Help With Skin Condition In Rescued Bully Pup

[Flaves]

I will get his vaccination done when hes goes to the vet.

If I were you I wouldn't vaccinate an immune-compromised dog.

Some vets wont it there is an issue.

Mine wont vaccinate if there is an underlying issue.

[Jed]

Don't bathe him every day, don't put Frontline on him, don't treat him for heartworms - except with daily tablets. He is thin, he has a skin issue, and he has diarrohea, the more you do to him without knowing what is wrong, the more likely you are to aggravate the situation --- just keep him comfortable, and feed him until a vet sees what the problem is. Putting too many chemicals on an undiagnosed skin problem could well make it worse. If you don't have fleas, don't worry about Frontline.

If there is a need to wash him, use the shampoo which is antibacterial, it wont do any harm, and he probably has some bacteria with the underlying problem. If the problem was caused by floes, and he has none now, it should begin to abate.

Ensure the vet knows about the diarrohea and skin problem before he vaccinates too.

Edited May 4, 2008 by Jed

[schnauzer]

Don't bathe him every day, don't put Frontline on him, don't treat him for heartworms - except with daily tablets. He is thin, he has a skin issue, and he has diarrohea, the more you do to him without knowing what is wrong, the more likely you are to aggravate the situation --- just keep him comfortable, and feed him until a vet sees what the problem is. Putting too many chemicals on an undiagnosed skin problem could well make it worse. If you don't have fleas, don't worry about Frontline.

If there is a need to wash him, use the shampoo which is antibacterial, it wont do any harm, and he probably has some bacteria with the underlying problem. If the problem was caused by floes, and he has none now, it should begin to abate.

Ensure the vet knows about the diarrohea and skin problem before he vaccinates too.

Great advice Jed.

DO NOT put Frontline spray onto a dog with a skin condition until the condition has been correctly diagnosed by a vet.

I would also not vaccinate a dog until all medical issues are resolved.

[~Anne~]

Bomabec, I have a Pug bitch in at the moment who had irritated skin arounf her face, stomach and back legs. She has been to umpteen Vets. I must admit to not having done much but put her on a raw diet with added Vit B tabs and fish oil caps and she has improved out of sight immediately.

If you put him on Vit B, buy the low dose complex ones (50 mg per day is all they need).

Edited to add- I agree with Jed. The less chemicals the better. Get the internal body health first. I will always worm straight away though.

Edited May 4, 2008 by PugRescueSydney

[BomaBec]

Ok well I will take him to vet and let them decide.

I know they have said they wont vaccinate if the dog has kennel cough.

The diarrohea has gone... was probably the usual crappy pound food.

I havent bathed him again as I thought the everyday thing may dry his skin out like someone else said. I bathed him the minute I got home cause one it was medicated and vets have suggested before to use it with any new dogs that come in as it wont do any harm and two cause he needed a bath really badly... was covered in poo from when I was transporting him in a crate.

I seriously dont know if hes had fleas... I havent seen any on him but he mighta before which could of started the whole thing off along with a low immune system and a bad diet.

If the vet doesnt notice he has a skin problem I will be going to another vet.

[BomaBec]

Thanks for the advice everyone and totally agree that the internal being healthy is always a major factor when it comes to skin and coats and I dont like to use chemicals either.. I have put illuim neocort on him three times in three days just to relieve the itching that he has done, which is not a hell of alot and was only in spots that look the most irratated.

And yeh I always worm straight away too and bath and usually flea treat when they start scratching.

Dont heart worm except my own dog...leave it up to new owners.

[Clyde]

But you test for heartworm over 6 months?

[BomaBec]

No I leave it for new owners todo.

[persephone]

No I leave it for new owners todo.

is this common practice?

I would be devastated if I picked out a new pup/dog ..took it to the vet, and found it tested positive to heartworm

[~Anne~]

No I leave it for new owners todo.

is this common practice?

I would be devastated if I picked out a new pup/dog ..took it to the vet, and found it tested positive to heartworm

I wouldn't think of it as common practice. I test all my rescues and if clear they are immediately put on preventatives.

Bomabec - are you in a heartworm area?? If you are, then you should be ensuring each rescue is clear before placement.

[Clyde]

No I leave it for new owners todo.

is this common practice?

I would be devastated if I picked out a new pup/dog ..took it to the vet, and found it tested positive to heartworm

Nope. And like Pug Rescue, I would be spitting chips if I adopted a heartworm positive dog. Expensive to treat - not to mention the trauma on the dog putting it through surgery and vaccinations while suffering from heartworm. I'm actually surprised BomaBec that your vet doesn't insist on testing for heartworm. Perhaps have a chat to your vet, but in fairness to adopters and the dog you may want to reconsider this practice. You can always incorporate the extra fee into your adoption fee as it is probably already a little cheaper now than other rescues as you don't already cover the test. :rolleyes:

[BomaBec]

All rescues do it do they? Not from where I am from its not and I know others that dont either.

PRS as far as I know its low risk in my area. When I have spoken to vets they dont seem to bothered about it.

I tell all adopters about heart worm.

I have no idea how much people in other rescues charge for pups but just covering basic costs is all I am charging. If I was with a large rescue group (which I am not any more) I would definately do it as they can get things done about half the price I can yet the ones I know dont even do it.

Edited May 5, 2008 by BomaBec

[WreckitWhippet]

All rescues do it do they? Not from where I am from its not and I know others that dont either.

PRS as far as I know its low risk in my area. When I have spoken to vets they dont seem to bothered about it.

I tell all adopters about heart worm.

I have no idea how much people in other rescues charge for pups but just covering basic costs is all I am charging. If I was with a large rescue group (which I am not any more) I would definately do it as they can get things done about half the price I can yet the ones I know dont even do it.

Maybe there's your opportunity to lead by example and provide your adopters with happy healthy dogs that have been checked and tested.

[BomaBec]

Yeh I will look into it and how much it costs and if vets say it is needed and from what age.

[BomaBec]

Rang 4 vets and the general rule is for heart worm: dogs over 6 months are tested some have said they dont bother before 12 months and others have said if they dont show signs because its not a common thing in the Perth area its not extremely important to test.

Some will give the injection of proheart from 6 months of age others wont and treat with revolution until fully grown. The pro heart does not kill off the heart worm and neither does the revolution it just stops it getting worse and makes it dormant. Heart guard is the only one which kills it off and this is over a 12 month period of regular treatment.

The cost of the test is around 70 to 100 dollars based on dogs 10 to 30kgs.

Incorprate that into other costs (based on a 15kg male dog) such as vaccination ($50-$90), microchipping ($50-$60), sterilising ($110-$200), all wormer ($8-$10 each time), spot on flea treatment ($10-$14 each time) and not including other out going costs or buying the dog direct from pound the average rescue should be charging atleast $300 minimum to cover the basic costs.

[WreckitWhippet]

A heart worm test requires the same amount fo blood from a small dog as it does a large one. I'd be calling a few more vets and getting further quotes on that.

[Trisven13]

The prices quoted & information provided by Bomabec's vet are almost identical with what I have been told.

We have attempted to include the cost of a heartworm test into our dogs but are just not able to factor it into the price without making our adoption price beyond what rural people will spend. We speak with adopting families about it, offer to have the dog tested for them prior to adoption and advise that it is an additional expense payable by them. Everyone has been happy with that and most people get their dog tested. They are all well aware though that the dog hasn't been tested.

My vet (in Albury) has also advised that heartworm is a very low risk issue here in Albury, she recommends treating pups for it BUT believes that our protocol is completely in line with local risk factors.

[~Anne~]

The cost of the test is around 70 to 100 dollars based on dogs 10 to 30kgs.

Incorprate that into other costs (based on a 15kg male dog) such as vaccination ($50-$90), microchipping ($50-$60), sterilising ($110-$200), all wormer ($8-$10 each time), spot on flea treatment ($10-$14 each time) and not including other out going costs or buying the dog direct from pound the average rescue should be charging atleast $300 minimum to cover the basic costs.

Wow, posts such as this make me realise what a great deal I am getting then. I don't have the breakdown of costs here with me at the moment but I had a Pug at the Vet the other day for C5 and heartworm test and it cost me $60 in total and that was for an 11 kilo bitch.

BomaBec, can I suggest you buy your flea and worm products online to help with costs. I buy Sentinel Spectrum (11-22kg) and halve the tablets for the Pugs as most are under 11kgs. It costs me something in the order of $6 per dog per month to treat for fleas, worms and a heartworm preventative this way and that sure beats your cost above of $18 - $24 even if your dogs are twice as heavy as the Pugs.

[WreckitWhippet]

$46 for HW test in the country where the vet has no direct competition.

[BomaBec]

OK so I rang an few more vets and double checked on the ones I did ring first.

The heart worm test isnt based on kgs... my bad... so much info to remember

But it is around 70 dollars average but I did find one who does it for $40. another two said they dont think it is as important before 9 months to get the test done. They also said after five years the Heartworm dies and this is when it can cause a problem in the ones that may already be there that are dormant due to treatment. ... I am seriously thinking of getting my dog tested now due to this new information!

I always tell people who have adopted dogs off me before about heart worm and that the dog hasnt been done.

Very high risk areas are in the North of Australia where the whether is humid. Dense wooded areas and areas near streams/water ways are at a higher risk.

The problem is while all are within 15 to 20 minutes of me one may be on the cheap end for one thing and at the most expensive for the others which means you would be driving hear and there to get different things done.

For this boy I will just go with what I know and trust and fork out what I have to.. as hes a special case anyways being deaf .

For the future (after I take a break) I will try to get a vet to come to the party more and get some better deals. The problem will be trying to convince them to give me a discount for one dog a month to six weeks average.... possibly even longer at times on my own.

and yep PRS you are getting a good deal and I hope other rescues get good deals as no one makes money out of it even with good deals.

Thats also a good idea about getting online as it sounds cheaps as... might have to beg the old man to use his credit card as I dont use them.