Almost every dog guardian will inevitably end up needing to care for a sick or injured dog at some point during their lives. So, this is another topic I try to address for dog parents so they can be best prepared when the time comes.

My puppy, Musik, had to have surgery recently to get spayed and also to get some baby teeth removed.  First, in case your vet doesn’t mention it, it’s always best to wait until your puppy’s adult teeth have all come in before spaying or neutering. That way, if any teeth didn’t fall out on their own, they can be pulled while your dog is already under anethstesia to save you from having to put them under twice.  It’s also a great time to get them microchipped with no pain.

Taking care of an energetic puppy after surgery was hard!  Her dental surgery ended up being much more extensive than we thought, and she had to have 6 teeth surgically removed – meaning cut out & stitched up.  So I couldn’t give her anything to chew on – not even a soft toy – for over a week!  And, of course, she couldn’t walk much for a few days, and then was restricted to on leash walking only for another week.  She was not amused.

But, I feel like between her and my past dog, Kompis, I’ve become a pro doggie nurse!  Here is some advice for dealing with a dog who is sick or recovering from surgery.

 Newest blog: No cone of shame!

People usually default to using a “cone of shame” for their dogs after surgical procedures, or to keep them from chewing bandages, etc.  I don’t like using them since they are uncomfortable and could be even dangerous if your dog is left alone with one on and gets stuck somewhere.

First, try using a deterrent such as Bitter Apple to keep them from licking something.  There are also bandages that you can buy that have a bitter taste.  If you have to use a cone, then look at all the options and even consider getting more than one to be able to switch on and off to give them as well as their heads and neck a break.

There are also several other articles on caring for a sick or elderly pet on The Pooch Coach’s award-winning blog under the Health and Nutrition section.

Here a few of our reader’s favorite articles to help you get through your dog’s sickness & recovery:

When Your Dog is Sick

The Heartbreak of Dealing with  Sick Dog

Is Your Dog Sick, or Just a Picky Eater?

How to Help Your Senior Dog

Choosing the Best ER Hospital

And, if you’ve recently lost, or fearing you might soon lose your best buddy, this article offers some suggestions and guidance to help make it less painful:

How to Prepare and Cope With the Grief of Losing Your Dog

It is stressful and heartbreaking to care for a hurting pup.  Hang in there!

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-Beverly Ulbrich,  The Pooch Coach www.poochcoach.com