time to See the Vet? – Part 2
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Natural & Holistic Treatments for Arthritis & Joint Stiffness
As our labrador age, many will develop arthritis, a common degenerative joint problem. Gradually you may notice that your feline friend no longer jumps up on the counters or furniture as easily. Your dog may hesitate to jump in the car or will climb stairs more slowly. You may notice your companion is stiff upon rising. These are all signs of painful joints. Up to 25–30% of companion animals suffer from osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, slowly progressing condition that is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage surrounding a joint. As this deterioration progresses, the bony structures begin to rub against one another causing pain and discomfort. Hip Dysplasia is a genetic disease that leads to joint deterioration and arthritis. It is more common in large dog breeds. These and other degenerative joint disorders involving cartilage and joint deterioration can be treated quite successfully with a comprehensive treatment program developed for the animal.
There are many ways ways to treat arthritis and joint stiffness or soreness from a “natural” approach. While NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, EtoGesic and others are commonly prescribed for arthritis, I prefer to reserve their use until after all other means have been exhausted and the animal is still showing signs of suffering. NSAIDs can be damaging to the liver and gastrointestinal system when taken over long periods of time and can have other side effects as well. NSAIDs provide pain relief, but do nothing to help repair damaged tissue and prevent further deterioration. Arthritis and joint pain can often be controlled for years using diet, supplements, herbs and acupuncture, and many animals may never need NSAIDs.
One of the best defenses and treatments for arthritis is a high quality Glucosamine/Chrondroitin sulfate supplement. Glucosamine stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), important proteins found in cartilage, and proteoglycans, the water-holding molecules that make up cartilage. Glucosamine has been shown not only to help with pain, but also to rehabilitate damaged cartilage. These nutrient compounds may also have anti-inflammatory activity within the joints. A typical dose would be at least 1000 mgs. per 50 lbs. of body weight daily, but this should be determined for your companion’s specific needs with your veterinarian. I often recommend that dogs be started on a good joint supplement that includes Glucosamine by the time they are 8 or 9 for larger breeds, and 10 or 11 for smaller breeds, even when no symptoms are present. Preventing joint deterioration can go a long way to easing the effects of aging for your companion.
MSM, (Methylsulfonylmethane), is another supplement used in the prevention and treatment of arthritis. MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in every cell of the body, which helps to maintain healthy connective tissue and membrane flexibility. It can assist in reducing inflammation and swelling associated with arthritis and other diseases or injuries.
Diet is a key factor in the treatment of any chronic condition. Feeding your companion a quality diet is the foundation of good health, and this is the most important thing you can do for your dog or cat. Many animals with chronic conditions such as arthritis have shown dramatic improvement on a raw food or home-prepared diet. Some people are not comfortable with feeding raw food. If this is true for you, I recommend a combination of home-prepared cooked meals, a very high quality canned food or dehydrated food, and the best quality kibble you can afford. If the animal has food or environmental allergies, these must be addressed, as allergies can contribute to inflammation and many degenerative health conditions.
Weight control is of utmost importance. An overweight animal will suffer much more from arthritis pain and the disease process will be accelerated. Gentle exercise is very helpful whether the animal is overweight or not. For dogs the ideal exercise is swimming or using underwater treadmills. Dog “spas” and therapy pools are becoming more common all over the country.
Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics are essential. They aid the digestion and assimilation of the nutrients in cooked and processed foods. Poor digestion and leaky gut exacerbate and contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, allergies and degenerative conditions. Maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal system will go a long way in preventing these complications.
Essential Fatty Acid Supplements (preferably one with fish oil) help reduce inflammation and can be quite helpful in the treatment of joint problems. In addition, essential fatty acids help maintain gastrointestinal health and aid in the treatment of allergies. I often recommend giving a higher dose than recommended on the label. If your companion develops loose stools, reduce the dosage a bit to allow the system to adjust.
There are a variety of herbal remedies and supplements available to address degenerative joint problems, which can be safely used in conjunction with Glucosamine and other nutraceuticals. Keep in mind, however, that response to these or any remedies will vary by individual. It is sometimes necessary to try one at a time until the best option is found (giving the supplement or remedy a minimum of two weeks, and preferably longer, to determine effectiveness):
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