Treat at Home or See the Vet?
We have Pomskies. Pomskies get into trouble, mischief or have accidents.
Sometimes these are things we can take care of at home, other times it requires a vet visit. How do you know when to treat your dog at home for minor things and when to run to the vet?
EYES
Any eye concerns are taken seriously and should to be treated by the vet. Corneal abrasions can quickly become infected and cause sight loss. Debris can be difficult to wash out properly without vet care. So for any eye issues, we highly recommend you take your Pomsky to be evaluated your vet.
DIARRHEA / VOMITING
Sudden diarrhea is fairly common. It can be treated at home with simple remedies. A heaping tablespoon of 100% pure canned pumpkin (not pie filling) can firm up diarrhea and withholding food and water for 12 hours can help sooth upset tummies. Tip: Freeze the rest of the pumpkin in ice cube trays for future incidents. When 12 hours has gone by, offer your Pomsky water and a small amount of bland food, like cooked rice and plain unseasoned chicken. If they can hold this down, the proceed cautiously with small amounts.
Puppy diarrhea can also indicate a large amount of worms, especially if they are under 5 months of age. Carefully check the stool for worms, “spaghetti” or “rice” in the diarrhea. As puppies get older, their immune systems are better able to keep their systems clean of worms. Speak to your vet about a dewormer that they recommend at the first puppy visit.
If your Pomsky becomes lethargic, inactive, or cannot hold down water, this is an issue and should be definitely addressed by a vet. If the diarrhea is bloody or black and tarry (indicates GI blood), then the vet is necessary then as well. Young puppies under 16 weeks or senior Pomskies should not be left with diarrhea or vomiting for a long period as they are more fragile.
BLOAT
Symptoms of bloat includes a swollen belly, excessive drooling, obvious anxiety like panting/pacing, and trying to vomit. The stomach swells with air, rotates and cuts off the entrance and exit points and is extremely dangerous. This would require an emergency vet visit!
SCRAPES/SCRATCHES
Pomskies get into scuffs, they can scratch themselves, break their skin and more. If the wound is shallow, doesn’t look like it requires stitches, there’s no redness or swelling around the spot, you can clean it well, apply dog friendly antiseptic and cover it. Daily soaks in warm Epson salts also helps tremendously. Don’t forget the collar of shame in this instance!
If at any point you have doubts, or see the wound as inflamed, has puss, smell, fever, or your Pomsky is in pain - please take your Pomsky to the vet!
ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Pomskies can get stung by bees, get spider bites, or have an allergic reaction to something in the yard. It can cause the muzzle and eyes to swell. Call your vet to be sure of the severity. If it’s mild, you can give them a Benadryl tablet with a smear of peanut butter to help counteract it. If your Pomsky has any difficulty breathing or shows distress, then take your Pomsky to the vet.
