Charlie Gets Sick

Poor Charlie

Charlie got sick this weekend. We don't really know why: garbage gastritis (he tends to try scarf stuff from off the ground outside), too many treats (yep, we're sometimes guilty of this), giving him the wrong treats (there's one that makes him yucky if he gets it too often), sneaking something nasty from Munchie's litter box, a cold, a virus or just clearing out his system.

Dogs get sick. It's a fact of life that no matter how healthy your dog is, you will eventually face the fun and joy of diarrhea, vomiting or both. There is a reason the old saying is "sick as a dog!" The good thing is, the healthy dog rebounds with a cold wet nose, wagging tail and happy snuggles with relative speed. The problem is, it's  never fast enough when you feel slightly panicky that he's sick to begin with.

I woke up Saturday morning to (if you will excuse the expression) a huge pile of "puddin' poo" on the bathroom floor. Even when sick, Charlie sticks to laminate surfaces rather than the rug, thank goodness! I got up early because I knew he was not feeling good. He was trembling slightly when he was pressed up against me in bed, he was licking his lips and swallowing over and over and his nose wasn't the cold wet weapon of choice I normally feel on my arm or back. I couldn't believe he had 'done the deed' inside, but when he looked shifty-eyed and guilty and bowed to me, I knew it was his doing and immediate took him outside.

The nice thing about this complex is we all greet each other with pj pants on and Medusa hair. No one judges. I didn't even take the time to put on my glasses, just on with the leash and out with the Charlie. Good thing I did, because he proceeded to do it again, to a smaller degree, on the grass around the corner from our apartment. I praised him for waiting until he got outside, took him home and gave him a bath, cutting the wealth of hair from underneath his tail and on his bottom to make clean-up easier.

Have I mentioned yet how glamorous owning a dog can be? 

He enjoyed the bath, and after I dried him (and he scootched himself out around the living room) he settled down for a sleep. The only treat I gave him was a bit of cheese, which made him ecstatic.

Having had pups for years, I kind of have a game-plan when dogs are sick:

1. Cut out the extras. Just stick to bland food such as rice with a bit of meat and veggies or the regular dog food.
2. If you want to give a bit of a treat, cheese is a good binder and the favorite of most dogs.
3. Give your pup a bath. It calms them, cleans them and saves them cleaning up their own mess. Cut off the extra hair if you have a furry wonder like Charlie. It saves a lot of grief.
4. Don't give them any milk products (other than cheese) while they are down and under. It can affect their stomach and make them even more sick.
5. Cut back on the flavored rawhide or other goodies. The beef flavoring can actually make them sick to begin with if they have too many of this sort of treat and can exacerbate their vomiting or diarrhea.
6. Use bottled water. The problem could be in the water from the tap. This doesn't have to be a permanent thing, but in Spring, especially there can be bacteria in the water that affects your pup's tummy.
7. Check the grounds around your place to make sure there is no junk or cigarettes or anything else your pup can sink their teeth into and scarf down. I did the patrol after Charlie fell asleep.
8. Bring them outside a little more often, to encourage 'going'outside rather than inside. Pet them and praise them when they don't mess the carpet.
9. Let your pup sleep as long as he wants. Some may sleep the balance of the day and wake up feeling much better. Chances are, their tummy ache cut into their sleep the day or night before. Sometimes all any of us needs is a good sleep.
10. Start re-feeding slow and easy. No junk for a bit, a bare minimum of treats. If your pup is still sick after a couple of days, he may get dehydrated and you may want to consider a visit to the vet.

You sometimes forget just how much your pet means to you until they are 'under the weather.' It's easy to take their health for granted, and when they are young, it's difficult to imagine what life would be like without them. Both Mike and I pale at the thought of life without Charlie. Munchie is getting  up there - he's going to be 14 next month- but Charlie will only be 2 years old at that time, and somehow while you can make your peace with the impending possibility of losing an older pet, it's not to easy to consider losing your younger kid. 

The main problem isn't what you feed your dog, most of the time: it's what he ingests outside. I don't know why a cigarette or a piece of gristle by the BBQ may appeal to them, or a dried out piece of bagel or a wrapper. No one really understands a dog's taste. Try get what they snag off the ground out of their mouths right away. I know it's difficult - they clench their teeth and may even growl. If you put your finger at the open space at the back of their teeth (right at the back of their muzzle), their mouths will open (it's a reflex) and you may be able to scoop it out.

The same goes for the home. You may have left an elastic band or twist tie lying around, and in playing with it, dogs or cats have been known to ingest it. Don't give your dog potatoes, alcohol (you know this!), or chocolate. Be careful of house plants and wrappers. If they grab something off your plate, there's not much you can do, but do whatever you can to make home safe for them. And just like children, don't let strangers give them treats, since it may not be good for their diet.

Enjoy your pets when they are well and celebrate life with them, but remember that illness is part of life, too, and we've all taken on that responsibility when we adopted or purchased them. L'chaim!