Pets are an integral part of every pet owner’s life. Thus, it is only normal for ailing pets to be a cause of concern to their owners. The most common pets to have these endearing effects on the hearts of humans are dogs and cats.
Managing sick pets can be a daunting task. It is even more complicated because pets cannot tell owners how they exactly feel. That is why knowing the entire process of sick pet management is very important.
Here are a few tips on how to manage a sick pet
1. Consult A Vet
If you have noticed any symptoms in your dog that’s already spanning for some days, the first thing to do is to consult a vet. You can employ several vet consultation techniques, such as virtual consultations via the web and phone calls or the traditional method – physical consultation.
During both virtual and physical consultations, it is important to divulge all changes in your pet that you have noticed. Using the information you have provided and their professional insight, a vet can make the right diagnosis of your pet. If it is a virtual consultation, the vet might ask that you bring your pet in for further examination. In physical consultation, this is easily done since the dog is present there.
Doctors will proceed to give you the treatment procedures for your pets. These treatment procedures, such as UTI treatment for dogs, include scans and surgeries. They will help you know if they would still need any further investigations. They are also able to tell if the treatment is to start at once or on a later date.
2. Stick to Regimens from the Vet
Often, vets would prescribe drugs and other things for your sick pet. Proper pet management means being able to precisely follow the prescription of the vet.
You can be apt about keeping up with your pet’s health by doing the following:
- Give the pet the specific dosage for each drug to be taken
- Pay attention to the specified times your dog should have their medications
- If you find feeding them to be difficult, get your vet’s help.
- Keep the Pet Clean and Away from Other Animals
Sick pets don’t have the same energy to get in the shower as they used to. Thus, it might require you to carry them personally to their cleaning rooms. Properly take care of them by giving them a good bath as frequently as possible. Cleaning your pet while it is sick can detect any other unhealthy signs in the body.
Pets that are temporarily immobilized should be provided with beds that are comfortable for their situation. This includes finding ways for them to excrete comfortably. This is not the time to keep strict hygiene rules for your pet.
During UTI treatment for dogs and cats, sometimes they will accidentally pee. To take care of such pets, owners should get pets with indoor toilets and beddings that don’t retain urine in the pet’s body.
For a pet that is very sick, pet isolation might be worthy of consideration. This is because their immune systems are typically very low, which means they are at risk of contracting another illness where care is not taken. You can’t be aware of the germs other pets may have; hence it is also best to keep them indoors if possible.
3. Maintain the Pet’s Quality of Life
If given the same dose of care it has always received, a pet will likely rise sooner from their sickbed. This is an aspect many caregivers tend to neglect. You need to make your pet happy at all times. You can try grooming and for grooming tips, you can see https://www.veterinaryschoolsu.com/grooming/online-courses/.
A sick pet needs all the care and support they can get from their owners, especially from all the treatment procedures it is being subjected to, and if you are a really caring pet owner you can also make them happy by buying various types of pet grooming items.
Spend some time with a sick pet as you would a healthy one. Buy them toys if you can afford them. Play the less demanding games with your pet to keep them happy and active. Don’t forget to give them some days out in the park as long as it doesn’t affect their health.
4. Rethink Food and Feeding
Some of the life changes pets sometimes need to make when they are sick is on feeding. Pets might have a lesser appetite when they are sick. Thus, it is important to think about creative ways to get them to eat.
You can start with their known favorite meals. Just to be clear you are not feeding them wrong, ask your veterinarian’s directions on what your pet should be eating during their sickness. Just as is the case with humans, you can also consider buying them treats, too. you can also feed them vegetables like zucchinis from time to time to diversify their food habit.
More personal means of feeding, such as hand-feeding, sometimes work. When your pet is rejecting meals, you should consult the vet.
Try to give your dog only dog foods and keep them away from spicy foods as they can make your four-legged friend sick.
5. Be Wary of a Caregiver’s Burnout
This point is tailored to the pet owners themselves. It is a common occurrence for people giving care to sick persons or pets to get too committed to taking care of the sick. Then, they tend to forget about themselves, risking becoming sick. This is a phenomenon called a caregiver’s burnout.
To avoid becoming unhealthy due to the care you are giving to a sick pet, ensure to give yourself some personal time. Do the least bit to take care of yourself:
- Eat healthy as always
- Get adequate sleep but stay conscious about the pet’s situation.
- If time permits, you can exercise.
- Take some hours away from pet care
- Don’t blame yourself
- Find support
- Don’t completely neglect your work for pet care
Conclusion
Sick pet management calls for understanding on the part of the pet owner. Pet owners must promptly take the step to consult and visit a vet at first sight of any symptoms.
When doctors prescribe drugs for pets, they must be appropriately administered. Due to a lower immunity in sickness, keep your pet clean and away from other animals. Ensure to dot on the pet more during its sickness; don’t be all about drugs and cleaning. Instead, spend some quality time with them.
Feeding during sickness must be done with a lot of attention. However, watch out for yourself, so you don’t forget about yourself while caring for your sick pet.
If this article helped you and you want to know more about taking care of your pet’s health in sickness, check out our blog.
