Should I take my dog to the vet?
I dont know if im just being paranoid or what, but I have an 8 month old little dashund, terrier mix…shes already had all of her puppy shots…the last time she was in the vet was in March or April I think. Well anyways, I dont know if im being paranoid but Ive just had this wierd feeling for a couple weeks that maybe I should bring her in. My question was…do vets just do wellness checks or do they have to actually see something wrong with the dog before they do any tests? I know my dog has really bad fleas, I give her a bath at least once a week, I have a aflea and tick spray for the furniture and a powder for the carpet that I do about once a month or so….I dont know she just has them so bad…I feel so helpless, Ive been reading reviews on all the diffrent kinds of flea and tick drops and I havent really found one good enough. I was wondering if the fleas are getting so bad its making her sick. Is that even possible? Is there anyway to tell if theyre getting that bad? She’s just like a regular puppy, loves to run and play, she doesnt seem to be tired at all, she seems happy…thats why I dont know if im just being paranoid about it or not. Please anybody with some knowledge please help me! I dont know what to do, I dodont want to go to the vet looking like a retard! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!!
August 31st, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Having a severe flea infestation can make a dog very sick. Fleas can transmit tapeworm, and enough flea bites can make a dog anemic. It is definitely a good idea to bring your dog in (along with a stool sample) to test for parasites and get your vet’s recommendation & treatment for the flea problem. Over the counter flea medication can be ineffective, and often very harmful.
About fleas and tapeworm:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tapeworm.html
About flea anemia:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_flea_anemia.html
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September 4th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Yes you can take her in and have her checked out, when you are there ask about getting her on some Frontline ..It is for keeping fleas etc. off. Giving a dog once a week (even one with fleas) is doing more damage than good, you are washing away all the dogs natural oils in their coat. They will get dry skin if washed too much. A bath once a month is more than enough.
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September 7th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Fleas can cause health problems like anemia, tapeworms and skin issues, also the products you’re using can be harmful unless you are positive that they are safe for your dog to be exposed to them. Not to mention the fact that you’re living with bugs!
Go to your vet and purchase what they recommend for flea prevention and keep your dog on it every month. My suggestion is Capstar and/or Comfortis because they start killing fleas fast. Fleas are miserable little creatures that can make your dog miserable too, plus just the thought of sleeping with flea eggs and flea larvae should gross you out as well.
As far as being paranoid, it is never a bad thing to take your dog in for a routine wellness check and if your veterinarian ever makes you feel stupid about that, find a new one.
I am a Veterinary Technician
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September 11th, 2011 at 7:36 am
your just being a good pet parent. for fleas, teaspoon of dawn dish soap, 1.5 teaspoon of baking soda, full bottle of peroxide, and match it with water. shake and take the top off( it will explode). it’s also good for skunks spray.
also wash everything that will fit into your washer and dryer, steam clean the carpets, and a little bit of garlic powder in the food. people say garlic is bad, it’s not, one suck of the dogs blood with garlic and that flea is out.
add: thumbs down for the truth? ahhh too bad so sad. vet tech your stupid.
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September 14th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Hi Puppy,
8 months old and cover with fleas isn’t good..She probably has tapeworms too..All she has to do,is swallow one flea and she will get tapeworms..To many fleas can make her sick and pale gums..I would take her to the vet..Have you thought about giving her a bath in Dawn dish soap..Yes Dawn dish soap..It kills fleas I have use it on all 3 of My dogs..Buy a Large bottle of Dawn(reg.Dawn) get a spray bottle and fill it half full of Dawn and half full of warm water..Get her all wet and spray the Dawn and water all over her and then work it into her coat..You may have to put a little more water on her coat to work it in good..This totally works..But do take your dog in to see her vet..She will probably have to be treated for tapeworms..Fleas are bad all over this year..So it’s not your fault that she has a lot of fleas..Good Luck and I hope your dog will be feeling a lot better without all those Damn fleas..
Your Friend,
poppy1
Little1
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September 18th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Vets can do a wellness check. In fact, you should take your dog to the vet yearly for a routine checkup.
Fleas are irritating to you & your dog, but they can also be a health risk. They feed on your dog’s blood and can cause skin irritation, allergies, anemia, and death. Fleas can also carry tapeworms and Lyme Disease.
Ivory liquid & Dawn dish deterrgent work much better at eliminating fleas than most flea shampoos. But the best thing is an topical flea prevention or an ingestible flea prevention.
I used Frontline Plus for years & it worked great until recently. Now, I give my dogs Comfortis. It’s a chewable pill that they take about every 6 weeks. Fleas are dead within 30 mins. I absolutely love it & would recommend it to anyone. Be sure to ask your vet what he/she would recommend when you take your dog in.
Hope this helps.
Little1
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