Considering the strain of the economy in addition to the high cost of vet visits and medical tests, some pet owners are turning to home treatments and home remedies whenever possible in treating minor conditions. If your dog is not feeling well or hurt themselves, use some common sense when evaluating their condition. There are times when owners are forced to make the decision to bring their dog or cat into a professional and here’s some guidelines in making that decision.
LIMPING – If you notice your pet limping, attempt to take a closer look at the injury. If your dog allows you to examine its leg without too much protest and they are not in too much pain, try letting the leg heal with time. Wait a few days. If the lameness gets better, slowly work in to a normal walking regimen. If your pet seems to be in intense pain and is not able to put any weight on it’s limb, has a fever, then immediately take them to a professional.
DIARRHEA – The majority of bouts of diarrhea are due to a change in diet or your dog or cat eating something they are normally forbidden, such as when they get into garbage, rotten food, etc. Mild cases can usually be treated with established at-home treatments developed over the years by pet owners. The first recommendation is withholding food for a 12 to 24 hour time frame to give the stomach irritation a rest and time to heal. This food withdrawl can be followed up with bland foods for the two or three days that follow.
If the diarrhea lasts for days, is accompanied by vomiting, lethargy, or pain, or the diarrhea is bloody, get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Pets can get dehydrated just like humans, and if the diarrhea is intense and persistent, your pet may be in danger of this condition. Some of these symptoms can be a sign of more serious condition or illness and you need to seek professional advice.
VOMITING- Vomiting is a symptom that can occur with a variety of illnesses. Fortunately, the majority of the time, it is just a sign that your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have, such as tables scraps, that does not agree with your pet.
If your pet is vomiting, keep an eye on him for a day or two. If you don’t see any other signs of illness, then you can probably treat their upset stomach by refraining from giving them food for 12 to 24 hours. for a day or two following this, keep food to a bland diet in small portions. Gradually increase food to normal quantities.
If your pet’s symptoms are more serious, can’t keep water down, seems in pain, feverish, is lethargic, take your pet to vet. These may be signs of a much more serious condition or illness. Even simple cases can lead to a serious situation quickly.
During an Exam
Even when you are worried or frustrated, try to keep your voice neutral, then offer your input followed by questions, like what you think, to keep the conversation constructive.
During most visits you’re exchanging a lot of information in a short amount of time, and it’s easy to forget something you wanted to discuss or something the veterinarian mentioned. That’s why veterinarians prefer that their clients take notes if necessary.
Accepting responsibility. Accept responsibility for your own understanding. Rather than saying “you’re not making sense” say “I don’t understand that last part” or “I need your help to understand”. Your veterinarian will be happy to explain any fuzzy details.
If you need to call your veterinarian leave a specific message. In cases where you are unable to reach your veterinarian’s medical office immediately and are forced to leave a voice message, give as much detail as possible. That way the medical team can prioritize phone calls and will know what type of urgency to apply.
The Relationship between Pet Owners and Veterinarians
While veterinarians supply medical expertise, families make the important decisions and provide the majority of their dogs care. Veterinarians and dog parents should work together to build trust, effective communication, and genuine teamwork.
Most dog owners are happy when their veterinary care team engages with our dogs on the same level that we do. You would think that all veterinarians would be avid animal lovers, but I wouldn’t say that you could make that as a blanket statement. Most veterinarians do care passionately for animals but some of them have a hard time displaying affection for our critters. Personally, I feel much more comfortable with the veterinarian that will spend a few moments bonding with my dog when I take him in for a visit. For the dog’s sake as well as my own.
Good relationships with your veterinarian are formed during the routine, day-to-day dog care scenarios. Typically, when you and your veterinarian have a good rapport about pet care basics, you are also more likely to mesh on a situation where your pet requires lifesaving care.
If your veterinarian approach to your dog’s basic wellness visits agrees with your philosophy, then you found a good fit. You are looking for a veterinarian that has a similar point of view as your own in regards to what is best for your animal friend.
Dog owners certainly rely on veterinarians to provide medical information but communication has to work in both directions. To provide the best care, veterinarians rely on owners to keep them informed about what’s going on at home. As a pet owner it is your obligation to deliver the right level of detail and answers to the healthcare team’s questions to the best of your ability.
Before a visit to the veterinarian, owners and family members should make a list of questions I’d like to ask or concerns they have about their dogs health or behavior. One member of the household may have noticed a change in behavior that others in the family haven’t seen.
VetInfo – is a helpful site where you can look up various pet related ailments and diseases and may be helpful.
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