Sick day

There is something about March that renders a sick day for me.  Last year at this time, I was down for two weeks with a most terrible flu.  Today I am down with a slight fever and zero energy.  The world around me is silent.  I do not like this feeling.

I wonder what a sick day for a dog is like.  I have been receiving a great deal of emails from Daily Dog Tips on how to care for a dog who is under the weather.

- No sugarless snacks for dogs -

Xylitol is an ingredient found in sugarless chewing gum.  This ingredient is harmless to humans but is toxic if ingested in dogs, primarily causing liver failure.

*Tip provided by Helen Fazio, Travel Dog Blogger (http://www.traveldogbooks.com/)

- Dogs really REALLY can't eat grapes or grape products -

Grapes, raisins, grape juice, wine. . .anything grape is out of the question

Any grape product in large quantity (one single grape product is relatively harmless) is highly toxic when ingested, inducing vomitting and diarrhea and leading to kidney failure within 24 hours.

*Tip provided by Helen Fazio, Travel Dog Blogger (see website above)

- How to make the vet appointment less stressful -

If an owner has more than one dog, bring all of them along to a vet appointment.

Reason one : The dog who is the patient will feel the support of his or her canine family.

Reason two : The other dogs will not feel as intimidated or scared when their time to go to the vet comes up.  The vet will be just another place to go.

*Tip provided by Tracie Hotchner, author of The Dog Bible

Perhaps a fever and lack of energy isn't so bad!