i have just got a dog free to good home but need help???

Question

his hair on bottom of his back and tail is thinning wot is going on and how do i get him onto a complete dog food biscuits??

he has got the vets on monday was just wonderin if any1 knew about this b4 i go.

Answer 1

the thinning hair on his back and tail can be a sign of being kept in poor condition [in his own urine] or fleas in any case a bath and flea treatment should work.It could also be mange which can have several causes and ought to be looked at by a vet some of the causes are serious and may be why he was free to a good home.Don't forget there are several Charity's who will help with expenses and it might just be special bath shampoo. good luck and i hope everything is OK

Answer 2

This is why "free" dogs aren't free! Follow your vet's advice.

And next time find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

Answer 3

Could be fleas.
If the is skin hot, red and sweaty then it could be allergic excema, its usually triggered by flea bites and also grass or tree pollen.
You need to keep on top of the fleas, get the vet to supply you with something like Frontline that you drop onto the skin on the back of his neck once a month.
Try feeding canned 'butchers tripe' or 'butchers chicken and tripe' dog food with plain wholemeal dog biscuit (not the stuff thats basted and shiny, the cheap own brand stuff is usually the one) along with a nugget of frozen spinach (defrosted!) and some grated cooked carrot.
Use an equal volume of biscuit to canned meat, if he's still hungry increase the biscuit up to double the volume.
If you can't get Butchers brand then try canned sardines in oil, drain off the oil, use 60g (usually 1 tin) per 20kg bodyweight. Use double the volume of biscuit to fish. (You can check this diet with your vet)
Avoid giving him yeast or seaweed vitamin treats or supplements as they really seem to aggravate it.

Answer 4

Bless you for giving him a good home. He could just have a flea allergy, or it might be mange, but whatever, your vet will be able to help him. If you intend to feed him on all dry dogfood, you will need to start mixing a bit at a time into his ordinary dogfood every day; Keep adding a little more Bakers and a little less meat until he is on all dry food. Moistening it slightly might help too; dogs that are hungry will eat most things, but I have never known one that wouldnt eat dry dogfood. Give him dogbiscuits as a treat; they are not a food as such Good luck with your new friend.

Answer 5

The hair thinning can be several things as you have already heard. The vet will tell you what it is and what to do. I'm not certain what type of food you have available, but you may want to check at a pet store and ask them what's good. I used puppy chow for my dogs per my vet.

Answer 6

It could be mites or flea allergy the vet will have to look at it to tell what remedy to give you for it. With the food slowly introduce a good allergy free food to the diet and increase it over the week until it is only that food. Its worth getting the better gluten, additive free complete foods

Answer 7

The skin condition needs looking at by a Vet, and sooner rather than later or it may become permanent.

I feed my Dogs on Bakers complete (Beef), give it a go. It's dry and easily handled just remember that as with all dry foods you should ensure a plentiful supply of water 24/7.

Answer 8

i wish you a happy future with your new dog. it can be daunting if you're not too sure about dogs. if the vets confirms that your dog has fleas, it might also be worth considering keeping your home flea free too! i recommend `' acclaim' a spray that you can get from boot's. you spray all around your home. always follow the instructions. any creepie crawly can not survive in your home for over 6 months i'm asthmatic, it has'nt affected me at all. you can check with your vet . if you're not sure about how to look after a dog, there are many books in your library or you can get monthly dog magazines which are full of great advice on all doggy subjects such as DOGS TODAY, YOUR DOG and DOGS MONTHLY, they also tell you about great doggy websites. anyway i really wish you all the best with your new freind!

Answer 9

If you can you should probably take him to the vet or rspa for a check over as he's new to you, you may not know whats up with him (if anything). changing food, if you want to avoid the shits you should do it gradually by adding the new food to the old and reducing the old over say a week.

Answer 10

Might be best to take the dog to a vet and have him checked out.