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The Stomach Flu Is Going Around: What To Do When Your Dog Is Sick

11 April 2018

Madison Adams

With flu season winding down, you might think that you can stop worrying about sickness. However, if you have dogs, you're not out of the woods yet. You might not know this, but your dogs can get sick too. Unfortunately, they can't tell you when they're sick. The only way to tell when your dogs are sick is to watch them closely. If one of your dogs is acting like it's feeling under the weather, it's time to pack on the tender loving care. Here are four steps you should take if your dog has been vomiting or has developed a slight case of diarrhea.

Remove the Food Bowls for the Day

If your dog isn't feeling well, the first thing you need to do is remove all the food bowls. The last thing you want to do is feed your dog when it's sick. That will just give it more food to vomit up or lose through diarrhea. Instead, you want to give your dog's stomach a break for at least a full day. This includes any treats that you might want to give it. Your dog's stomach needs a chance to recover from the sickness before it resumes normal eating.

Keep Plenty of Fresh Water on Hand

When your dog is sick, it can become dehydrated quite quickly. Unfortunately, dehydration in dogs can be deadly. Go ahead and remove the food bowls, but leave the bowl of water out for your dog. In fact, leave a couple of bowls of water out for your dog. This will ensure that your dog has access to water nearby throughout the day. Be sure to replace the water several times a day to keep it fresh.

Add Some Banana to Their Food

Once your dog is able to resume eating again, you'll want to give it as much nourishment as possible. You'll also want to boost its appetite. The best way to do that is to add some mashed banana to your dogs food. Simply mash a ripe banana and mix it in with your dog's normal food. Do this at each meal for at least the first day after your dog has been sick. If your dog doesn't like the taste of banana's, you can also use plain yogurt.

Get to the Vet When Trouble Appears

If your dog has been sick, it's important that you watch for warning signs. These warning signs will let you know if it's more than just a stomach virus that's got your dog feeling under the weather. Look for uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea, swelling or hardness of the belly, or severe weakness. If your dog displays any of those symptoms, get it to the veterinarian immediately.

For more tips, contact a company like Evergreen Veterinary Clinic.

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