OK I'm ranting and venting

[john]

My aunt died a few weeks ago and left behind a nice pomeranian.  We couldn't take her in due to the apartment, but a friend of my aunt's did till we could find someone who would be willing to take her.

This lady who took her in has about 10 cats and a dog that aren't very well cared for and are crawling with fleas.  In 3 weeks this poor dog has become infested with fleas and already developed a skin rash.  My wife, a vet tech, told the woman that she has a flea problem at her home and she needs to treat all the animals.  The woman swears she never had fleas bla bla bla... So now I have to pay for the vet bills for my aunt's dog, and get the dog out of there because she won't treat for fleas.

Who in the hell is gonna adopt a flea ridden dog?  Now I'll be taking the dog out of there tomorrow and boarding her at my wife's hospital till we can adopt her out AFTER the skin rashes heal up.  Gotta get the dog out of a flea infested environment or she'll never heal up.

Ya know.  It was great that this lady was willing to take the dog in, but I see now that animal lovers don't necessarilly make good pet owners.  This lesson is costing me plenty.

[weaselnoze]

aw its ashame. i love cats and dogs(not as much as cats).  its sad when they have skin irritations because it makes them possesed!  my shnauzer had his share of skin irritations, over the past 6 yrs that we've had him.  i swear he is possesed.  his nerves are just shot so hes real jumpy.

[snapper]

Thats just not right.   :x   Those poor cats TOO!  Sounds like one of my half sisters.  Insists on all these animals.. the one time I went to her house they had a kitten with fleas crawling on it...I can't imagine how many the cat had!  I could see one on its head!  
Then she wanted me to eat there too...
No Thank You!
Ewwwwwwwwwwww!

I felt bad leaving the kitten there with them.  Still feel bad in fact!

[Cal Price]

Yeah that's a pain, those rashes are often an allergy to the fea bites. You are doing the only thing that can be done about it by getting the dog out of there. Treating the animals might give short-term respite but won't solve the problem, you have to treat the environment as the fleas don't actualy live on the dogs and cats but simply hop on and off for a meal. The eggs and larva will be in the carpets etc,. Ugh !

[john]

Exactly Cal.  Fleas actually only live/stay on a dog/cat about 10% of the time.  The rest of the time they are in the carpets/furniture ect... laying eggs and waiting for another animal to come by.  So that's right, the only way to help the dog is remove it from the environment, otherwise no matter how good Frontline works she will still get bitten again and again by new hatchlings.  Even if it costs me $100/wk at least Moxie will heal up.

[davipu]

hey, get your own web site to vent on.  :mrgreen:

[yamahonkawazuki]

yeah john, in the carpet, or (unless you are bald, in your hair also)

[Hi-T]

I hate how expensive the freakin' vet can get.  If our pup has to go the vet- I know my wallet will 150 bills lighter....

[Vball24]

Fleas can be a big issue down here in the south.  Typically the fleas will die off when the cold comes, but with our somewhat mild winters that isn't always the case.  I had problems with fleas on my dogs even after I bombed the house, sprayed the yard and put frontline on all of them.  Though since my last treatment of the yard and house and the start of using Revolution on them I haven't seen a flea since, though the real warm weather hasn't started yet.

[davipu]

and you wonder why they make dog houses,  dogs are soupposed to live outside.   and if it is too much of a "inside" dog (read pansy LA girlie man dog) butcher it, they are good eating.

[Blueknyt]

John , ask your wife to get some Frontline spray or paramite dip. its what we used on dogs and cats at animal control when they come in crawling. down here the Tics get so bad you cant see patches of coat.  

as to the old lady with the animals, we came across them alot, they are what we call Horders. they spend thier disablity checks on food for them all, always willing to help the unwanted and as good as thier intentions are, they cant provide all the care that is needed. often these folks(men too) live alone and the animals are thier only friends. they just cant see past giving them homes and food and often contribute to disease and poor health of the animals. they fear that taking them to shelters will result in noting but death for the animals and often by the time someone points them out to us it is too late and does happen.  

For the sake of the other animals, have your local Animal services stop in and check em out there is even a chance they will help medicate and spay and neuter the animals for very discounted rate if not free. no one wants to see animals die, no one wants to watch animals Rot alive from disease/paracites either.  she could get charged with animal creulty if things go on too long and yes this includes gross Flea infestation.

let me know if you need more info, ill see if i can track it down, but your better off contacting your local Humane society or animal protective services

[weaselnoze]

and you wonder why they make dog houses,  dogs are soupposed to live outside.   and if it is too much of a "inside" dog (read pansy LA girlie man dog) butcher it, they are good eating.

lol, ur so mean  :lol:

[davipu]

ever had real mexican food?

[Cal Price]

I take the point about keeping dogs outside but we are talking about John's aunt's Pommeranian here. Its probably well established with an indoor lifestyle and a change now would hardly be fair.

All of this has served to remind me to start "Frontlining" the cats again after a couple of months winter break.

[john]

The flea dip took care of all the fleas and the frontiline protects her.  The steroid shot has kept her from itching and now she's in really good shape.

Still looking to place her    She is much better potty trained than I thought.  No accidents at all.  She stays in the crate overnight without even a wimper.   During the day She gets 3 or 4 walks and does all her business and she has run of the apartment unless we both leave.

So I feel better that if she is adopted she will adjust without incidents if she gets a few walks and is crated at night (at least for a couple months so she gets used to holding it till morning).

As far as keeping a dog outside.  Do you know how hot it gets in Phoenix AZ???    Talk about literally being a hot dog!

[Blueknyt]

check with local rescue groups john, placing small ones is almost never a problem


they go fast as small dogs often work well in Apts and condo's

[yamahonkawazuki]

Where is John has he ever let anne out of the closet?

[pandy]

They're playing in the closet together.... 

[annguyen1981]

any pictures?

[bill14224]

You're right, you have to get the dog out of that flea motel, but it isn't expensive to solve the problem on your dog.  There are several effective 4 month liquid flea treatments that cost about $35.  You squirt it on the back of the neck once a month until the 4 vials are used up.  No more fleas, the breeding cycle is broken after 3 months.  All fleas and eggs gone.  It's just as good as the super expensive stuff the vet sells with his ridiculous mark-up.  Just buy it at the pet supply store.