Have you ever thought your vet was wrong?

Have you ever thought your vet was wrong?

No one is without fault and mistakes do happen. I certainly hope it has never happened to your dog.

Has it? Take our poll. I'm interested in the results and your comments.

As I mentioned I do believe that mistakes happen, but there are a few things you can do to help your vet do a better job.

1. Keep good records – especially if your pet has a chronic problem. When did he start on a certain medication? When did the dosage change? How did he respond? Here's some great information:  How to Keep Track of Your Dog's Vital Information

2. Ask questions. If you don't understand something – ask questions. Be informed. Ask your vet for a link to read more information on a website they trust. A great resource is our very own Petplace.com.

Looking at human medicine and my experiences with my own health and my family's health – you really get better care if you are involved and ask questions.

Have a great day!

P.S. How long do expired medications last?  Get the Answer Here. 

Our Dogs

"In a perfect world, every dog would have a home and every home would have a dog."   Author - Unknown Our dogs are special and we are committed to providing our special friends with high quality health foods, effective nutritional solutions and supplements, treats with a healthy purpose and luxurious pet care products created to beautify and pamper your pup. Click Here for Pet Safe Products from Life's Abundance

Home Care for the Dog with Diarrhea

Related Articles

• Should I take my dog into the vet for diarrhea?
• Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs
• Acute Diarrhea in Dogs
• Dehydration in Dogs

Diarrhea is a common problem seen in veterinary clinics. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons people take their dog to the vet.

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is the act of having abnormally loose or liquid stools. This can also be associated with an increased frequency of bowel movements. Some dogs will have a large amount of liquid or abnormally loose stools once and others will have semi-formed stools frequently with straining.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and it is an important sign of intestinal disease in dogs.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many different conditions. It can be caused a number of problems including:

A change in the dog's food

Eating garbage or food that does not agree with their system

Eating indigestible objects

Infectious agents including bacterial, viral or parasites

Systemic problems such as pancreatitis, kidney disease or liver disease

It can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.
For a full list of possible causes – go to Acute Diarrhea in Dogs. Pet owners commonly ask, "What can I do at home?"

Home Treatment of Diarrhea

Specific treatments of diarrhea are dependent on the cause. Here is the general approach to dealing with a dog with acute diarrhea:

If your pet has diarrhea once then has a normal bowel movement without further diarrhea or has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own.

If you can identify it, always eliminate any predisposing cause such as exposure to trash, abrupt change in diet and eating plants.

If your dog has diarrhea and vomiting (gastroenteritis), we recommend that you see your veterinarian – don't attempt home care.

If diarrhea occurs several times and you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

- Administer only prescribed medications by your veterinarian.

- Stop feeding your dog for the first 12 to 24 hours.

- If there is no vomiting, provide plenty of fresh clean water or oral rehydrating solutions to help prevent dehydration.

               

- Temporarily change the diet to something bland. Bland diets can be made at home or prescription type diets can be obtained from your veterinarian. A bland digestible diet such as: Hill's prescription diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat is usually recommended. You can make a homemade diet of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Feed small amounts at a time. Don't over feed as it may induce vomiting. Feed a meatball size portion and if there is no vomiting for a full hour, offer a small amount more. Give small amounts frequently – every 3 to 4 hours for the first day. You can gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency as your dog tolerates.

- Feed a bland diet for 2 days.

- Then gradually return to regular dog food over the next day or two. At first, mix in a little of your dog's food into the bland diet. Feed that for one meal. Then feed a 50/50 mix for one meal. Then feed ¾ dog food and ¼ bland diet for a meal. Then feed your dog's regular food.

- Leash-walk your pet to allow observation of bowel movements while watching for normal urinations and any vomiting that may occur otherwise without you knowing.

- Observe your dog's general activity and appetite. Watch closely for the presence of blood in the stool, worsening of signs or the onset of vomiting.

- Have your pet examined by your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

- Some veterinarians recommend Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate (for dogs only!) ® The active ingredients are generally subsalicylate and Bismuth. Two tablespoons of Pepto-Bismol contain almost as much salicylate as one aspirin tablet (which is toxic to cats). Do NOT give cats Pepto-bismol or Kaopectate! The subsalicylate, an aspirin-like compound, can decrease diarrhea caused by intestinal infections. The bismuth agent is a chalk-like compound designed to coat the lining of the stomach and intestines. This helps some pets with diarrhea. The typical dose administered to dogs amounts to approximately two teaspoons (10 ml total) per 10 pounds per day, ideally split between two to four doses. This be found at most pharmacies and does not require a prescription. It is often used for one to two days. DO NOT USE IN CATS.

- Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. Please do not administer to cats without first consulting with a veterinarian to avoid toxicity.

- This is important! If the diarrhea continues at any time or the onset of other symptoms are noted, call your veterinarian promptly. If your pet is not eating, starts vomiting, acts lethargic, has continued diarrhea or any other physical abnormalities mentioned above, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your pet needs the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When Is Diarrhea an Emergency?

If the diarrhea continues after your pet eats or if your pet acts lethargic, doesn't want to eat and/or starts vomiting, then medical attention is warranted. Please see your veterinarian!

Great Links for More Information

For more details about diarrhea, go to Acute Diarrhea in Dogs, and Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs (duration longer than 1 or 2 weeks)".

Related topics – go to Vomiting in Dogs, Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs and Dehydration in Dogs.

Disclaimer: Advice given in the Home Care series of articles is not meant to replace veterinary care. When your pet has a problem, it is always best to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. But in some cases, it is not always possible to seek veterinary care. You could be traveling, it could be after hours and there are no 24-hour clinics near you, or maybe you simply can't afford it. Whatever the reason, when your pet has a problem, you need answers. Most vets will not give you any information over the phone – they will tell you to bring your pet in for an office visit. So, when these difficult situations arise, many pet owners don't know what to do – and they end up doing the wrong thing because they don't have sound veterinary advice. When your pet has a problem and you can't see your vet, the information in this series of articles can help guide you so that you will not inadvertently cause harm to your pet. However, this information is not a replacement for veterinary care.

What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking

When the unexpected happens it's time to think fast. If your dog began choking, would you know what to do? When a person chokes, someone must perform the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge any object blocking the airway. In the case of a choking dog, the process is surprisingly similar. 

When a dog is choking, you can do a modification of the Heimlich maneuver. Today I'd like to give you some tips on performing this lifesaving process. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but it's best to be prepared. 

Take a minute now to learn how to do the step-by-step procedure for dogs. This article gives you a full detailed list of instructions. I recommend printing it out and posting it somewhere that's easy to find. You might even want a copy of it for your wallet or purse.  Go to: Heimlich For Your Dog 

The procedure is fairly easy, but remember to be aware of your dog's relatively small body size in comparison to humans. Never distress a healthy dog by “practicing” on them; you could hurt them in doing so. 

Here is a brief summary of the steps necessary for performing the Heimlich maneuver on dogs; read Heimlich For Your Dog for the full method. 

STEPS TO PERFORM THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER FOR DOGS: 

1.  Clear Blockages2.  Position Animal3.  Place a fist just underneath the ribs4.  Compress the abdomen 5.  Check the mouth 

The canine Heimlich is just one of the top first aid skills to know for dog safety. Do you know the others? Make sure you’re ready to offer effective first aid to your dog. Read: Top 10 Things to Know for Dogs 

I hope you and your dog never experience such a scary incident, but if they do you should be prepared. Information like this can save their life. 

Until next time, 

Dr. Jon

P.S. Did you know that there is a canine version of CPR as well? Learn about it here: Canine CPR 

Never give your dog Raw Hide Bones because they can't be digested and may cause a blockage in the digestive tract!

I recommend safe Treats from Life's Abundance!

Chew Treats Training Treats Baked Treats Pork Treats

How to Clean Your Dog's Ears

Cleaning your dog's ears may look easy but it is more difficult than you think. Dogs have long ear canals and improper cleaning can result in a ruptured eardrum, pain or lacerations of the canal. If the ears are severely infected, they may be too painful for you to clean at home, and you should consider having a veterinarian clean the ears, possibly even under sedation. However, you can perform routine cleaning safely and easily if you follow these steps:

Restrain your dog. Start by wrapping your small dog in a large thick towel with just her head exposed or having someone help hold the body and legs of a larger dog.

Clean the ear lobe. Using a cotton ball, paper towel or gauze sponges moistened with water, gently rub the large pieces of dirt, wax and debris off the ear lobe. Repeat on the opposite ear.

               

Clean the cartilage of the ear. After most of the debris has been removed with the moistened cotton ball, use a cotton tip applicator (Q-Tip®), moistened with water, to gently remove the pieces of debris trapped within the cartilage of the ear. Be very careful not to place the Q-tip down the ear canal. This will stimulate head shaking and can lead to ear trauma.

It is safest to clean only the parts of the ear you can see. If there is significant wax just inside the ear canal, you can briefly place the tip of the Q-tip into the ear canal to remove the debris. However, this is important: You should ALWAYS be able to see the cotton tip of the Q-tip.

After cleaning ears, it is a good idea to offer a treat. This will help make the next ear cleaning session a little smoother.

Ear Care Formula Really Works!         Cleans ears and eliminates odor.      Dissolves ear wax.      Removes dirt and debris.      Soothes like only aloe vera can.      Contains no alcohol and will not sting.     Leaves ears dry, which keeps nasty ear debris at bay.      Safe and gentle enough for puppies and kittens.  Ear Care Formula contains a special botanical blend and gentle cleansers specifically developed to keep your pet’s ear's healthy.

Click Here for more Info about Life's Abundance Ear Care Formula:

Creating an Outdoor Emergency Animal Shelter

Few parts of the United States have been spared from extreme cold weather this winter. When temperatures dip well below zero and snow piles up, most people and pets are lucky enough to be able to wait it out inside where it’s warm and dry. However, feral animals, outside pets, and even some wildlife need a little bit of help to survive winter storms.
Building a simple winter animal shelter is simple and inexpensive, and it can be very rewarding to catch a glimpse of a furry creature taking shelter in your new hotel during a storm.
Whatever you use to build your shelter, it should be warm, dry and out of the wind. The shelter should be small enough that an animal’s body heat is held within the shelter. Plastic storage bins and Styrofoam coolers make excellent, inexpensive, temporary shelters that can be cleaned up and put away after a storm. Rubbermaid even provides instructions on their website for how to use their bins to make a shelter for small outdoor critters.
Here’s how to build a simple outdoor shelter for small animals:
Put the lid on a plastic bin or Styrofoam cooler then cut a six inch square or round hole in one side, two or three inches up from the bottom of the bin. (Leaving a few inches on the bottom of the bin will keep out snow, rain and snow melt.)

1. If you have a second larger bin, put the smaller bin inside the larger bin and insulate between the two with fiberglass insulation, Styrofoam insulation, Mylar, straw or old blankets, towels or sweaters. (Since Wise Company food envelopes are made of Mylar, you can rinse them out, tape them together into panels and line the box.) To line the shelter, don’t use old blankets, towels or folded newspapers as they can actually absorb body heat.
2. Line the smallest bin with straw (not hay) or old pillowcases stuffed with packing peanuts, Styrofoam insulation (not fiberglass) or shredded newspaper. Straw is best because it allows animals to burrow.
3. Cut a lightweight door flap from an old tarp, towel or blanket. It should be light enough that an animal can push it aside but heavy enough to block wind and keep heat in.
4. Place the shelter in a secluded spot where animals won’t be disturbed.
5. Point the door away from the direction of the wind.
6. Weigh down the top to keep it stable in wind and ensure the lid is secure.
7. Leave food and water near the shelter, but not inside as water can spill and freeze. The best plan is to lean a piece of plywood against the shelter, your house or a nearby outbuilding and place bowls underneath it. The plywood will protect the food and water from the elements.

One animal lover posted her instructions, a materials list and step-by-step instructions here, and another here.

Tigger on top-Cheeto in tub

Our outside cats enjoy their Tubs, they provide safety and warmth year round.

Winter storms come and go quickly but extreme temperatures can be deadly for humans and animals in a matter of minutes. If you’ve got a snow day this week, consider building an outdoor shelter as a project in between DVDs. Stay warm and safe!

How to Help Your Pets Weather the Cold Winter

By: Susan Rubinowitz

Winter continues to hold us within her icy grip, and pet owners need to take precautions to keep their animals safe and healthy.
The danger may be worse than what the thermometer reads. The wind chill factor can drop the temperature by 20 or 30 degrees. In other words, if the thermometer reads 34 degrees, the wind can make it feel like zero.So even dogs and cats that stay outside in warmer weather may have to be brought inside in extreme cold snaps. ``Be attentive to your dog's body temperature and limit time outdoors,'' advises the SPCA.

Provide Adequate Shelter
An adequate shelter means your pet is kept warm, dry and away from drafts. That is easy enough to do in most homes, but remember that tile and uncarpeted areas can get very cold. If your pet lives in a shelter of his own, make sure that it is raised off the ground, has dry bedding and is insulated or heated. Make sure also that your pet has a constant source of clean water – not snow. Thermal heaters are available to make sure the water source doesn't freeze.

But portable heaters and fireplaces are potentially deadly hazards for small animals. Screen all fireplaces and place portable heaters out of their reach.

Never leave antifreeze or windshield wiper fluids on the garage floor or anywhere within reach. Many of these products taste sweet and are attractive to pets – and are extremely deadly.
Wipe snow and ice off your pet's feet – even clean between the toes – after outdoor walks and be especially sure to clean paws of lime rock salt or calcium chloride salt, both of which can cause vomiting and diarrhea if the animal licks it.                

Avoid Frozen Areas
Nothing's more fun than cavorting with your dog in the snow, and regular exercise is important when your pet's been house-bound much of the time. But take care that your dog isn't close enough to a frozen lake, river or pond to jump in and get injured.
Dr. Gail Golab, assistant director of the American Veterinary Medical Association, warns that roaming cats and wildlife like to climb onto car engines for warmth in winter. ``There's a large number of people who let their cats outdoors, even in winter,'' she said. ``One of the things they tend to do is seek out warm places.'' So look under the hood and honk the horn before starting the engine.
Animals get frostbite, too. Just a short exposure to sub-zero temperatures can produce frostbite of the feet, nose or ears. Frost-bitten skin is red or gray and may peel off. Treat it by applying warm, moist towels to thaw the affected areas slowly, until the skin looks flushed. Then contact a veterinarian for further care, says Golab.

Extra Calories for the Cold
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, especially if he's a working animal, feed him extra calories because it takes more energy in winter to keep his body temperature regulated.
But be careful not to overfeed a dog or cat that's spending most of their time on a warm rug in the living room, said Dr. Sandra Sawchuck, staff veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison.

``They're probably getting less activity, so they may even need less food,'' said Sawchuck, who's seen her share of plumped-up animals.
Many dogs just don't want to eliminate waste in deep snow, she said. In those cases, make a more comfortable bathroom by shoveling the snow away in a certain place, she recommended. ``Get the dog out there and back very quickly,'' she said.
Booties and coats can help your dog stay warm, but letting a thick-coated dog like a poodle go without grooming can cause more problems than it solves. The fur can get wet and matted, making it an irritant, so don't bypass grooming sessions for too long, she said.
Most importantly, remember that your pet is smaller and thus more vulnerable to the chills you feel, said Sawchuck.

Great Tips to Help You Give Your Dog Medications

Giving medication to a pet can be a real challenge. I've found that a lot of people hate it just as much as their dogs do! Unfortunately most dogs need some kind of medication at least once in their lives so today I want to share some resources which can make the process much easier.
How to Give Pill Medications - This article has some very good tips on how to get your dog to swallow pills.   
How to Give Topical Medication - Learn how to apply topical medication with the least amount of stress to your dog. 
How to Give Ear Medication - Many pets are especially fussy when it comes to medications for ear mites and ear infections so these tips are very useful.
 How to Give Eye Medication – These medications can be a real challenge but a few shortcuts can make giving them easier.

These instructions are worth printing and keeping in a first aid or health file for your pet. You never know when you will need it.

I hope these tips help.