Your Pets Medicine Chest - Medications To Keep On-Hand

We all know that good food, a loving home and plenty of exercise will go a long way in giving your dog and cat a happy and healthy life. But what about those times when some minor illness suddenly appears and it's 10 pm in the evening with no veterinarian available? (For those of you who have small children...you understand how this works).

Just like humans, animals can and will occasionally get sick. Considering some of the things animals get into, it's truly amazing our dogs and cats stay as healthy as they do. There are a lot of potential dangers out in that big wide world.

"Child" Proofing Your Home For Your Pet

Pets are just like children. They are curious explorers that love to check out what's in that overflowing garbage can or see if they really can reach the toilet bowl for a drink before someone catches them.

Here are a few guidelines to help you "pet proof" your home:

* When you use any pesticides, herbicides, antifreeze, or household cleaning products, make sure they are stored safely away after use. Wash away any extra waste that might have spilled immediately.

* It's preferable that you don't let your cat roam the neighborhood. Some people put out rat bait and other such poisons in their gardens and in their garbage. Why? Well, they may have mice in the area which they want to get rid of. They may also be tired of your or someone else's cat constantly getting into their garbage or defecating in their gardens. Believe me, this is a slow, painful death for your pet. I learned the hard way with a much beloved cat of mine. Since then, all of my cats are indoor house cats.

* Keep your garbage can lids closed tight. Animals love smelly garbage to explore to find what great human tidbits might be in there. However, that "food" may have some toxic cleaner spilled on it. Those yummy chicken bones are cooked...and splinter, which could cause serious intestinal problems. You get the idea.

* Be sure all electrical cords are kept covered or unplugged when not in use. Although not recommended normally, if you have a small puppy or kitten, run the cords under carpets, behind cabinets or heavy furniture that they can't crawl behind. Young pets love to chew...and wires and cords are enticing.

* If you use a toilet bowl cleaner that stays in toilet to "clean" with each flush keep the lid down. Animals, especially dogs, love to drink from the toilet for some bizarre

reason that only they understand. The chemicals in the cleaner can poison and/or kill.

Stocking The Medicine Cabinet

So, what to do when your dog or cat gets sick with a minor tummy ache, diarrhea, or some minor infection, including itchy skin? Stock your medicine cabinet with certain human medications that are perfectly fine to give to your pets in the proper dosage. However, you should always consult your veterinarian if possible before administering any type of medication, including dosage amounts of each for each of your animals. Keep a list handy near the cabinet for quick reference on dosages.

Here are some items you should keep on hand:

* Buffered Aspirin is good for lowering fever and relieving minor aches and pains in dogs. Most people prefer to use baby aspirin. Use approximately 80 mg per every 10 pounds of weight, usually no more than twice a day. NEVER give aspirin to a cat as it's extremely dangerous to them. Also, do not use Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen, as they are also dangerous to pets in general. Stick with the aspirin.

* Keopectate is good for soothing stomach troubles and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. A recommended amount would be 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of weight roughly every 4 hours.

* Gravol for motion sickness if you need to travel with your pet. Administer the tablet one hour before you leave. You should give no more than 12.5 mg to a cat or a small dog. A medium to large dog can handle between 25 to 50 mg. Do not give this to any animal that has bladder problems or glaucoma. Again, check with your vet to be sure if it's safe and what dosage is recommended for your pet.

* Pepto-Bismol, that good old pink stuff, is fine to give to your dog if they are having tummy trouble, such as vomiting or a rolling, noisy belly. One teaspoon every 6 hours per pound of body weight should be sufficient. This is another medicinal product that should not be given to cats.

* Hydrogen Peroxide and Polysporin for minor cuts and scratches. These will help clean out the wound and hopefully prevent any infection from occurring.

All in all, checking up with your vet and keeping some specific medications on hand should help you deal with any minor illnesses you may encounter with your dog and cat.

==========================================
Rose Smith is the author and owner of caring for canines, a web site that provides information on natural dog health care. To learn more about dog medications, vaccinations and first aid, please visit us at: caring for canines

express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..
In The News:

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

Essential Fatty Acids for Parrots

You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More

Clown Loaches

Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia... Read More

Toys are GOOD for your dog

Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More

The Pros and Cons of Vaccinating Your Dog

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That's become the burning... Read More

Electric Dog Fences: Keep You Pet in the Yard and Out of Places You Dont Want Them to Be

Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More

Female Dog Care

As there are certain health issues that affect only the... Read More

Pet Vitamins are Essential for Your Dogs Health

Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More

Tips On Breeding Tropical Fish

If you are looking for tips on breeding tropical fish,... Read More

Proper Diet For the Discus Fish

The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More

5 Common Grooming Mistakes Made by Professionals

1. Using tranquilizers.This is illegal in many states but other... Read More

Buster the Beloved Pussycat

"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked... Read More

Choosing A Rottweiler Puppy? What You Need To Know

So you're getting a Rottweiler puppy? Here are some general... Read More

Hypoallergenic Dogs

When we talk about hypoallergenic dogs, we mean that they... Read More

Barking Problems: Train Your Dog To Stop Barking!

All dogs bark, it's their way to communicate a message.... Read More

Choosing Dog Tags for Your Canine

Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh... Read More

Dog Eye Problems - What To Watch Out For

Dog eye problems can occur at any time. You should... Read More

Natural Approaches to Dealing With Pesky Fleas

Problems with Commercial Flea Killers & TraditionalFlea Bite Treatments***Chemicals that... Read More

Dog Vaccinations - What You Need to Know to Protect Your Dog

Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one... Read More

The Cat Learned How to Work the WHAT?

When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

Many pet owners often wonder if it's worth it to... Read More

Good Dog Care Is Vital

Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More

Goldfish Tips - Keeping The Aquarium Clean

You do clean your house don't you? Well you have... Read More

Dog Behavior Problems: Help! My Dog is a Nuisance When he Misbehaves!

How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say,... Read More

Your Kids Want a Pet, You Dont Want To Pet Anything

"Mom, can we get a puppy?" Who hasn't heard that... Read More

How To Load A Horse Into A Trailer - Easy As Pie!

If there is an art to getting horses to load... Read More

tidy up service Arlington Heights ..