Moon's Graden

> Hi Karen and congratulations on your new puppy.  :-)  At 17 weeks, Pepper
> should have had most of her vaccinations *and* wormings by now.   Since
you
> acquired her at 8 weeks, she will most likely--at most--have had only 2 in
> her "puppy set".    She will need the remaining boosters/wormings,
> especially if you have concerns about worms.   Especially if she is going
> places where other dogs have been--even if they've not been on that soil
for
> over a few months.   Her problem could be more than worms, diarrhea is a
> first symtom of *many* canine maladies, including parvo, and giardia.
And,
> rubbing her ***on the carpet/etc. isn't always a valid way of
determining
> worms or not, dogs doing this also tend to be dogs that have ***
gland/sac
> issues.  It could be something as simple as stress, or food changes, but
> unless you know for sure, why take the chance?

> >Some things have me concernced with her health right now though. I
haven't
> >been given her any medicine since I got her and I don't have alot of
funds
> right >now to take her to a vet.

> This is a very important step in owning a puppy, taking it to a vet.  I
> would recommend that you really try to come up with enough to at least
take
> Pepper in for a fecal, and an ear check.    A lot of times if you wait on
> things that are simple in the beginning, and try to treat them at home
when
> you're unsure of what the problem(s) really are, you can cause more harm
> than good--and save yourself money in the long run by not having to pay
for
> "life or death" type situations.
> I'm not saying that this is one of those--but since online it's hard for
any
> of us to diagnose what's wrong w/ Pepper, we can't tell anything for sure.

> >First, I would like to know what are some maintenance medications to
> prevent >problems from arising? (Ear problems, worms,etc.) Another thing,
> aren't there >signs or symptoms of worms?

> Some worms are visible without a microscope (tapeworms, roundworms), but
> some are not (hookworms, whipworms).   The best way to "discover" them is
by
> having your vet do a fecal exam.    Ear problems could be anything from
> yeast infections, to allergies, to something caught in the ear (like a
grass
> seed), to ear mites.   If your puppy is from a pet shop, or an adoption
> shelter, the chance of ear mites and worms are likely.

> > She has been eliminating in her house the last >day or so. She has been
> >urinating outside when I take her out,

> Wonderful!  It sounds like your on your way to potty training. :-)

> >but goes back to the door like she's finished and then later I realize
she
> has >made a mess in her house. I also noticed the form- its not as solid
as
> it normally >is...almost diarrhea but I'm not sure really. It's not runny,
> just soft. I may be just >over reacting, but I get nervous when things are
> alittle different than normal.

> Is this a new problem, or has she been pooping in her "house" (is this her
> kennel?) since you obtained her?    If it is a new problem, I would
> *definitely* take her to the vet for a check up.    Oftentimes, with worm
> problems the feces will be soft at first, then runny, then soupy, and
> sometimes ***y---at this point, the dog is in dire need of help.     It
is
> easy to over react when it's a new puppy, however, I am one to wander on
the
> safe side--to over-react,  rather than under-react.

> <snipped>
> > How can I tell she has an infection?

> Honestly, if you're unsure, it will be difficult for you to tell.   They
> could be red, stinky, yeasty smelling, have black gunk in there, all sorts
> of things. :-)   Unless you know for sure what the problem is, how will
you
> know what to treat for?

> > I'm going tonight to get some *** and cotton balls to clean her ears
> out, but >'m not sure if that's going to help or not?

> Don't use ***!  It will dry the ears out so much that it will be very
> uncomfortable.   There are all types of cleansers and products that you
can
> buy over the counter, costing anywhere from a few bucks to $10-$15.
And,
> they *may* or *may not* help the problem.    At the very least, call your
> veterinarian.  Building a good, trusting relationship is an important part
> of puppy ownership.  If you don't have one yet for Pepper, call around to
a
> few different ones to find one that you like.   Ask your friends & family
> where they go.   Ask your breeder.    If Pepper came from a responsible
> breeder, they will/should  be more than happy to answer any & all
questions
> you have about your newest family member!

> >Any insight on this will be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

> Best of luck, Karen.   Puppies cost money, it's a part of having one.   I
> hope that Pepper is feeling better soon! :-)
> Shelly, Coda & Guiness...

> > Hi Karen and congratulations on your new puppy.  :-)  At 17 weeks,
Pepper
> > should have had most of her vaccinations *and* wormings by now.   Since
> you
> > acquired her at 8 weeks, she will most likely--at most--have had only 2
in
> > her "puppy set".    She will need the remaining boosters/wormings,
> > especially if you have concerns about worms.   Especially if she is
going
> > places where other dogs have been--even if they've not been on that soil
> for
> > over a few months.   Her problem could be more than worms, diarrhea is a
> > first symtom of *many* canine maladies, including parvo, and giardia.
> And,
> > rubbing her ***on the carpet/etc. isn't always a valid way of
> determining
> > worms or not, dogs doing this also tend to be dogs that have ***
> gland/sac
> > issues.  It could be something as simple as stress, or food changes, but
> > unless you know for sure, why take the chance?

> > >Some things have me concernced with her health right now though. I
> haven't
> > >been given her any medicine since I got her and I don't have alot of
> funds
> > right >now to take her to a vet.

> > This is a very important step in owning a puppy, taking it to a vet.  I
> > would recommend that you really try to come up with enough to at least
> take
> > Pepper in for a fecal, and an ear check.    A lot of times if you wait
on
> > things that are simple in the beginning, and try to treat them at home
> when
> > you're unsure of what the problem(s) really are, you can cause more harm
> > than good--and save yourself money in the long run by not having to pay
> for
> > "life or death" type situations.
> > I'm not saying that this is one of those--but since online it's hard for
> any
> > of us to diagnose what's wrong w/ Pepper, we can't tell anything for
sure.

> > >First, I would like to know what are some maintenance medications to
> > prevent >problems from arising? (Ear problems, worms,etc.) Another
thing,
> > aren't there >signs or symptoms of worms?

> > Some worms are visible without a microscope (tapeworms, roundworms), but
> > some are not (hookworms, whipworms).   The best way to "discover" them
is
> by
> > having your vet do a fecal exam.    Ear problems could be anything from
> > yeast infections, to allergies, to something caught in the ear (like a
> grass
> > seed), to ear mites.   If your puppy is from a pet shop, or an adoption
> > shelter, the chance of ear mites and worms are likely.

> > > She has been eliminating in her house the last >day or so. She has
been
> > >urinating outside when I take her out,

> > Wonderful!  It sounds like your on your way to potty training. :-)

> > >but goes back to the door like she's finished and then later I realize
> she
> > has >made a mess in her house. I also noticed the form- its not as solid
> as
> > it normally >is...almost diarrhea but I'm not sure really. It's not
runny,
> > just soft. I may be just >over reacting, but I get nervous when things
are
> > alittle different than normal.

> > Is this a new problem, or has she been pooping in her "house" (is this
her
> > kennel?) since you obtained her?    If it is a new problem, I would
> > *definitely* take her to the vet for a check up.    Oftentimes, with
worm
> > problems the feces will be soft at first, then runny, then soupy, and
> > sometimes ***y---at this point, the dog is in dire need of help.
It
> is
> > easy to over react when it's a new puppy, however, I am one to wander on
> the
> > safe side--to over-react,  rather than under-react.

> > <snipped>
> > > How can I tell she has an infection?

> > Honestly, if you're unsure, it will be difficult for you to tell.   They
> > could be red, stinky, yeasty smelling, have black gunk in there, all
sorts
> > of things. :-)   Unless you know for sure what the problem is, how will
> you
> > know what to treat for?

> > > I'm going tonight to get some *** and cotton balls to clean her
ears
> > out, but >'m not sure if that's going to help or not?

> > Don't use ***!  It will dry the ears out so much that it will be
very
> > uncomfortable.   There are all types of cleansers and products that you
> can
> > buy over the counter, costing anywhere from a few bucks to $10-$15.
> And,
> > they *may* or *may not* help the problem.    At the very least, call
your
> > veterinarian.  Building a good, trusting relationship is an important
part
> > of puppy ownership.  If you don't have one yet for Pepper, call around
to
> a
> > few different ones to find one that you like.   Ask your friends &
family
> > where they go.   Ask your breeder.    If Pepper came from a responsible
> > breeder, they will/should  be more than happy to answer any & all
> questions
> > you have about your newest family member!

> > >Any insight on this will be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

> > Best of luck, Karen.   Puppies cost money, it's a part of having one.
I
> > hope that Pepper is feeling better soon! :-)
> > Shelly, Coda & Guiness...