Meanwhile, Lacie was contentedly crunching away on what may or may not have been a crow while I had an intense inner monologue on the situation while simultaneously doing a freak out dance. 

Because I was deeply mortified and, was concerned that somehow the bird had died an unseemly death by poison, I immediately made an effort to dislodge it from my dog’s mouth. A six legged scuffle ensued in broad daylight in the neighborhood where I live.

My fingers were inside Lacie's mouth trying to pull out the dead half bird while we continued to boot scoot boogie up and down the sidewalk. Add an extreme gag flex reaction (mine) to the dance and there you have a pretty good visual of the situation. 

There came a point where I could no longer bear the feel of hot dog saliva, juicy bird corpse and feathers, against my skin. There was also the impending possibility of my "bringing up" on Lacie’s head so I decided to just carry on walking. The crunching resumed and I did not look down for a few moments until I heard a mighty gulp. YUK.

The good news is Lacie never did suffer any ill effects from the dead  half bird and I call that a lucky thing. After that horrifying and nauseating experience I learned to keep my eyes open for sidewalk snacks and to thoroughly scope out play areas for ingestible items. She can also now "leave it" like a champ so if she does happen across something enticing, I can give a simple voice command and move on. 

It's important to be aware that not everyone in our communities are animal lovers. There have been reports of poisoned or tampered with food items planted intentionally by humans at dog parks and on pathways with the intention of causing harm and/or death to the animal unlucky enough to consume the items. 

While these cases are rare, having a proactive approach to dog safe play dates and pack walks is a must. Having a visual sweep of the grounds and paths is always a good idea. Combine that with the "leave it" cue and the follow up command of "drop it" are some simple ways to keep your pooch protected while you are in uncontrolled environments. 

What to do when your beloved pooch shows signs of illness, besides worry? Our Pack knows how much your pet means to you and how hard it can be to see an animal suffer. With that being said, it’s also understandable to ask the question, is this a Vet-worthy situation? Regardless of the amount of love shared between you and your pup, the cost of vetting can make even the most devoted pet parent hesitate.

A valid question(s) to ask is, is this an emergency, life or death, severe, scary or otherwise a bona fide cause for alarm? If you are answering yes or are hovering on the fence, it’s likely time to get you and your Poochie Patient in to your vet ASAP. There are some vet offices that will provide an opinion or advice at a minimal to no fee and, some take phone calls to answer questions without a visit.

For minor triaging, there are some amazing home remedy treatments available for use at the fraction of the cost of a vet visit. It’s probably a good idea to keep some of the items mentioned below on hand because having a slightly under the weather pup is a matter of when and not if. 

Bowel Function - constipation – If you notice your dog straining to move its bowels or there is no bowel activity at all, try 1 of the following:
Canned Pumpkin

• NOT the pie filling variety, just good old plain pumpkin, 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon depending on his size. Pureed pumpkin baby food also works

Bran

• Add some extra fiber in the form of Bran, Metamucil, Benefiber or similar products. About 1/2 teaspoon added to your pup’s meals for a few days. If your dog weighs over 50lbs you can use 1 tablespoon instead
  

Oil

• 1/2 tsp of olive oil added to meals 
• Note, do not feed bones of any kind. If you suspect your dog has ingested something harmful, call your vet immediately

Dehydration – If your dog is ill enough to be dehydrated, they should be seen by your vet. Once a treatment is in place here are some tips to help hydrate your pooch:

• Lots of fresh water
• Unflavored electrolyte water (pedialyte)
• Ice chips
• Wet dog food (canned)
• Broth

Bowel Function - diarrhea - this can be a very serious affliction to your pup. If you see loose, runny stool, signs of straining and, a high frequency of outdoor breaks there are some steps you can take to aid in recovery to normal bowel function. First, start by taking away food sources for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or ice chips. When reintroducing food try a small serving of 1 of the following:

• Plain cooked white rice
• boiled chicken or turkey (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
• scrambled or boiled egg (no butter or oil)
• boiled or baked potato (no skin or flavorings)
• Boiled hamburger (drain away all fat)
• A combination of boiled hamburger and cooked white rice is a popular upset tummy remedy

Dry noses – wet noses are the norm for dogs, if you see signs of dryness try the following:

• Apply olive oil or petroleum jelly sparingly and daily if needed

Eye infections – a common ailment for dogs as they use their faces to explore the world. When you see pup scratching or pawing at their eyes or note a discharge, try one of these remedies for temporary relief and then get right in to see your vet:

• Chamomile Tea
• Brew and cool a cup of tea. Either apply the cooled tea bag directly to the affected area or dab the tea around the eye with a clean cloth
• Polysporin
• Use your finger or a clean cloth to dab a small amount of Polysporin around the eye
• Note, this may take several days of reapplying regardless of chosen treatment
  

Fleas – extremely annoying and contagious to other animals, signs of fleas are easy to read, if you see non-stop scratching and suspect fleas try:

• Pop down to your vet office, over the counter remedies are available and it's not necessary to bring your pup along. If you are able to capture a flea and bring it along for identification purposes, (CSI FLEA STYLE) that can be helpful in selecting a treatment
• Eucalyptus
• Put several drops on a dog collar or bandana (dog safe only)
• Citrus Spray
• Combine thin sliced lemon and hot water. Soak for 12 hours and pour into a spray bottle. Safe to use directly on your pup (not on the eyes!) as well as on household items

Minor Lesions – scrapes happen, minor cuts under less than half inch long can be tended to at home with:

• Polysporin, apply the ointment and cover the wound, Polysporin should not be ingested
  
• Natural honey, safe on wounds, safe for ingestion
• Use a cone to prevent licking as risk of infection increases with constant licking (and honey is delicious)
• Note, try applying either remedy when pup has turned in for the night to avoid the inevitable licking spree
  

Sprains and Strains – limping or sore spots can be treated using:

• Ice packs, use a towel or cloth to wrap the ice pack prior to applying to your pooch. use ice packs for 10 minutes out of every 60
• Keep activity to a minimum for 1 to 2 weeks
• Never: dispense pain relievers without consulting a vet 
• Note, Ibuprofen and Naproxin are both toxic to dogs 

Skin Irritations – itchy, rashy or scratchy? Try out one of these easy to make remedies:

• Make a paste using baby oatmeal and water, apply to itchy area. Rinse away the oatmeal with warm water after 10 minutes
• Chamomile tea works great on raw itchy skin. Pour brewed and cooled chamomile tea into a spray bottle and spritz to apply

Dull Coat – to keep Fido dressed to the 9’s in a shiny glorious coat, try the following:

• Regular grooming, grab a brush and head outside if you don’t want the extra hair flying around your home
• Provide daily doses of coconut oil, a small amount is fine, usually a teaspoon depending on weight
• Protection from the elements. Outdoor dogs tend to have thicker coarser coats
• Add high omega 3 foods to regular meals, 3 suggestions are sardines, salmon and tuna
• Upgrade your current dog food  to a higher quality brand
• Add a scrambled egg at meal time once or twice a week
• Note, some breeds are not genetically capable of shiny coats, for instance, most terriers and some hounds

While home remedies are great, they are not a substitute for proper and timely Vet care. If finances are an issue, please consider that some Vets offer a payment policy. There are also pet care credit card type plans available that will allow you to cover the full cost of treatment and make payments towards the balance on a monthly payment basis. 

A huge Pack Project thank you! goes out to our friends at Albert North Veterinary Clinic for their assistance in developing this list of home remedies.