Sick dog question
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive August 2008:
Sick dog question
So it is the day of the dog here...
Okay, I have a golden retriever. Today she was hanging out with us, the boys watching tv, around noon, she vomited. Sometimes she gets into things, I didn't really worry about it. I did though block her into the breakfast room, all tile, etc. So by 5 she looks fine, no more vomiting. She is quieter than normal (typically if she is blocked off she whines quite a bit). I also let her hang outside for a couple of hours. Okay, so she was indoors though from 3-5, we just ran out and came back and apparently has had diahrea issues. Not a pleasant smell.
So what do I do for her?
More info...we are planning on leaving town tomorrow at 3, coming home sunday by 3. We have a neighbor taking care of the dogs. Typically we have a neighbor come over twice a day, basically so they can sleep indoors. So I know the new plan needs to be to get them a sleeping place outside.
Do I not feed her tonight? What about the morning. They eat twice a day (i have a second smaller dog). Besides making sure she has LOTS of extra water outside, should I add something to it? And I will have another dog drinking with her, so adding something would go to both.
Any suggestions? I guess I could have the vet board her, but it would cost me 100 a day (sick dog fee) and I just didn't really budget for that.
I really think she ate something that didn't agree with her, she isn't really acting sick or lethargic. Just a little quieter. She doesnt' feel warmer than normal, but I don't want to take her temp!
Thanks for the help!
I *might* skip feeding her tonight, or give her plain yogurt mixed with a smaller amount of dog food than she usually gets. I might suggest the people watching her give her the same, the plain yogurt mixed with dog food. I have one with stomach issues, and our vet always recommends that or light cottage cheese until she's feeling better. Good luck!
Is it really hot where you are? My three dogs are elderly and none of them do well in the heat, and we don't have AC. I was trying to get out the door to work the other day, and one of them did a huge "pile" right by the back door! ERR!
Yogurt is a good suggestion, and so is a couple tablespoons of cooked rice. It can be stored in the fridge. However, my vet says that it has to be regular long grain white rice, NOT Minute Rice.
Is there shade in your back yard? Any chance that predator type animals can bother them, especially your little dog, if they sleep outdoors? We have coyotes, bears and Fisher Cats here, so sleeping outdoors is not an option. Could you keep your breakfast room closed off, and have your neighbour put them in there at night?
I would also ask your neighbours to be extra vigilant and maybe check them THREE times a day, at least?
I would leave your vet's number with your neighbours. If (God forbid) they needed to take the dog to the vet, you can always give them your credit card number on the phone.
Wouldn't it figure when you want to go away? If it isn't the kids, it's the pets. Good luck.
Take her temp. If she just ate something bad, she won't have a fever. If she's sick, she COULD have a fever. So take the temp, already. That's basic diagnostics. Anything below 100 deg F or over 102.5 deg F is significant.
Also, palpate the dog's abdomen, from the bottom of the rib cage alll the way to the hips. Be aware of the dog's reaction; note if any areas are more painful than others.
Get back to us on this. And be prepared to call a vet anyway.
Nothing painful on her. My kids ear thermometer reads 101. It works well on the kids..LOL
As for my backyard, I actually have a huge covered patio that I have a huge fan on. So I can keep it comfortable enough for us to hang out and play darts. So I plan to leave that on for the doggies, so they won't have heat issues. I also have several large shade trees and strangely enough a big picnic table that she loves to nap on. We used the table in ohio, but here it became her bed..LOL. The little dog hangs out under the table. We are in a subdivision so no animals running around. It is my direct next door neighbor on the look out, so if something were to happen, extreme heat, rain, etc, she would walk right over. They typically spend a lot of time outside, so it is really only the whole sleeping outside that is new. But I will set up their beds on the porch, so they won't have issues with that. They currently sleep blocked in to the breakfast room and not with us. During the day if we aren't home they are typically out, just their preference. (i know because sometimes we leave it open for them..LOL)
A little update, she seems to be feeling much better. I went to feed the little dog and she was all over me. Brought me her zebra to play fetch etc. I had to hose her off, lovely long golden hair on those back legs and tail...eecchh! I will bathe her properly tomorrow, but didn't have time to tonight.
I'm glad she's feeling better and today, after her bath, she'll be looking and smelling so pretty, too. My dog also needs a bath, but just because it's been a while.
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