Vet Q&A-Dog

How long does it take for Heartgard PLUS to kill roundwords and hookworms in dogs?

Hello, you should expect a die off period of 3-5 days after administration of the medication. Because it is administered orally, most roundworms and hookworms begin to die almost immediately, but it may take up to 3-5 days to have complete clearance of worms. You may recheck a stool sample in 10 days to ensure there are not more parasites noted. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I've read that the side effects of the Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick collar are itching and skin irritations. My dog has experienced severe itching for the last 7 months, while wearing the Seresto collar. She chews, bites, and scratches herself which results in skin irritation (cuts, rash, and hotspots). Do you think the irritation may be because of the collar?

This is not likely to be due to the collar. If the collar were to cause irritation, it would only be around where the collar is placed and would not cause severe itching. Severe itching is often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get other treatment if needed. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. Seven months is a long time for a dog to be itching this much and it must be miserable for her. In order to find the cause of this and give her some relief, I highly recommend you schedule an exam by a veterinarian. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. I hope that helps and she gets better soon.

My 1 year old pit bull seams to have developed a rash on her belly and inner thigh.

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Maze's rash looks very severe, I recommend having her seen by a vet as soon as possible. I notice that her belly is freshly shaved, if she was recently spayed, this may be due to an allergic reaction to the disinfectant used to prepare the skin before surgery, or even a chemical burn, and is likely painful. Your vet will be able to provide medication to keep Maze comfortable and get the swelling down.

My four month old puppy was pretty much potty trained when suddenly she started peeing every where again.

Get her checked by your vet for a urinary tract infection as a cause for the problem. If this is clear, you may have to start over with housebreaking. You can reasonably expect a puppy to hold its bladder and bowels for as many hours as they are months old. Keep your puppy on a consistent daily feeding schedule and remove food between meals. Keep the puppy on a consistent schedule. Puppies should be taken out every hour, as well as shortly after meals, play and naps. All puppies should go out first thing in the morning, last thing at night and before being confined or left alone. Know where your puppy is inside at all times. Watch for early signs that he needs to eliminate so you can prevent accidents. These signs include pacing, whining, circling, sniffing or leaving the room. If you see any of these, take your puppy outside as quickly as possible. If you can’t watch your puppy, he must be confined to a crate or a small room, door closed or with a baby gate. Gradually give more freedom, starting with a small area, and gradually increase it. If he eliminates outside, give him some free time in the house (about 15 to 20 minutes to start), and then put him back in his crate or small room. If all goes well, gradually increase the amount of time he can spend out of confinement. Accompany your puppy outside and reward him whenever he eliminates outdoors with praise, treats, or play. Take your puppy to the same place each time because the smells often prompt puppies to eliminate. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating inside, clap sharply twice, just enough to startle but not scare him. Immediately run with him outside, encouraging him to come with you the whole way. Allow your pup to finish eliminating outside, and then reward him with happy praise and a treat. If he has nothing to eliminate when he gets outside, don’t worry. Just be more watchful of him inside.

My dogs scrotum Is swollen and he's in pain..squeals if I even brush across them. Eating and urinating regularly. Is standing as laying down seems to

I see that your dog is unneutered - one condition that can come on suddenly and be extremely painful is called testicular torsion. Basically, one of the testicles becomes twisted inside the scrotal sac, cutting off the blood supply and causing swelling and intense pain. Based on your description, I would be concerned about this possibility and would recommend getting your dog to a vet as soon as possible, since he is in a lot of distress and there is really nothing that can be done at home to help. Other possibilities would include a scrotal or testicular infection, a tumor, or even a scrotal hernia.

9 week old puppies been deworm ed twice now with diarrhea and some bloody mucus in feces going on for 4 days eating drinking normally no other changes

Bloody diarrhea of 4 days duration requires a trip to a veterinarian. The dewormer may not have targeted the correct parasites or something else, like an infection, is causing the diarrhea. Don't forget to take a stool sample with you to your appointment to make sure that the dewormer has done its job.

Why all of sudden would a dog sleep in corners?

Many dogs sleep in corners when they are anxious about something in their environment, such as during a thunderstorm or if there are fireworks going on outside. It makes them feel more secure. If this is more of a general behavior change with your dog, it may be related to age - some older dogs will have changes in their sleeping habits and sometimes in their overall sleep-wake cycle, similar to what sometimes happens in people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

My dog is seven years old is pregnant. Is she good to have puppies ?

In the pet's information, you have it listed that Cookie is spayed. If Cookie is spayed, she is unable to become pregnant. However, if that is incorrect, I am not sure if Cookie has had a litter of puppies before. A dog that has never been bred before who is an older dog such as yours might have problems whelping due to the pelvic bones losing their elasticity making for a very hard labor. Your dog may need a c-section to deliver. I would be prepared for this in advance. In addition, I would consider having her spayed at the time of c section (if she has a c section) because pregnancy is hard on older dogs, and I would not recommend her having another litter after this one. There is a higher chance than normal for a difficult delivery due to her age, and there some signs to look out for, such as a foul smelling discharge during labor, strong steady contractions for over an hour without any puppies being produced, the mother is very tired and/or vomiting during labor. I would suggest speaking to your vet about additional signs to look out for labor, and having your vet examine Cookie to make sure she is healthy during this pregnancy.

My dog's eyes have been watery and red. She's been acting very down, and not herself. She's also been drinking lots of water.

Red and watery eyes may indicate an issue such as an allergy to something, or even illness such as respiratory issues. You may see additional signs such as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite or even nasal discharge. An increase in drinking water may be related, or may just be an attempt to stay hydrated if your dog is dehydrated from not feeling well (you can check this by gently pinching the loose skin on the back of your dog's neck- if it is quick to go back to normal, your dog is hydrated, if it is slow or sticky in returning back to normal, it is an indication of dehydration). If her symptoms do not resolve within the next day or so, or if she shows additional signs of illness or worsening of already seen symptoms, then scheduling a veterinary checkup is best.