My chihuahua puppy as ticks. Should I bathe him with the flea/tick shampoo?

Question

The guy i bought him from says he is only 6weeks old and this puppy has quite a few ticks on him. What should I do bathe him or not? I have heard to wait til he is 10 weeks or wait til he has his shots but i cant wait that long with these ticks on him. What should i do? HELP! No dumb remarks please.thanks!

Answer 1

He's so small and so young call your vet for advice. Some shampoos don't work and others are too strong so I wouldn't take a chance. You can pick the ticks off but you have to make sure you get the head! Don't wait - the parasites are robbing your little one of blood and can cause serious problems. Your vet is the best source and a phone call is free.

Answer 2

First: cut the flea shampoos. They do tend to dry out the skin, and are not an effective way to prevent flea infestations in the future. You need either FrontlinePlus, Advantix II, or any flea/TICK product dispensed by a veterinarian. NOT COLLARS You then need to treat your environment. You can treat your dogs for fleas every day if you had too, but they'll just keep coming because they're in your house now. Vacuum all linens, buy a commercial Flea fogger for every floor and any hard to reach areas you think the fog might not get to. You really should do this! People might say you don't have to, but trust me this is the only way to get rid of the fleas in your home. Second: Chihuahuas have sensitive skin. An 8 month old Chihuahua should not have a thyroid issue, I guess it COULD happen but that is very rare. There are a number of ectoparasites that you should get the Chihuahua tested for like scabies and demodex. Even those parasites can cause a secondary infection, usually mixed between fungal and bacteria, so the longer you wait, the worse it could get. Lastly: I'd invest in an air purifier. It's good for you and your pet. We don't tend to think that way, but dogs and cat's lung capacity is much smaller, and they are closer to the ground, so perfumes, cleaners, smoke, dust, etc. all can cause allergies that will manifest in skin irritations. End of story: You're looking at a vet visit. There's too many things it could be, and I'm sure some change to environment and a simple medicine will suffice, but skin infections can get worse without any intervention. Good Luck, and always remember to Spay and Neuter your companion animals.

Answer 3

shampoo him with a puppy flea and tick shampoo. if there are also fleas present...there are brands specifically for puppies this young. if you can't get a puppy shampoo until tomorrow, use tea tree oil...rub it all over the body, wait about 15 min. they should start to back out and crawl away. pick all the ticks off. the puppy can become anemic fairly quickly, as ticks are bloodsuckers. he can also contract erlichiosis, a bacterial infection from ticks, commonly known as "tick fever." it can be very debilitating. the first symptom is usually nose-bleeds. you can pull the ticks out with your fingers (wear latex or vinyl gloves) or tweezers, by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, and firmly pulling until it comes off. there will be some bleeding... put the ticks in a container with rubbing alcohol in it. TICKS DO NOT have a removable head that can stay in the skin. they do have a tiny proboscis (sucker) that can break off and stay in the skin. it'll work itself out by scabbing over and peeling or flaking off. after you pull the tick off, rub tea tree oil over the site. it's a natural antiseptic and very safe to use. do not use any additional flea or tick products for at least 2 weeks--too toxic to the system. feed your puppy a good high-quality puppy food. your pup should have it's first vaccination now, and be dewormed also. tell your vet about the tick infestation...they might want to put your puppy on vitamins for month or 2. i'd also ask for some money back from the "breeder." no reputable breeder would sell a puppy in such poor condition!! try not to take your puppy out, or have a bunch of ppl handle it...we are in the midst of the parvo season...this airborn disease can be brought into your environment on shoes, clothing, skin, flies, etc. and your puppy's system is already "stressed" due to the tick infestation. best of luck.

Answer 4

If you got the flea / tick shampoo FROM A VET, I would follow the vet's instructions. If it's an OTC (Over The Counter) product, call the vet first for advice because of the puppy's age.

Answer 5

You need to get the ticks out. You can do it yourself if they're big enough. Put a few drops of oil on the tick and after a couple of minutes, when it suffocates you can slowly pull it out by turning it to the left like a nail that you are pulling out of the wall.
However, if you leave the head inside (it can break off), the site can get severely infected.
Because it's a puppy, I would take it to the vet and they will certainly be able to help you with removal of ticks and advise on what to use on its delicate skin to protect him.

Answer 6

Hi Lost, You need to get your pet to a vet A.S.A.P. A puppy this small can die from ticks sucking alot of his blood out of him.Check and see if his gums are pale.This is a sign of blood lose. I hope things work out for your pet,and you. A Friend. Merry Christmas.

Clowmy

Answer 7

Since your puppy is so young, I would take him to a vet as soon as possible. You should be taking him anyway, to have his health checked and for his shots. The vet can remove them without the pesticides by using tweezer-type instruments. Don't try this yourself, since there is a specific way to remove ticks.

Answer 8

Take him to the vet and let him take care of the ticks.

Answer 9

bathe him normally with human shampoo. call a pet store and ask them what they suggest you use. it will be cheaper than taking him to the vet..

Answer 10

I'd take him to the doctor cause he's only 6 weeks old.