Just like a child, your pet relies 100% on you when they are sick. It is not amusing to see your cheerful, playful pet sick, which can be stressful, especially if you do not know what they are ailing from. Therefore, it is vital to monitor the daily activities of your pet so that you can quickly notice when they are a bit off.
Noticing a sick pet early enough can help establish the cause of the sickness and treat it fast, reducing its effect. Notably, most animals try to mask their illness as their instinct is that their predators can use sickness as a sign of weakness. Therefore, once you notice any sign of sickness with your pet, it is essential to take the below measures.
Seek prompt advice from your vet
Although some sicknesses can be treated at home, most pets require a vet’s check-up when they are sick. This is because it is possible to neglect the extent of the sickness, especially if the symptoms are not severe. Therefore, it is advisable to call the vet and explain the symptoms or take the pet to the clinic if symptoms are severe.
Understand how to give medication
For most pets, giving medication and ensuring the correct dosage is administered can be stressful. Therefore, it is essential to get the vet to show you how to administer the proper dosage to your pet for fast recovery. If you cannot do this, especially on the first few days, have the vet come over and assist. For example, if your dog has asthma and the dog asthma treatment recommended is not administered correctly, the chance of developing severe breathing problems, which can be fatal, is high.
Monitor the pet’s diet
It is advisable for pets suffering from vomiting and diarrhea to withhold food for up to 24 hours, according to the pet’s age. Ensure that you feed them light food which will be easily digestible after the withholding period. Keep the food balanced with proteins and starch such as boiled chicken and white rice to ensure no nutrients are missing from the pet’s diet.
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Access to water
Never keep away water from a sick pet. This water should be boiled and cooled. However, if the water is vomited out, contact your vet and explain the situation immediately.
Limit playtime
Just like for humans, enough rest is advisable for a sick pet. Pets are very playful and may not understand why they need to rest, but you must keep them on a leash. However, take them for a walk to ensure they also get sufficient fresh air.
Closely monitor the symptoms
With medication, a balanced diet, and enough rest, most pets recover fast. Monitoring their symptoms closely will enable you to know when the illness fades away. However, if symptoms become persistent, make sure you contact your vet or take the pet for a check-up immediately.
Whatever you do, never leave your pet unattended for long hours when they are sick. Always make sure someone is around 24/7 until the symptoms clear off. With this, you will have a happy, healthy pet in no time.
