Georgie-boy

Both Advantix & Advantage have the active ingredient Imidacloprid so I would find it difficult to believe that one is working on the dogs but not the cats. I too would be ruling out allergy although it does sound fairly typical of fleas. Perhaps get some Capstar tablets and dose the cats as well as the dogs. Capstar is a great product and is safe to use in conjunction with any spot on. Capstar will start killing the adult fleas within 30mins of ingestion so if it is fleas, should give the dogs some relief fairly quickly. Advantix is also safe for pregnant & lactating bitches so you wouldn't need to change your flea prevention at all.

I would be concerned about heart failure particularly with the history of a heart mumur that you describe and also if this has started since the weather has warmed up. I urge you to take him to the vet for a check up.

Sounds like you just answered your own question! I would say he has fleas - particularly if you aren't using anything yet. Most of the flea preventatives are safe from 8 weeks old. I use and prefer Advantix which does fleas & ticks but there are plenty more on the market and many do different and/or extra things. Basically its going to depend on what you want the product to do, convenience and price. Why not call or visit your vet clinic and ask the nurse for advice?

Vaccines can take up to 2 weeks to take full effect so I would wait 2 weeks to be on the safe side.

Does he wear a collar?? My 2 get small matts behind their ears due to them rubbing on the collar when they move, play etc. At the moment I am finding them getting knots in their tails all the time - no idea why - its never been an issue before. Ah the joys of long coated dogs......

I use Drontal - either the tablets or the chewies.

Just use it on the skin on the back of the neck as directed. None of those products are designed to go anywhere else.

Wait 48 hours and then bathe. And yep - Advantix is once a month not every 3 months.

Yep - lamb necks always get my 2 going.

You can just get the Bordatella injection or Intranasal and that will boost a C4 to a C5.

Most vets will only sedate/anaesthetise as a last resort. I think getting the vet to just get straight to it with no preamble will help. Being he is a puppy (and a large one at that!) I can see your dilemma. Hope you sort something out!

The Royal Canin range that Vets carry is actually specific to Vets - you cannot buy it at Pet Stores.

Out of those choices - definately the Royal Canin.

You can use Betadine liquid safely. Personally I would be stopping her from licking it too so that it can heal.

Go the white - Sentinel has wide safety margins so he will be perfectly fine on the bigger sized tablet.

Capstar can be used on puppies from 4 weeks of age. I always thought Frontline was from 8 weeks of age - but it will definately be in the instructions.

As persephone said - welcome to the world of itches! I have 2 CKCS also and my 3 year old boy is a skin dog. George's itches appear seasonal though and as the weather is warming up now, he has started scratching incessantly. Your Cav might not be itching just because of fleas. Advantage/Advantix are good products and combined with the sentinel you are giving them good flea prevention. Maybe try using the advantage fortnightly and see whether that has any effect. I find during the warmer months I need to reapply my kids flea treatment every 2 - 3 weeks. Plus the flea lifecycle is roughly 2 weeks. Otherwise get a pack of Capstar to keep in the house - Sentinel has a summer pack at the moment which is a pack of Sentinel and a free pack Capstar. Capstar is a tablet which kills adult fleas and starts working within 30mins of being administered. It will only last 7 - 8 hours and give no more than 1 every 24hours. I find Capstar very useful to have on hand particularly during summer. Other than that - I have changed their diets. I find the Eagle Pack holistic really good for skin but just be aware that they can get chunky on it. At the moment I am trialling Royal Canin Obesity and Sensitive Skin and I add Omega 3 & 6 to their food via Megaderm. George is washed in Malaseb or Quit-Itch. I tend to alternate as I find the Malaseb can at times be a little much for his skin but is a great product. Aloveen conditioner is also good to help soothe as it is colloidal oatmeal - I like to make it up as a spray and spray down the areas he is scratching/chewing. I am also using Atopica too - you would need to get that from your vet but be aware its expensive. I don't really want to medicate him at all but if I have to, Atopica is preferable to steroids and I tend to use it only during the months he is itchy. Don't rule out that it might be a contact allergy too - i.e. your Cav could be allergic to grass or a plant or tree in your yard or garden. I feel for you - having an itchy dog is no fun for them or you but there are things to try. Edited because I went nuts with the word 'also' :S

My two are on a kibble only diet - I feed Eaglepack and at the moment am trialling Royal Canin which they LOVE. Occasionally they get lambs necks for their teeth but otherwise do just fine on the kibble - its a complete diet and they do well on the brands that I choose.

Yep - what kaywoman said!

She certainly was beautiful codygirl. RIP Cody.

Jules all those amounts on the bags are guides and I find most of them to be very generous - I always feed less than the suggested amount. Change the amount to suit your two. You'll soon know if its not enough - they'll be gnawing on your ankles!!

Totally understand your concern. It's possible that her leg favouring IS a pain response...but then I am not a vet. If only our pets could talk huh??

Unfortunately paying a lot of money is not going to guarantee the success of any operation. Sometimes we as pet owners expect surgery or drugs to be a cure all when in reality they are not. I have had my left knee operated on twice (same problem both times) and I still favour that leg - doesn't mean the surgery wasn't successful, just means it is a working, weight bearing joint which is not as good as it once was and will continue to deteriorate. Cruciate surgery is massive surgery and I would certainly recommend those that are unhappy with the proposed diagnosis do get a second opinion.

You'd be looking for Avi-safe or similar microcide as your cleaning chemical. As for the puppy packs - unless you are willing to write your own handouts, you'll have to sweet talk some of the pet food reps - good luck with that.

Are ticks a big issue where you are?? If so then I would use Advantix and a monthly tablet like Interceptor Spectrum (which does heartworm & gut worms) and also Drontal monthly until she is 6 months old then you will be able to just use the Advantix & Interceptor until she is old enough for the injection. If ticks aren't a massive issue then I would use the Advocate and Drontal her monthly until she is 6 months old and then just the Advocate until she is old enough for the injection. Thats just my opinion - hope it helps.