| SICK PUPPY - IN HOME TREATMENT PLAN |
SICK PUPPY - IN HOME TREATMENT PLAN
Puppies often experience vomiting/diarrhea. Once parvo
and internal parasites have been ruled out as possible
causes, the following regime may be followed as an in home
treatment plan.
1. The puppy should be kept in isolation from other dogs. An
easy-to-clean
surface or kennel is best, with newspapers to help catch
vomiting/diarrhea messes.
2. A heating pad set on "low" can be put under a few layers
of newspaper with
room to move off of it in case it gets too warm.
NOTE: The pad almost never seems too warm to the touch,
but prolonged skin contact can cause burns.
3. Lots of gentle cuddling is good, but resist the urge to feed
a nauseous puppy.
They not only lose fluid when they vomit, but also valuable
electrolytes. Warmth and adequate blood sugar level and
hydration are the most important supportive care a pet owner
can provide.
4. If vomiting, no food or water is offered to the puppy for 24
hours to "rest" the
stomach and intestines. If the pup seems dizzy or
disoriented, a tiny amount of Karo or Pancake syrup can be
smeared along the gumline, to raise the pup's blood sugar
level without upsetting the stomach.
5. Gatorade ice cubes may be used after the puppy fasts for
24 hours. Fruit
punch flavor seems to work well. Offer one of these cubes
every 45 minutes (or a portion of the cube for little puppies).
If the puppy vomits again, wait 4-6 hours before resuming the
Gatorade cubes. If no vomiting, continue the Gatorade
cubes for 24 hours before offering any solid food.
6. When the pup is ready to eat solid food again, Prescription
Science Diet I/D
(dry or cans) is our first choice. A bland homemade diet may
be made using 3 parts cooked white rice to 1 part lowfat
cottage cheese. Feed about a teaspoon every 30 minutes
as long as no vomiting occurs. If the puppy goes 4 hours
without vomiting, the size of the bland diet serving can be
increased. It is important to observe any stools for diarrhea &
prevent grass eating if pup is walked outside.
NOTE: diarrhea may last longer than vomiting and we should
check stools under the microscope for worms & other
parasite.
7. Over the next 2 or 3 days of no vomiting, meal sizes can
be increased and
offered 2-3 times per day. After 5 days, eating nothing but
bland diet, we start mixing in 50 % of a high-quality puppy
food, Science diet growth is our first choice. Over the next
2-3 days, the bland diet amount is decreased while the
puppy food is increased.
Puppies often experience vomiting/diarrhea. Once parvo
and internal parasites have been ruled out as possible
causes, the following regime may be followed as an in home
treatment plan.
1. The puppy should be kept in isolation from other dogs. An
easy-to-clean
surface or kennel is best, with newspapers to help catch
vomiting/diarrhea messes.
2. A heating pad set on "low" can be put under a few layers
of newspaper with
room to move off of it in case it gets too warm.
NOTE: The pad almost never seems too warm to the touch,
but prolonged skin contact can cause burns.
3. Lots of gentle cuddling is good, but resist the urge to feed
a nauseous puppy.
They not only lose fluid when they vomit, but also valuable
electrolytes. Warmth and adequate blood sugar level and
hydration are the most important supportive care a pet owner
can provide.
4. If vomiting, no food or water is offered to the puppy for 24
hours to "rest" the
stomach and intestines. If the pup seems dizzy or
disoriented, a tiny amount of Karo or Pancake syrup can be
smeared along the gumline, to raise the pup's blood sugar
level without upsetting the stomach.
5. Gatorade ice cubes may be used after the puppy fasts for
24 hours. Fruit
punch flavor seems to work well. Offer one of these cubes
every 45 minutes (or a portion of the cube for little puppies).
If the puppy vomits again, wait 4-6 hours before resuming the
Gatorade cubes. If no vomiting, continue the Gatorade
cubes for 24 hours before offering any solid food.
6. When the pup is ready to eat solid food again, Prescription
Science Diet I/D
(dry or cans) is our first choice. A bland homemade diet may
be made using 3 parts cooked white rice to 1 part lowfat
cottage cheese. Feed about a teaspoon every 30 minutes
as long as no vomiting occurs. If the puppy goes 4 hours
without vomiting, the size of the bland diet serving can be
increased. It is important to observe any stools for diarrhea &
prevent grass eating if pup is walked outside.
NOTE: diarrhea may last longer than vomiting and we should
check stools under the microscope for worms & other
parasite.
7. Over the next 2 or 3 days of no vomiting, meal sizes can
be increased and
offered 2-3 times per day. After 5 days, eating nothing but
bland diet, we start mixing in 50 % of a high-quality puppy
food, Science diet growth is our first choice. Over the next
2-3 days, the bland diet amount is decreased while the
puppy food is increased.
| McMillan Veterinary Clinic |