Too early to bathe puppy? Fleas?

Question

My pup is an 8 week rottie. She has visible dander and contiously scratches. i don't think she's had a bath since birth? Is it too early to give her a bath? Also should i use a flea med on her.

Answer 1

You can give her a bath, just make sure she is dry and warm after. Read the differant lables of flea meds, says what age you can use them. You also can take her to vet, could be another problem, besides fleas, dry skin, mange, etc.

Answer 2

We used to use Frontline Spray for tiny puppies at the vet hospital where I worked. We'd spray a towel and then wrap the pups in the towel, with head outside it. We would use a good flea comb to get them off. Frontline Plus can be used on nursing dogs. There is an 800 number on the box, so I would suggest that you call that number to verify about using the Frontline Spray on the puppies. It is safe to bathe puppies, but only use a shampoo for puppies. Don't use a flea shampoo unless it's labeled for newborn puppies. All those I have seen are to be used on older pups. Wash all bedding and vacuum everywhere the puppies and mom have been. The fleas have been laying eggs, which have been rolling into who knows where. You must get rid of them asap. I have seen a puppy die from anemia from flea infestation. Do check with the Frontline staff about the spray and towel. We never sprayed directly on the pups, but sprayed lightly the towel. If you have any doubt, call a vet hospital and ask expert advice. It's been awhile since I have done this, so I'd like you to check with Frontline to make sure. They will tell you the right way to do it. vet tech

Answer 3

She is old enough for a bath. However before you use a flea shampoo, check to see if she has fleas. Flip her over and check her belly--if she has fleas you will either see them running or she will have red bite marks. The other place you can check is up by her ears and neck. If you can't see any fleas or flea dirt (small black flecks), then she likely does not have fleas and just has dry skin. In that case, it would be much better for her to be bathed in a mosturizing shampoo. There are great oatmeal shampoos out for dogs that really help with dry skin. The flea shampoo will probably just irritate her skin more unless she really does have fleas.

Answer 4

I just asked the vet a similar question. The problem with bathing the dog is that any kind of shampoo will make the dry skin worse. If you really feel she is in need of a bath, just use warm water and rinse her thoroughly, no soap. If you are in a cold climate, this problem is made worse with the continual running of the house heater-causing dry skin and itchiness. I would just bathe her in warm water and check her for fleas. There probably isn't any this time of year. If there is, there are creams you can buy that are very effective, don't use any powder or flea collars at her young age. Besides powder will just further agitate her dry skin. Good luck with her.

Answer 5

At 8 weeks old, she is old enough for flea medication provided by the vet. A bath, if she MUST be given one, needs to be with puppy shampoo or just a water bath. Her skin is very sensitive. Human grade shampoo is way too harsh, even baby shampoo -- the pH balance is too strong for dogs. If you use puppy shampoo, dilute it first (using an old milk jug works great).

Also, at 8 weeks old, your puppy should get started on her vaccines, so call the vet for this and while you are there, get some revolution. A puppy at 8 weeks old does not need to be HW tested first. Revolution works against adult fleas, flea eggs, heartworm, ear mites, sarcoptic mites, and American dog tick. If you wait, the puppy will have to be HW tested (more money) prior to being given this.

Good luck!

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Answer 6

Definitely no medication or any kind of chemicals. Give the baby a bath but use an oatmeal based PUPPY shampoo and conditioner. It could be she just has dry skin.

Check the puppy food you're feeding her. Look into a food that has no by products or corn. (www.nutroproducts.com - they guarantee a healthy skin and coat and other WONDERFUL benefits for large breed puppies).

What you're feeding the baby has a huge impact on the health of the skin and the scratching. Also when you take the baby into the vet discuss possible skin allergies. If that is the case stay away from and food that contains Wheat. (#1 culprit for skin allergies).

Good Luck

Answer 7

if she absolutely needs a bath - there is puppy shampoo out there but use very little of it. be very careful. a bath at that age is not necessarily healthy for the skin. check with your local pet store for flea meds, they can tell you what they got and whether or not you will be able to use it on your pup.

good luck

Answer 8

Take her to a groomer for a bath or if you do it unstead, then use your hair dryer on low to quickly dry her. Ask the vet about a flea med. Once a month is enough just for cleanliness, maybe more often if she has skin problem. Ask a vet.!!!!!! Treat them with love, kindness, and respect, just as you would treat your child.

Answer 9

I wouldn't give her a bath just yet. Its not good for puppies.
Go to you local pet store and get some Puppy wipes. You can wipe her down and keep her clean without fully bathing her. I used them with my puppy and it keep odor down and everything!

Also take her the vet. They can give more detailed instructions and let you know for sure if she has fleas. I seriously doubt that she has fleas thou, puppies dont usually get them.

Answer 10

She could have fleas for which you could use a flea comb. She could have flakes because she scratches (maybe due to food allergy or fleas). Definitely ask the vet about flea meds as they are serious chemicals. They also sell pet cleansing wipes with aloe in them you could use to give her a good 'wipe down',