Pet First Aid Or A Vet's Visit?


Over the past few weeks our puppies have made it through a bee sting, two ear infections, and a hot spot that was licked raw and bleeding. Two of them sent us to the vet's office, while the other was treated at home - all to successful healing! And some adorably goofy pictures. Health problems can be so scary, and it's easy to either overreact or not react enough when we don't know exactly what's going on. Two of these we'd never experienced before and the other was clearly outside our expertise.


So how do you know if it's a minor issue that you can handle at home or something that needs immediate professional help? You can always call the vet's office to run down the situation and make sure, just to put your mind at rest. There are also certain symptoms, like if your pet has trouble breathing, severe bleeding or collapse, that should send you to the vet's office immediately. Also, if there has been serious trauma, they've eaten something that could be deadly, or there are signs of physical or mental lethargy, take them in to be seen by a vet. With the boys' ear infections, we made a next-day appointment and had them treated.


On a less serious note, there are a lot of health issues you can treat right at home. Minor scrapes and scratches that aren't deep, weird digestive issues, bug bites that don't swell or change color, and hot spots and minor itching can all be taken care of with over-the-counter pet medication. When Diesel had a bee sting on his foot and Cooper licked a hot spot on his leg raw, we used some topical medication and got them lots of rest. And you can tell Cooper loved the inflatable collar that kept him from licking the medicine off. 


With all the love we have for our pets, it's so important to know how best to treat them when there are issues. Ask your vet lots of questions, do your research, and pay attention to changes in their health and mood. And please remember that AI and Internet searches can be wrong, so follow up with experts before doing anything. Then love on your pets, enjoy them every single day, and know when they need a little extra help.

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