I have always believed that kids and dogs are a lot alike.  When we first got Daisy, a caramel ball of fluff (Wheaton Terrier), we indulged her with numerous soft rubber toys.  She loved the noisy squeaking ones the best.  When my son Ben came along, he too loved soft noisy pliable toys, the more noise they made, the better.   During potty training, they both made messes in corners and tried to pretend like nothing happened.  They both jump up and down when their excited, and whine when they’re hungry.  They love to cuddle and are the happiest when they have your attention. After a recent trip to the vet’s office, I discovered still more similarities.  The contents of your first aid kit will not only work for kids but also for canines.

Diarhea, next to vomiting, is my least favourite aliment to deal with, but according to Dr. John Clark from the Granville Island Veterinary Hospital, Pepto-Bismol is the best way to treat this messy problem.  He recommends 1cc’s per 5kg and give three doses at eight hour intervals.  He cautions, if the dog is very depressed or is vomiting frequently, get them to a vet right away.

Dr. Clark is also a big fan of Polysporin.  He prescribes it for cuts, particularly on their feet, or if they get into a fight with another dog.  Polysporin Eye Drops can also be used for mild ocular discharge; however, if your pooch shows significant ocular discomfort or squinting, it should be examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian.

Dogs, like children, can also suffer from heat-stroke, particularly if they are very active or are left in a hot car too long.  If your dog is really dehydrated and you can’t get them to a vet, you can use Pedialyte.  If your dog is suffering from heat stroke, soak the animal down with cool water (not cold) on their trunk and legs, and give them cool water to drink (but don’t force them to drink). 

Children and dogs react to insect bites.  If your pet gets bitten and has facial swelling, ear swelling, or becomes itchy all over, give them Benadryl: 2mg per Kg.  If you dog suffers a sting to the tongue, and it starts to swell, administer Benadryl immediately.  A swollen tongue will make it difficult for them to breathe.

Who knew they are so similar - practically indistinguishable?  I wonder if Daisy prefers Barbie or Spiderman bandages?  If you need more information or have questions regarding your dog’s treatment talk to your vet or visit: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/. 

Next week, we will talk about some precautions you should take before you turn your child - opps, I mean dog, loose at the cabin.

Cheers,

Julie

This entry was posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2007 at 7:15 am and is filed under Fix It. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.