Pet Owner's Guide to Home Treatments

This article was published in "The Fairview Town Crier", one of our local papers, in September 2008. It was written by a local veterinarian – Leigh Ann Hamon, DVM, Cane Creek Animal Clinic – and I wanted to share it with all you animal lovers. I keep it on my refrigerator just in case!

“Most minor cat and dog injuries can be handled at home provided the pet owner has the right supplies and medications on hand. As a pet owner, I would recommend having on hand at all times the following supplies:

• Empty syringes, 6-12 cc size: Good for giving medication/flushing wounds.
• Tweezers/hemostats: God for tick and thorn removal
• Thermometer
• Bandage dressing
• Triple antibiotic: Only apply to superficial scrapes!
• Sterile Saline Wash for Eyes
• Hydrogen Peroxide: All purpose wound cleaner and may be used to induce vomiting. May give in 10 ml increments to induce vomiting.
• Baking Soda/Flour: Good for blood clotting when toe nails are broken
• Tissue glue or Superglue (Superglue is sterile until opened): For minor skin tears or to repair chewed out sutures.
• Liquid dishwashing soap: The grease cutting ability washes off most skin toxicities including flea products producing an unfavorable reaction. This might save your cat if the wrong flea medication is applied topically. The fastest it is washed off, the better chance your cat has of surviving.

The following medications are considered safe for otherwise healthy dogs and cats if used sparingly and if given at the appropriate dosage.

• Benadryl (diphenhydramine): May be used for insect bites or hives. It is generally safe to give up to one ml per pound for both cats and dogs. It may cause slight sedation in your pet. Consult your veterinarian if your animal is currently on medication that may interact with Benadryl.
• Tagamet/Zantac/Pepcid: It is safe for use in otherwise healthy dogs and cats for minor stomach upset. Use the children's dose for cats/small dogs and the adult dose for medium to large dogs. If your pet continues to vomit or will not eat consult your veterinarian.
• Imodium: It is safe for several continued uses in otherwise healthy doge and cats for mild diarrhea. A teaspoon every 4-6 hours for cats and small dogs. A tablespoon every 4-6 hours for medium dogs. Two tablespoons every 4-6 hours for large dogs. A veterinarian should check out your pet if the diarrhea continues in excess of 24 hours.
• Pure buffered asprin: It may be used for minor soreness. An 81 mg asprin for cats and small dogs. One regular 325 mg asprin for medium sized dogs and two asprin for dogs over 75 lbs. NEVER give any other anti-inflammatory medication but pure asprin to your cat. Asprin may cause stomach upset that can eventually lead to ulceration, so it must be given sparingly unless directed by your veterinarian. It also cannot be mixed with many types of medications or herbal remedies.

If your pet ingests a household poison first call the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) or the Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if you know what your pet ingested. Some products tell you what to do on the warning label. For many household poisons professionals will direct your to either induce vomiting or give one of the following items:

• Vinegar/Lemon Juice
• Eggs or Whole Milk
• Sodium Bicarbonate/Club Soda
• Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, or Maalox

It is nice to have these items on hand when you need them instead of having to take time to run to the store.”