As a pet owner, there will certainly come a time when your pets get sick, and you must take care of them yourself. This may be due to various reasons, such as emergency cases, lack of funding, or the inaccessibility of veterinary clinics in your area. Nevertheless, you need to do what we have and follow the correct procedures for home treatment. Because you can never predict when your pets get sick, it is generally a good idea to keep home testing kits for pets around the house. These tools allow you to safely and correctly diagnose your pet’s condition whenever something seems off with their behavior. Commonly, testing kits allow you to detect the following: bacterial and fungal infections, ear and skin mites, genetic markers for disease, and even blood glucose levels.
In addition to proper diagnosis, here are some important points that you need to bear in mind to treat your pets at home safely:
Stick to their usual diet and eating habits whenever possible
If your pet still has the appetite to eat, be sure to keep feeding them as usual. It is important that you do not disrupt your pet’s diet as their bodies are quite sensitive to changes whenever they are sick. Sudden changes in their usual diet can lead to an upset stomach or indigestion, worsening their condition. Also, avoid exclusively feeding them special medicinal or herbal foods if you have to use medicines. Instead, they mix small amounts into their diets, such as syrup medication with water or medicinal tablets with their solid food.
Temporarily avoid going outside
Some infections and diseases do not deplete your pet’s energy levels. In rare cases, these infections and diseases may not be noticeable at all. However, if your testing kit showed results indicating that your pet is sick, avoid walking them outside in the meantime. The outside environment, although extremely enjoyable for pets, is riddled with germs and bacteria, which can exacerbate your pet’s illnesses. One alternative you can do if you absolutely have to walk your pet is to walk them around your lawn or inside the house. Through this, you minimize the risk of your pet getting worse and prevent the spread of disease to other pets.
Regularly monitor and check on your pets
Your pet’s condition can abruptly change whenever they are sick. This can prove to be extremely dangerous if you are not able to detect these sudden changes. As such, be sure to check your pet’s condition regularly. If it is practicable, try to check on them hourly and jot down things that may be noteworthy or alarming about their health and behavior. It is also a smart strategy to conduct tests through home test kits every once in a while. As mentioned above, your pet’s condition can abruptly change without notice and so you have to be constantly updated. Redoing tests allows you to check if your pet has already healed or if they require immediate professional medical assistance.
Do not try out stuff without consulting veterinary professionals
In a desperate attempt to speed up your pet’s recovery process, it might be tempting to try out medications and alternatives that you hear from friends or that you see online. However, know that this method is prone to errors, and you may be a victim of false information. Having said that, some advice from friends and some information online may be true and that you need to follow and implement immediately. To ensure your pet’s safety, be sure to contact veterinary professionals before trying out a certain medication or treatment. In addition, you may browse the internet for veterinarians who can consult and advise through calls, messages, or video conferences. At the end of the day, it is better to be safe than sorry. And this is very much applicable to your pet’s health and wellness.