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During today’s challenging economic times, numerous vet clinics are receiving various phone calls each day from animal guardians searching for at-home suggestions for treating easy acute problems, instead of paying for costly veterinary exams and workups. In the earlier short article about pet owner misconceptions, I evaluated some statistics and a few medical examples of how certain conditions can often resolve on their own, or with just supportive care at home. two of the most common areas of phone inquiries revolve around acute digestive upset in their animals or skin/ear allergy flare-ups.
In both of these broad conditions, one of the most essential things I’ll often tell clients is to fast their animals for 24 to 48 hours, providing fresh water several times daily and/or chicken or vegetable broth. That is unless the pet is a diabetic or has some other chronic disease like cancer, where consultation with their pet ought to be done first before fasting. However, often fasting a pet like this and then reintroducing a bland, cooked, lean white meat turkey and sweet potato or rice diet after a 48-hour fast will often calm the digestive or skin symptoms. In addition, over-the-counter Pepcid AC or Famotidine (at a dose of 1/2 mg per pound) once daily can often help work out a sour stomach or vomiting pet.
If a pet is suffering from diarrhea, short term use of Imodium or Lomotil can sooth an irritable bowel, along with use of slippery elm from the health food store. An outstanding probiotic such as Fast balance by Vetriscience also can rapidly calm either diarrhea or vomiting symptoms in either dogs or cats. For the common hairball vomiting problem in cats, Laxatone or Petromalt Hairball Remedy can help soothe an acute flare-up of vomiting.
As for skin or ear allergy problems, including allergic hot spots and focal areas of intense itching and dermatitis, this can often be soothed by topical sprays, creams or oils. Some products I recommend include the all natural Be Soothed, Dermaguard, or Genesis spray. during allergy season itching, shampooing every few days with a product like Aloe Vera and Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner can help alleviate skin symptoms. Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo can also be very effective. Oral treatment with antihistamines like Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or Chlorphenirimine will also help to ease itching symptoms in numerous cases. I’ve seen the fantastic product Zymox Otic HC work miracles in those animals with acutely inflamed ears. Of course if symptoms intensify or worsen, or if you are ever in doubt, a veterinary exam and consultation is always best.
AllergiesDigestive Problems
