hi all doggy parents, my puppy is sick.....what can i do?
these 2 days i have been noticing my westies looks rather no active, seem boring and kept sleeping and lying around. How can i tell if she really feel sick and having fever before i send her to the vet?
Waaay too little info to work on, but try this.
Take a cooked piece of sausage or bacon and playfully enitce her with it. If she takes it enthusiastically, you have less to worry about.
Check temp with a non-glass thermometer (digital is good) by taking a rectal reading. Normal range is 38 deg C.
If she has been drinking water, she's safe for now.
Has she been peeing and pooing as normal?
It could be anything under the sun, but it may be likely that she is feeling under the weather because of her menses.
I would suggest reading up on basic canine care and health matters, since it directly affects the quality of care you are able to give. Most dog owners I know won't be able to tell when womwthing's wrong, or give their dog a fighting chance in an emergency.
And take your fluffy one to the vet ASAP because we really have no idea what's happening.
All the best for you and your fluffy one.
Yup, agree with all of the things Dm said.
Yup... too little info... so far you've only mentioned that your dog is inactive, bored and sleeps a lot... which may not mean that it is sick. There is a difference between low activity and lethargy... Are its movements slow and look like it takes a lot of energy out of her? That's lethargy. Did any changes take place in your house recently? Like someone went away or anything? Sometimes it could be an emotional reaction to change or sometimes a reaction to stress caused by change... animals are more sensitive to changes than us.
I think it's highly likely it's the menses too, esp. since she is new to this. PMS! I can totally emphatise with her lah... poor thing. The first few menses will probably cause more hormonal changes too. I suggest you observe her for a few days and see how she behaves. If it is menses, she should be feeling better and getting more active after a few days. First few days suck lah. ;p
Fever is easy to check... just insert a thermometer into the "rear hole", and wait till the reading is taken. If it is your first time, do it slowly and gently and about 1-1.5 inch deep. It is easy... don't get too paranoid, just follow your feeling and instincts and follow the "tunnel".
Yes, most impt is that she is still drinking sufficient water. You can check for dehydration by pulling up a bit of her skin at the neck. Not hair, skin... you know how their skin is kinda loose? So just pull up a bit of the skin and release it. If it returns back quite fast, then she is well-hydrated. If it falls back slowwwly... like in slow motion movie, then she is dehydrated. You should bring her water and if she doesn't want to drink, you can add some sugar (the glucose will help in absorption and entice her to drink). If she still refuses to drink over a prolonged period (cannot wait till one day), then you need to bring her to the vet already. You can actually force feed her water with a syringe but I think that's too advanced for you at this point.
Yes, stools and pee are one of the best indications of health, esp. stools. Is her stool normal? Good consistency or watery? Oh yes, you should examine the stools closely for worms. Use a disposeable plastic spoon to break it open and check the inside for any creepy crawlies. Worms will cause a dog to become lethargic and inactive. This can be easily solved by getting a dewormer at any pet shop and feed it to your dog. They have dewormers in little bite-sized, treat-like stuff and most dogs will happily eat them as they make them taste good to the dog. Depending on the particular dewormer, you may have to give her a few times. Her stools should be full of worms after eating this and she should be back to normal after a few days. FYI, you should deworm your dog at least every 6 months.
Yes, you should read up on canine care and health and first aid. There are many books available in the library. Having the knowledge will not only help you better care for your dog and in emergency, maybe save her life, but it will also save you $$$ on vet fees. Many clueless owners send their pets to the vet unnecessarily for every small matter and even when the pet is not even sick because they are just so clueless and can't differentiate between a healthy and sick pet, and a small, will-sort-itself-out-in-a-few-days ailment and a serious condition that really requires medical attention.
All the best and I hope your Westie gets well soon.
