How to Take Care of Common Pet Conditions at Home
Image Source: Flickr. By: Yukari.
My dog was hit by a car last week. The incident resulted in her needing two splints: one for a dislocated elbow and one for a broken joint. Being that she’s lost some use of her legs, we’ve had to help carry her around. If you’ve ever had a medium-to-large sized dog with an injured limb, you’ll know how difficult this can sometimes be—especially if the dog has reached its golden years.
Now, I try to give my animals the best care that I can, in as green of a way as possible. However, there are some things that still require a veterinarian’s professional skills and equipment. If it weren’t for their x-rays, surgical procedures, and so forth I could have lost my dog long ago (or even this past weekend). However, there are simple ways you can help your canine or feline friend at home. We aren’t talking brain surgery here, just ways to deal with simple or common injuries and conditions.
Arthritis
This is a very common thing in older dogs. Many animal doctors may prescribe medication, such as Rimadyl, but there are home techniques you can use to ease your animal’s pain. One big thing that can affect both dogs and cats is their weight (more on this will be covered later). If your animal is overweight, that is putting more strain on their legs and body. Start by putting them on a diet and helping them exercise more often. Take them for at least a 30 minute walk every day. Not only will it get them in shape, but it will be great exercise for you, too. Another thing that helps is warmth. Cold weather and temperatures can have a nasty effect on joints. You can help your animal by using a hot water bottle or a towel soaked in warm water. Apply this to them twice a day, 15 minutes each time, and it will help greatly. Avoid heating pads at all costs! They can cause severe burns to an animal’s skin and I’m sure you don’t want that on your conscience. Other things that will help them include a massage (yes, even for animals) or taking them for a swim (provided its warm enough outside).
Birthing
Is your animal friend expecting kids soon? If so, first, congratulations! Now, in some cases, you may not be able to make it to the vet in time for the birthing. Luckily, there are ways you can make the situation more bearable for your animal at home. First of all, keep them indoors when it gets to be a week or two before the birth is expected to happen. Even if your animal is used to being outside, there is always a chance they could have their litter early and as such, it’s a good idea to keep them inside, where they can be protected. Secondly, give the mom a comfortable maternity ward. She is going to need a spot big enough to hold her and the newborns, plus be able to move around for the whole birthing and feeding process. You can use a giant cardboard box, a kiddie pool, or buy a whelping box from the pet store. Line it with old towels, blankets, newspapers and so forth in order to keep mom and her new kids warm and comfortable. Now, when it gets closer to the big day, you will want to keep things quiet around your animal friend. This may be difficult if you live in a busy or loud household, but it will help to keep your dog or cat calm. When the day comes, your expecting mother may pace and pant. She may even try to birth the litter elsewhere than the designated box; if so, move the box close to wherever she is and try to coax her into the box. Do not force her or try to manually move her into the box. Oh, and forget the cameras. Yes, the birthing experience is an amazing event, but all those flashing lights could upset the expecting mother and birthing process. Now, sometimes the mom may need help with the birthing itself. If one of her young does not come completely out of her, have someone hold the mother’s head to distract her while you use a clean towel to firmly pull out the young one (but not so hard as to break it). If you cannot help with this, call the vet immediately. Another issue that may happen is the mother may not attempt to remove the amniotic sac from her young right away (with the first 30 seconds). If this happens, you can remove the sac from her young by peeling it off with your fingers, starting at the mouth and working backwards. Clean the mucous from its mouth with your [clean] finger and rub its body with a clean towel or cloth. The final thing you may have to deal with is the umbilical cord. Usually, the mother will also remove this herself, but if she doesn’t within a couple minutes, prepare to step in. You will need two pieces of sewing thread dipped in rubbing alcohol. They should be long enough to fit around the cord. Tie one thread about 1 ½ inches from the little one’s tummy and the other thread about 3 or 4 inches from the placenta. Cut the cord between the 2 threads with sharp, sterilized scissors and dab the end of the cord [still attached to the newborn] with iodine, to prevent infection. Hold the puppy or kitten upside down and rub them vigorously with a clean towel, allowing all secretions to run out of their ears, mouth and nose. Then, simply check their breathing and if they squeak or seem otherwise alright, place them next to mom so she can start the feeding process.
Image Source: Flickr. By: Adria Richards.
Dandruff, Fleas and Itching
Yes, the dreaded itching. Could it be allergies? Do they have fleas, mites, or ticks? What if it’s only dry skin? Well, here are some ways to deal with these problems. First and foremost, bathing is important. If your pet is displaying flakes of dry skin, you may not be washing them enough. Some veterinarians suggest that you should bath them at least once a month in the winter and twice a month in the summer. You should use warm water and either a shampoo specifically for pets or something mild, like a baby shampoo. Massage the shampoo thoroughly into their skin—don’t simply clean the top of their fur, as many animals can have thick or long fur, and the problem tends to be on or from the skin itself. You can also try medicated pet shampoos; work them into a lather and leave it on their skin for about 5 minutes before rinsing them off. Adding oatmeal to the bath is also great for moisturizing dry skin. Beyond bathing or rubbing moisturizing lotion into your pet’s skin, grooming is also important. You want to regularly brush, comb and trim their fur. Regular grooming helps to distribute their natural oils evenly over their coat and skin.
When it comes to fleas, shampooing, grooming and special collars are usually the first way to go. Other methods you can use include: adding eucalyptus oil to your pet’s shampoo to help repel fleas, putting some garlic and brewer’s yeast into your pet’s breakfast to make them seem less appetizing, and also keeping a clean household. By removing clutter and doing weekly vacuuming, you are eliminating places where fleas can hide and reproduce. When you vacuum, be sure to remove the bag or canister, seal it and place it in direct sunlight or in a freezer. The extreme temperature will kill them rather quickly.
One other thing that may be making your animal friend itch is their diet. Yes, food can cause itching. They may not be getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients or they may be allergic to the food. You can try switching brands, but your best bet would be to start making your food from home. Processed food is usually not a reliable source for your animal. They may contain harmful bacteria or allergens, and essential ingredients are removed. By creating their meals yourself, you are fully aware of what ingredients are added to the mix and if you suspect an allergy, you can change their diet easier by removing or replacing food. One book I recently got and recommend checking out is The Healthy Dog Cookbook. It lists 50 recipes for snacks, meals and special diets. Ingredients are common meats and produce, such as chicken, beef, rice, peas, liver, applesauce, carrots, and more. Each recipe comes with recommended servings, veterinarian comments and how they can help your canine pal.
Leg Injuries
Have you noticed your pet walking funny lately? They may be holding one of their paws up or perhaps limping a bit. It is quite possible they could have a sprain, dislocated bone, or a fracture. In this case, if it may be some time before you can get to a vet, you will want to splint the leg. You can use items from around the home, such as a ruler, wire coat hangers (you will need to bend these to fit the shape of the limb), a wooden board or dowel. When you splint the leg, do not try to realign the bone or injury, as this can cause more damage. You will want to place the splint of choice next to the animal’s leg and start wrapping the splint to the leg with rolled gauze or strips of fabric. Make sure the splint (and wrapping) extends above the suspected injured area and at least to the bottom of the foot. If you choose the wire hanger method, you will want to wrap the entire leg with a cotton roll and then with stretch gauze. Make sure the wrapping is tight enough to secure the leg in place but not so tight that it will cut off circulation. Then, you will twist the hangers into the shape of the dog’s leg, adjusting the wires so that they bend away from the injury. Place these next to the leg and tie them in place with bandages or strips of fabric. To transport your dog to the car, slide them onto a flat board, dog bed, towel or sheet. Then, have someone help you carry the dog and board (or what-have-you) to the car, keeping the splinted limb as still as possible.
Weight Problems
It is estimated that one out of every 3 dogs and cats are overweight. They may be overfed, they may receive too many treats, or they may simply sneak one too many table scraps. Whatever the case, there are easy ways to deal with the problem. First, you will need to find out whether or not your animal qualifies as overweight. You can do this by doing the rib test: simply run your hands across their sides. If you cannot feel any of their ribs, then they are most likely overweight. Another simple way to tell is by their stomach: is it hanging down or is it tucked up behind the ribs? If your pet has a low stomach, put on those walking shoes and take them out for some exercise. Regular exercise is a key component to maintaining a healthy weight (for any species). Another thing you want to do is change their diet. Many vets will recommend a diet that is high in fiber and low in fat. Also, feed your pet more often. Wait, what? More often? Yes. If you give your pet 1 cup of food twice a day, try splitting that up into a ½ cup of food 4 times a day. This will help stave off hunger pains and the urge to steal other food. As for snacks, you may want to eliminate them from your animal’s diet for a while. Treats can be a great reward, but not if they help pack on the pounds. Instead, try rewarding them with a toy or even taking them out for some exercise.
Image Source: Stock.Xchng. By: Torli
Skunk Spray
Last, but certainly not least, we come to the most dreaded skunk spray. Your pet may be able to roam freely outside or it may be on a chain of some kind. You bring them inside and right away you’ll notice the horrible stench. If you’ve ever had to deal with this situation before, you’ll most likely be aware that the tomato juice method does not work. All that does is make your animal smell like skunk and tomato juice. I had one such incident happen last year and so I was on the hunt for a new method that would actually work. Yes, you can try using specially formulated pet shampoos, but in most cases you may not have it on hand. You simply have to get rid of that smell as soon as possible. Luckily, there are items around the home that can help clean your pet, get rid of the smell (rather than merely cover it up) and they don’t harm your furry friend one bit. This site lists a few different methods you can try, all of which use 3 to 4 common household items: hydrogen peroxide (rubbing alcohol), vinegar, baking soda, and liquid dish soap. The bathing process may have to be repeated a few times, but it will most certainly remove all traces of that icky stench.
These are only a few ways to help your animal, but if you are faced with one of these problems, you’ll now have a better understanding of how to deal with them.
Understand one thing though:
The information contained in this article is no substitute for professional veterinary care. If you suspect that your animal is sick, injured, or facing some other health issues, schedule an appointment for them immediately. The methods listed in this article may help alleviate some of their stress or pain in the meantime, but they should never be used in place of professional medical help.
By Heidi Marshall
I have been with GreenFudge for about a year now, but I've had a passion for Nature my entire life. When I'm not writing articles, you can find me out hiking, gardening, working on green craft projects, or taking photos for my website. You can check out the site at http://arkisaeo.com
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Tags: arthritis, birthing, cats, dogs, home pet remedies, how to take care of your pets at home, itching, leg injuries, pet care, pet health, skunk spray, splints, weight problems
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