Vet Views

To induce vomiting.

To induce vomiting in dogs administer 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide orally every 1-2 minutes until the dog vomits. Be careful to administer the hydrogen peroxide to the dog carefully so that they do not inhale it. In a large breed dog you can feed 1 tablespoon at a time until vomiting occurs.

To induce vomiting in dogs feed 1 teaspoon of syrup of ipecac orally every 3-5 minutes until vomiting occurs.

How to clean ears.

To clean ears pour ear cleaning solution into the ear canal, message ear canal, then wipe out the solution and discharge with soft cotton. Repeat flushing procedure until no more discharge comes out. Only use Q-tips for the visible nooks where wax gets caught at the top of the ear canal. Do not put Q-tip down the ear canal. Commercial ear cleaners can be used or a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol plus 1 part white vinegar.

Bleeding toe nail..cut too short or broken..

Toe nail bleeding. If a toe nail is clipped too short, apply styptic powder and hold pressure on the tip of the nail for 2-3 minutes. If you do not have styptic powder or a styptic pencil try to apply soap or pack flour on the tip and apply pressure. If that doesnŐt work you will need to seek veterinary help. If the toenail is broken, the broken section of the nail needs to be cut off. Then styptic powder and pressure needs to be applied. Broken toenails are very painful and need to be treated appropriately. If left alone the dog will lick at it and cause an infection.

To remove a tick.

Grasp the tick very close to where it attaches to the skin, and pull the tick out. Tweezers, tick removers, and finger nails work well to grasp the tick. You do not need to worry about leaving the head of the tick in the skin. Once the body is removed the dogŐs body will create a scab and the tick head will fall off. Always wash your hands after handling a tick.

Moving an injured animal.

To transport an animal that is injured remember to protect yourself before attempting to move. Most animals in pain will lash out and attempt to bite when moved. First cover the pets head with a towel or blanket or tie the muzzle of a dog closed. You can use a shoe lace, small rope or string. Then slide the pet onto a blanket/towel or a firm board. Then use the board or blanket like a sling, moving the pet into a vehicle. Bring pet to emergency facility or animal hospital. Once at the facility allow the staff at the hospital to assess the patient.

If your dog had diarrhea and is acting otherwise normal.

Skip a meal the feed a bland diet the next meal. If the diarrhea continues longer that 24 hours contact a veterinarian. Place your dog on a bland diet of chicken with rice or potatoes.

If your dog is vomiting.

Take all food and water away for 4-6 hours. If vomiting has subsided, offer small amounts of water for the next 4 hours. If vomiting has stopped you can then feed a bland diet for a meal or two. Then back to the normal diet. If vomiting persists contact a veterinarian.

If dog is vomiting and diarrhea at the same time.

Take all food and water away for 4-6 hours. if vomiting has stopped then offer small amounts of water for the next 4 hours. if vomiting has subsided then can offer a bland diet. If vomiting and diarrhea persist and the dog is unable to ingest water you must seek veterinary help since the pet is losing a lot of fluid through the diarrhea.

Dog heat (estrus) cycle.

A female dog produces a slightly bloody vaginal discharge for approximately 10 days. They ovulate over the next 2-4 days, then the cycle ends. This means when a female dog begins her vaginal discharge she will be fertile on day 10 to 14. It is best to keep her away from the male until 20 days just to be careful. If plan to breed her she should be bred when she accepts the male and that is usually between days 10 thru day 14. Veterinarians prefer to spay dogs when they are not cycling, due to delayed clotting during heat cycles. Dogs usually cycle every 6 months.