Caring for Sick Dogs at Home

There are a number of advantages to caring for a sick dog at home. One obvious advantage is that home is familiar to the dog and definitely less stressful than staying in a hospital.

Dogs usually recover faster in their home surroundings. At home, a dog parent can pay closer attention to the needs of the sick dog, and extra meticulous cleaning can be given to the dog to keep him more comfortable and less miserable.

Of course, there are cases in which a sick dog is best taken care of at a hospital. For example, conditions that are life-threatening or very messy (e.g. severe vomiting and diarrhea) make it difficult, if not impossible, to have the dog at home. In most cases, your vet will only allow your sick dog to go home with you when he or she is confident that you can provide adequate nursing.

When you bring your dog home from the hospital, you need to give your dog nursing care, such as giving him medication, keeping him clean, monitoring his physical and mental conditions, as well as paying attention to his nutrition. If your dog has little or no appetite, you may need to work harder to get him to eat.

The first thing to do is to find a place in your house which is quiet, safe, cozy and warm so that your sick dog can rest comfortably. Keep the area clean and change the blankets or towels frequently. Make sure that your dog has easy access to toilet, sunlight, and fresh air.