1
If my dog gets a tick should I take it off or leave it on? If I take it off then should I put something on top of the spot were it was and how can I prevent this from happening again?
2
How can you tell if your dog has fleas?
3
What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs?
4
I have tried everything for fleas can you give me something else to try?
5
My dog is a female border collie mix who has dry skin and is scratching a lot leaving clumps of hair. I have in the past taken her to veterinarian and he has given her a shot of steroids for skin allergies to fleas. I do use a flea control product on her for flea control. Is there something I can rinse her coat with or bathe her in to help with the hair loss. She has no bald spots. She has a very thick coat, but I have to sweep the carpet 2-3 times a day. She doesn't have any fleas on her. What can I do?
6
We have two Yorkshire terriers. They seem to have fleas that we can’t get rid of no matter what we do.
1
If my dog gets a tick should I take it off or leave it on? If I take it off then should I put something on top of the spot were it was and how can I prevent this from happening again?
If your dog has a tick you should carefully remove it being sure you remove the entire tick. Then you should cleanse the area with soap and water. If it looks reddened you could apply a bit of antibiotic cream. If the redness persists or gets worse, it should be examined by your veterinarian. As spring approaches now is the time to discuss with your veterinarian which topical flea and tick preventative would be best for your dog. Many can be used monthly to keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. Your veterinarian can help you decide which is best for you to use on your dog.
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2
How can you tell if your dog has fleas?
It is usually easier to see fleas or the evidence of fleas in dogs with short, light colored hair. The best place to look for them is right above the tail area or on the abdomen where the hair tends to be thinner. Fleas are very small and dark colored and move quickly. You might see fleas or what is called "flea dirt". These are small black specks of material that can be found on the skin at the base of the hair shaft and are evidence that fleas are present. In dark haired dogs you can use a "flea comb" a device that will often catch either the fleas or flea dirt to help you see if your dog has fleas. If you are unsure, please take your dog to your veterinarian who will usually be able to determine if fleas are present.
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3
What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs?
Lyme disease is a tick transmitted disease, i.e. dogs may become ill with Lyme disease through a bite of a tick. The most common signs in dogs is an acute arthritis with lameness. Infected dogs may also experience fever, a loss of appetite and depression. Most dogs respond to treatment with antibiotics in a few days but treatment should continue for 4 weeks. In some cases dogs may develop cardiac or renal complications.
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4
I have tried everything for fleas can you give me something else to try?
Fleas can be a difficult problem to get rid of especially if you have multiple pets. All animal within the household must be treated for fleas even if they do not go outside. It might help to initially bathe all the animals to get rid of any fleas on their body taking care to use a shampoo appropriate for their age and health status. Once the fleas are off the pets, then weekly or monthly products are recommended. In cases of severe infestations it is also necessary to treat the environment since fleas can also live off the dog. In most cases if all three parameters of immediate flea removal, long term repellant and the environment are taken care the flea problem should come under control.
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5
My dog is a female border collie mix who has dry skin and is scratching a lot leaving clumps of hair. I have in the past taken her to veterinarian and he has given her a shot of steroids for skin allergies to fleas. I do use a flea control product on her for flea control. Is there something I can rinse her coat with or bathe her in to help with the hair loss. She has no bald spots. She has a very thick coat, but I have to sweep the carpet 2-3 times a day. She doesn't have any fleas on her. What can I do?
Flea allergy can cause a dog a great deal of distress. Although you are treating preventatively for fleas, in a dog with allergies even one flea bite might cause her to itch and scratch. Your veterinarian would be in a better position to recommend a shampoo to control the itching and the fleas. You may be able to control some of the hair loss if you were to brush her daily.
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6
We have two Yorkshire terriers. They seem to have fleas that we can’t get rid of no matter what we do.
Fleas can be difficult to eradicate especially in parts of the country where the climate is mild all year long. It may be necessary to treat the dogs and the environment to adequately address the problem. Your veterinarian can suggest products that will kill the fleas on the dogs and keep them protected from other fleas that may get on them as well. If you have cats in the home they should be treated as well.
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