Nov
12
3 Puppies With Possible Skin Infection?
Byi’m dog-sitting for my landlord, he won’t be back for 2 weeks. there are 3 jack russell puppies, all with the same kind of skin problem. the skin around their eyes, paws, and nose is pink and they look like they might be losing fur. i’ve been watching them for almost a month now and they looked like that when i got them, only now one of them has 3 bumps around her eye. they look like small mosquito bites but i’m worried cause she’s always scratching and they’re close to her eye. my landlord is very hard to get ahold of and i can’t afford to take them to the vet. is there anyone out there who’s had the same problem? they’re all very active and happy so i know it’s probably not life threatening, i’d just like some piece of mind.
4 Comments
November 12th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Most likely it’s demodectic mange which is fairly common in puppies and most outgrow it on their own. It’s an immune system issue and as the puppies systems mature they are more able to keep the mites in check.
Keep trying to get in touch with your landlord (I’m a little surprised he didn’t make arrangements with his vet so that you could take the dogs in if they needed attention) but the dogs will be fine until he gets back.
ETA: Please don’t give the puppies any sort of garlic. It can be toxic.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
You could try mixing a little bit of garlic with their food once a day and also try giving them a vitamin supplement from a pet store.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
He left 3 pups,tell you to look after them and didn’t leave a visa card or money?what if all three pups contract a serious illness?get hit by a car?
I think these pups have a type of mite called Demodex.
I cant be sure, so you must take them to a vet, because if its not demodex, then it may be mange.The vet has to look under a microscope(mites are really small).
By the time the owner comes back, the dogs can be partially bald.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I hope your landlord was responsible and left you the number of his vet. Sounds like it could be a food allergy or it could be mites. You won’t know until you check with the vet, and if you can get a hold of the landlord your puppysitting for then tell him what’s is going on, if you can’t then take them to the vet, and the bill should be passed on to the owner. If it’s a food allergy then of course change the food but you won’t know until about the time the landlord gets home. If it’s mites then you give the puppies a bath in special shampoo, and vacuum the house like crazy and wash all their bedding. You’ll have to do this for awhile until their skin goes back to normal so then you’ll know the mites have been killed. Vet is the best option then you’ll know for sure.