Dogs and humans have remarkably similar physiology. They get many of the same ailments that we do and the treatment for some of those ailments are the same for people as they are for dogs. Upsets stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea can be treated, just as in a humans, with Pepto Bismol. If you can't get your dog to swallow Pepto, a turkey baster with a teaspoon of Pepto can be used to force it down their throat. However, as with any advice you might see here (or anywhere else for that matter), if the symptoms persist more than a few hours after you have administered Pepto - get thee to a vet!
Bruises and sprains, get some ice on that as soon as you can. Just as with kids, you have to be sure it's just a bruise or a sprain and not a broken bone or a fracture. If your dog yelps in pain, from mild pressure to the affected area, off to the vet you go for X-rays!
Aches and pains can be treated with Buffered Aspirin (very careful here, dogs cannot tolerate Tylenol, Aleve or any other OTC pain meds) ONLY Buffered Aspirin, adjusted to their weight. So you can give buffered aspirin just as you would to a child.
If you have an older dog and they have arthritis, then aspirin will work only up to a point. Once the symptoms become severe, if they limp even after taking Aspirin, they need to be on a daily pain management program, just like people. Some of the drugs that are well tolerated over longer periods of time are Tramadol (a very powerful analgesic, also prescribed for people) and to a lesser extent, Rimadyl which is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAIDs) used to control the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. There have been reports of some dogs, just as there have been with people, that there can be severe adverse reactions to Rimadyl. Rimadyl is technically a COX-2 inhibitor, similar to Celebrex. Celebrex is known to cause liver, kidney and even heart damage.
I tend to recommend Tramadol for long term pain management. According to my husband, who has a Master's degree in Neurochemistry from Boston University Medical School, Tramadol is a very effective and very powerful analgesic pain killer with virtually no side effects. It was invented in Europe in 1970 and so many American doctors (and vets) are not familiar with it. There have been 30 year studies on the long term effects of Tramadol on humans and there are no long term side effects. You may have to ask your vet about Tramadol for arthritis, because they may simply be unaware of it. When you begin a pain management program with Tramadol, you will want to start with a relatively small dose and gradually increase it. If you take your dog off Tramadol, do not stop giving it to them abruptly. (unless your vet tells you to!) They must dose down VERY gradually. It's also very important to never miss a dose of Tramadol. While it's not addictive in the sense that narcotics are, one of the drug's interesting characteristics is that it acts slightly like an anti-depressant. Skipping a dose or stopping abruptly will cause your dog to feel, well, depressed. Unlike Rimadyl, you can increase the dosage of Tramadol over time and you can add several pain free years of life to your older dog's life.
For long term pain management, as with all important medical decision, you must consult with your vet.
If you know that your dog has just swallowed something that is definitely poisonous and you need to induce vomiting immediately, force a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide down their throat. Then get your dog to the vet immediately. The hydrogen peroxide will induce vomiting, but if they have swallowed something toxic, your dog needs professional medical attention immediately.
Foods that are very bad for your dog; onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts and Avacados.
