vet-and-wild:

the-awkward-turt:

listsoflifehacks:

This List Could Save Your Dog’s Life

These are good for immediate first aid or if you can’t get to a vet, but in most cases you should consult a vet first!

Benadryl is also a useful for reducing swelling for mild venomous snake bites (but always go to the vet first if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a venomous snake!!).

I really really hate these “pet hacks” sort of things. They contain over generalized and sometimes flat out wrong information that can be seriously harmful for a dog. There’s so many problems with this infographic and I’m not even able to touch on whether or not the dosages are even remotely safe (I’m still a baby vetling and haven’t learned that yet!) but the fact that these are listed on a random site with no veterinary source should be a huge red flag.

1. If you think your dog has ingested something toxic, you should talk to pet poison control and/or your vet (it doesn’t cost any money to talk to your vet on the phone!) before trying to induce vomiting. There are situations where it is not appropriate to induce vomiting, which can include the ingestion of corrosive material, passage of time from ingestion, and other scenarios determined by a vet, not Dr. Google. Pet owners also tend to give too much hydrogen peroxide, which can cause very damaging (and even deadly!) ulcers and irritation. Also hydrogen peroxide should never be used for cats. I’ve never heard of mineral oil and milk of magnesia being suggested for toxin ingestion but the lack of a reputable veterinary source makes me very skeptical.

2. Ok so the common theme is going to be don’t medicate your pet without talking to a veterinarian. Just like humans, animals can have deadly allergic reactions to insect stings. If you think your dog is having an allergic reaction, call your vet. Benadryl isn’t going to stop a dog from going into anaphylactic shock. Also, again, sketchy internet source should make you skeptical about dosages.  

3. What is the source on this? I’ve NEVER heard anything about static electricity making dogs anxious. I ended up doing a little research on this one because it does sound super fascinating, but all I found was a few blog posts and vague references to a “study” that wasn’t actually included in the article. I’d buy that static electricity is unpleasant and could contribute to storm phobia, but I did not see any compelling evidence that it could be a significant factor. Noise phobia isn’t uncommon–think about how many animals become agitated by fireworks around the 4th of July. Rubbing dryer sheets on your dog isn’t going to do anything to help with noise phobia. A dog with serious noise phobia is going to need behavioral management and possibly anti-anxiety drugs.

4. This ones ok. Using a rock or tennis ball as an obstacle can help slow down a fast eater. Slow feeders, Kongs, and puzzle feeders are also good alternatives and provide enrichment as well.

5. Yikes. Just, yikes. First of all, owners are not qualified to make any kind of medical diagnosis for their dog nor are they trained to be able to choose the correct medication for a condition. How does an owner know that their dog just has an “upset stomach” vs. gastric ulcers? Or that their pain isn’t being caused by a cancerous mass? Do you think aspirin is going to be sufficient for an osteosarcoma? By giving over the counter medications without consulting a vet, you are delaying treatment, potentially making a medical condition worse, giving drugs that could interfere with veterinary prescriptions, and even causing a life threatening reaction. Also, aspirin is rarely recommended by veterinarians because it can cause ulcers and impaired clotting. There are much safer pain medications that we can use. I’m especially upset about seeing multiple medications for diarrhea because there are MANY causes of diarrhea and a lot of them can be life threatening (as is chronic diarrhea). If your dog has chronic diarrhea, they need to be taken to a vet, not given pepto bismol for something that you don’t even know the cause of.

6. This one is ok as well, never leave your dog in a hot car.