I need puppy help - HELP!!!!!

[ThoughtCriminal]

Links and advise appreciated. I did not plan to adopt a puppy, but I found an abandoned puppy in the desert last week (left by side of road in a remote area with a small bowl of water). We're now sure about the age, our guess is 6-8 weeks.

We're looking for a good home for this very cute golden lab female, but for now, she's ours and we could use some advise. We have had a few dogs before, but it has been along time since we had a puppy (15 years) and never one this young. Here are some of the problems:

1. Fleas and ticks. Probably too young for most remedies. We got a flea comb and use it whenever she's cooperative enough, but she's still scratching quite a bit.

2. The world is her chew toy. We also got a variety of chew toys , which she attacks with great joy, but also with a short attention span - then she wants to chew on something else (furniture, cables, our shoes...). It's only been a couple of days, but we're having a hard time teaching her the difference between her toys and the rest of the material universe. We never hit her, but either remove the item or pick her up with a scold.

3. Biting (see chewing issue above)- those little baby teeth hurt.

4. Health. despite the cost (we're not in a good financial situation), we will take her to a vet next week. I'm not sure what to expect cost wise or what shots she needs at this age. She's very active and playful when not sleeping. Much of the time, her nose is warm and dry instead of cool and moist. Appetite (dry puppy food) is good and she drinks plenty of water. Yesterday we had four diarrhea incidents and one throw up, but so far none today.

Reward - help us out and I'll upload a picture!

[Madrone]

1. Hopefully some help -

Fleas - not so sure. It's been a long time since I've had a dog w/ fleas - and I wasn't the one responsible for dealing with it as I was just a kid. Where I live now there are no fleas - so life's GOOD. For me and the dog. I'd say along with the flea comb give her lots of baths - with mild baby-puppy soap!

Chewing and biting - These are relatively simple provided you are consistant. Lots and lots of chew toys that are HERS should be available - and all over the house. If she starts chewing on something she shouldn't tell her NO and give her one of her acceptable chew items. Won't be long before she gets the idea that some things are off limits and other things are HERS. You have to constantly distract her away from things you don't want her chewing but always supply an alternative that's okay.

Biting is similar. NO BITE - and provide her with something she's allowed to chew. If she's biting when you're playing with her - NO BITE. If she does it again, turn your back and discontinue play.

Lots of praise necessary! Especially when you catch her chewing on something she's supposed to!

[WolverineDG]

2. Ask the vet to give you some Capstar

Works like a dream on my cats & dogs. It's a little pill (always fun to give to cats) that kills whatever fleas are on the body, starting within minutes & keeps working for 3 days after. Doesn't work on ticks though. :( You might try giving her a bath. Go to the store & see if there's anything there you can use on puppies. Is there a local animal clinic or shelter you can call for info tomorrow?

I've never had a puppy (both my dogs were rescued as adults), so I can't help you out with the chewing thing. I guess just keep anying "illegal" up & away from her.

:hug: for being a good samaritan & rescuing a sweet puppy.

dg

[MaggieSwanson]

3. Biting/chewing suggestion:

Get her a baby Kong. Put peanut butter or a small treat in the center. Mix it up to keep her interested. Labs LOVE to exercise their jaws, and our 10 y/o yellow lab hasn't been able to destroy his Kong yet.



Another thought: check with a local Animal Rescue group. They can help you find a good, inexpensive vet and possibly even help you find a home.

You did a good thing!

:hug:

[Kajsa]

4. Frontline Plus can be used

on puppies as young as 8 weeks.

I've got two cats, adult brothers, and that's what I've used on them
since they were 3 months old. They've never had any problems with
bad side effects. Check with the vet first, to be sure she's ready for it.

Here's the best online site to buy it from.
(best prices)


http://www.petshed.com/frontline-plus.asp

It's shipped from Australia, so make sure you don't need it
immediately. It takes 5-7 business days to get it.

Good Luck and Bless You for rescuing her!:-)

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Here's a puppy pic

[MaggieSwanson]

6. Oh, she is so adorable!

And she looks WAY too innocent to be doing all those things you describe, imho.

[Kajsa]

7. She is beautiful!!

Aww- she sure found a nice family to take her in.

I'm getting verklempt!;-)

[fleabert]

8. re: fleas & ticks

puppy shampoo should be fine, ask the vet if you are really unsure. Remember to treat your home as well, as she could just keep picking them up from the carpet.

Flea (my dog) has had fleas a few times, I bomb the house immediately after giving her a flea bath, and wash all her (our) bedding in really hot water.

I concur with the other responses about biting and chewing issues.

:hug: for taking in the little one.

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. So now the NSA knows she's a Democrat

But they may suspect that she's a "Yellow Dog Democrat".

[MaggieSwanson]

10. *groan*

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[UTUSN]

11. All of those problems seem big because of the 15 years gap

but they can all be fixed and the lovableness in return is worth it. I have one old dog left who had taken to staying on a chair most of the day, until this fellow came along. Now the old dog is running around like a pup.

[MaggieSwanson]

13. This thread makes me need a puppy. Just for an hour or so...

That little guy is just precious!

[flvegan]

12. Go to petfinder.com and find a local rescue.

Tell them the same story, and that you're happy to foster the puppy until she finds a home.

They should be able to hook you up with a low cost vet, not only for shots but for her spay as well. Also, might have some info on local resources for food and whatnot.

Biting/chewing. She's a puppy. She needs toys and redirection/correction when she does this.

Fleas and ticks. See part I about the rescue and the vet.

If you hit a brick wall there, PM me, and I'll try to help set you up there.

[RebelOne]

16. Also, go to YahooGroups.com.

Search for rescues in your area. I have found homes for abandoned kittens through rescue groups listed there.

[radwriter0555]

14. Well, she's got worms and fleas. Fleas make the dog itchy and jumpy

and the worms make the tummy upset, and distrupt the animal as well. Hence, she's excitable, active, chewing, etc.

Resolve those 2 things and she'll kinda start calming down.

You can put flea drops/Frontline on her. The cheap stuff, Hartz, doesn't work. They're not cheap, but are worth every penny. It used to be that the larger containers were the same price as the smallest ones... so I bought the larger ones and saved it over month to month.

Sign up for the puppy pack vaccination series I'm sure your vet has. If you really can't afford it, check with your local animal shelter. They often have low, low cost dog vaccinations. You should also check with them on their altering program. It's usually very affordable.

You're doing the right thing with correcting her chewing. Until she's calmed down and in better physical condition, that's what you have to do.

Get her off the puppy chow. I know she's young, but it's not always best for them. Iams is very good for baby dogs. Again, not cheap, but the poops aren't smelly and because it's good food, they need and eat less of it.

Talk to her, work with her, start training her. You're going to be great doggie parents.

[XemaSab]

15. My puppy was a chewing nightmare until he was about 10 weeks old

He still tries to chew on me and other "illegal" items, but it's not as constant.

Don't be afraid to give him a time out and keep things that are "illegal" away from him for a while.

[billyskank]

17. I'm glad he still isn't trying to destroy everything in sight.

:hi:

[China_cat]

18. Ditto on Frontline or Advantage or

Advantix (will drop the ticks like mad...dead of course) and Capstar in combo. From the picture I'd up the estimate of age to closer to 12 weeks.

Runs are probably just from the change in food. It happens. Throwing up could be from bolting her food. It goes down too fast, it comes back up. Put a rock in her bowl to slow down her eating. (That's a serious suggestion, btw)

Crate train for your peace of mind and the pups safety. Crate when you can't supervise. Toys in the crate. Will also help with house training. Crate should be big enough for her to stand up, lay down and turn around and not much more. Pups are usually unwilling to soil where they live.

Good luck.

[RebelOne]

20. I can swear by Frontline.

My 8-1/2-year-old Rottie has never had a tick or flea in her life.

[IdaBriggs]

19. 88 Rescue Puppies Later, Here is My "Expert" Advice --

Fleas: Frontline or the Equivalent IMMEDIATELY. No Hartz!

Chewing: If she's a Retriever breed (and she looks like it), she's going to be "mouthy" for the first year or two of her life. You already have toys for her, and that's a good start. She is *NOT* allowed to chew on people, PERIOD. "NO BITE" is a good correction; you may have to be the "Puppy Mommy" and grab her by the back of her neck, and give her a "small shake" when you correct her. (I'm not saying 'be mean'; I'm saying BE THE MOM and make sure she knows her good manners.)

BEST ADVICE FOR CHEWING IS "BITTER APPLE" (available most places). There are two types -- one for house plants, and one not. Either one will work. Anything you don't want chewed -- electrical chords, furniture, shoes, pant legs, books, etc. -- gets sprayed down TWICE A DAY. It tastes terrible for puppies, but you can't see it or smell it. This will be the best $5 you've EVER SPENT (says the woman who replaced the vacuum chord at $40 twice). Remember that it wears off within 24 hours, so spray it TWICE A DAY. You will only need to use it for a week or so.

Feed her "good food" -- I'm a Science Diet Fan myself -- because she will eat and poop less. It looks more expensive when you buy it, but it lasts two or three times longer than the cheaper brands.

Housebreaking: When she lowers her nose to the floor, she has to go. She will have to urinate every time she wakes up from a nap, and defecate early in the morning (don't take her back inside until AFTER she defecates in the morning, or you will find a 'surprise' waiting for you after your shower), and again about twenty minutes after she eats a meal. Find a word to chant when you are looking to take her outside -- we use "OUTSIDE" -- and book her butt out there regularly. If she is going in the house, its probably because you aren't paying attention, and it is YOUR fault. (Remember that she is a baby; you wouldn't leave a toddler unsupervised, so don't leave a toddler puppy unsupervised.) Your eagle eye can get her "housebroken" within a few days. (And don't rub her nose in it; its unnecessary.)

Get a crate for her bed. Its not being mean; its giving her a private bedroom where she can have some privacy, and it works like a playpen when you are being crazy and taking showers and stuff. (Would you let a toddler roam your house unsupervised?) Use a key word when you want her to go there (we use "BED"), and amaze your friends and relatives with how well she obeys! (snicker)

You will also want to perform "puppy massage" on her two or three times a day. Remember to tug on her ears and tail, and put your hands all over her head, etc. The idea is to get her used to human contact, and also to 'child proof' her so that as an adult she doesn't 'snap' if a toddler pulls her tail or yanks her ear or sticks his finger in her face.

A well manner dog is a joy, and a poorly manner one is a nightmare. She *must* begin to learn appropriate manners now -- and I am confident you can do it!

Good luck! :) Best, Ida

[elehhhhna]

21. wow Ida you know your puppies! lol re; bitter apple

our beloved Norweigian Elkhound, Jakey, LOVED IT. Red-pepper flakes, too. He was something else.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. my herbal flea remedy's

i use both of these herbal remedies and they work GREAT.....get your essential oil at a health food store though.


i reccomend removing this flea collar at night to offer your pet a break from strong herbal scents

ingredients

2 tablespoons peppermint essential oil
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons rosemary essential oil
2 tablespoons white cedar essential oil
1/4 cup citronella essential oil
2 tablespoons eucalyptus essential oil

to make your pet herbal flea collar, measure a heavy cotton wick or a natural fiber rope that will tie comfortably arround your pets neck and slip off over its head should it become caught on a branch or fence. soak the rope in a mixture of the oils and let the rope dry several hours. then tie the collar around your pets neck.

resoak the flea collar every two weks or as needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

aloe vera and comfrey-mint healing shampoo for dogs and cats

using this healing shampoo for pets with skin irration. for pets with hot spots, apply fresh aloe vera juice to the spots twice a day for rapid healing

ingredients

2 cups strong comfrey and mint tea (still hot)
1/4 cup sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
1/4 cup fresh aloe vera juice scraped from the insides of aloe vera leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil

mix tea and sodium lauryl sulfoactate and stir until dissolved. add remaining ingredients and store in a labeled squirt bottle. shake before using, apply as for flea shampoo above, and rinse your pet well.+

[ThoughtCriminal]

23. Thanks everyone!

So far we're doing OK. I think holding a cuddly puppy and petting it until it falls asleep is a cure for just about any anxiety.

[ThoughtCriminal]

24. A funny adoption story

Long before we met my wife also rescued a pup in the desert, but it seemed impossible to train and kept trying to bite her. When she took it to the vet, she found out it was a coyote pup.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. oooops.

:7