How to Care for a Sick Dog

Caring for a sick dog can be stressful. We are deeply connected with our dogs and an illness or injury can be stressful for both you and your dog.

Prevention is always the best medicine, and a proactive approach is best. This Core 4 supplement set helps prevent 80% of the reasons pet parents take their pets to the vet.

In addition to prevention, it’s important to be vigilant about your pet’s health. Be aware of the signs of illness in your dog or cat.

Unfortunately, even the best pet parents can’t prevent every illness or injury. So here are some helpful tips for caring for a sick or injured dog.

During an illness, your dog's dietary requirements, medication, exercise, and activities can shift completely.

1. Take Your Dog to a Veterinarian

This may seem obvious to some, but it’s important to get your dog to a vet as soon as you suspect a problem. Not only can’t dogs tell us when they aren’t feeling well, it’s also instinctual for animals to not show weakness, so by the time you see signs of illness or injury in your dog it may have been feeling porrly for a while.

Bring a list of things you’ve noticed, including any differences in how your dog carries herself (limping, roached back, etc), changes in behavior, or even just a sense that something is wrong.

2. Keep Your Dog Hydrated

It's important to keep your dog hydrated. Adequate water content in the body improves the nutrient absorption rate during digestion, helps keep your dog’s organs working properly, and helps keep your doggo active. If you notice that your dog has stopped drinking fluids, take them to a vet immediately.

3. Nutrition Matters

A balanced diet is critical at all times, but even more so during illness or injury. At times, feeding a sick dog can be a big challenge. If your dog rejects his regular food, you can add some low-sodium bone broth or a nutritious topper to his food to make it more appealing. Be sure any flavorings you add are not full of junk. There are some very healthy options out there, like this freeze dried bone broth or this all-natural topper, which has no fillers and is only made of meat, veggies, and fruit.

4. Healing environment

Better air quality, a clean place to sleep, and optimal temperatures can improve your sick dog's condition. You can place a humidifier close to your sick dog to if they're suffering from a respiratory illness or having trouble breathing. Many dogs prefer smaller spaces that feel like a den when they aren’t feeling well. If your sick dog wants to curl up under your bed, in a closet, or in another small space, make it as comfortable as possible. A comfy bed, a favorite toy to snuggle with, and dim lighting will contribute to your dog’s comfort and sense of safety.

Keeping Them Well

Seeing your dog not feeling well is unsettling at best. After checking with your vet, you may want to focus on feeding a holistic, all natural food. Like humans, a nutritious diet is critical for good canine health and prevention is the best medicine.