Got a sick dog?
Or maybe you just have a question about your dog’s general health and wellbeing…
You’ve got 3 good options in order to get peace of mind quickly…
#1 Ask a veterinarian.
Your best option is to call your veterinarian directly and see what they recommend.
Of course, your vet isn’t always available at the time your dog needs them.
If your veterinarian is not available, call another local vet in your area for their advice or opinion.
If it’s after hours — or if you think it might be an emergency situation — then find a local Emergency Pet Clinic and contact them immediately. Better safe than sorry, trust me!
If you just need a second opinion or want to ease your mind about your dog’s health, then you can ask a vet online. Professional veterinarians are available 24/7 to provide you with answers to your dog health questions. TIP: Try to be as specific as possible when asking your question, and provide as much information as possible about your dog. That way, you’ll get your question answered more quickly.
#2 Use the same source that professional veterinarians use.
The Merck Manual is a comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information.
You can view the book’s entire contents online by clicking on the particular “section” you’re interested in in the lefthand margin.
As part of its commitment to ensuring that all who need and want medical information can get it, Merck provides the content of these Merck Manuals on the web for free. Registration is not required, and use is unlimited. The web publications are continuously updated to ensure that the information is as up-to-date as possible. Source
You can also get your own copy of the most recently updated copy of the official Merck Vertinary Manual for veterinary professionals or try the Merck Manual For Pet Health: Home Edition.
#3 See what others have tried and learned firsthand.
Here are some popular dog health issues and tips from fellow dog owners:
- Dogs, Mosquitoes, And Heartworms
- How Flea & Tick Medicine Ingredients Affect Dogs
- Dog Dry Skin Remedies
- Are Annual Dog Vaccinations & Checkups Really Necessary?
- Dog Vomiting Home Remedies
- Glucosamine & Chondroitin For Dog Joint Health
- Dog Seizures & What You Should Do
- Stinky Dog Tips To Remove Dog Odor
- Dog Diarrhea Home Remedies
- What To Do If Your Dog Eats Grass
- Dog Knee Surgery Recovery: What You Can Expect
- How To Clean & Treat A Dog’s Itchy Ears
- What To Do If Your Dog Ate Chicken Bones
More dog health issues and answers here.
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of.
I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube).
My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year!
When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.
