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Greydawg

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    Florida And Fleas Help

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by Greydawg

    Well then I will continue to fight the good fight for a few more months before taking more drastic measures (ie moving back to the cold of PA). I plan on treating the apartment again this weekend and washing all his bedding again.

    Ha! No need to move back to PA!! Once you get this infestation under control and on a regular preventive program, you may never see a flea again.

     

    Clarification on Capstar... It is a temporary, fast-acting flea pill that is very effective when you need to kill fleas now. (It is the first thing I would do before I bring flea-infected fosters into my home.)

     

    Because Capstar is only good for 24 hours, you will ALSO want a preventive solution like a once-a-month application of either Comfortis/Frontline Plus/Advantage/etc (consult your vet for the best monthly treatment for your dog).

     

    Read more about Capstar:

    http://www.petco.com/product/105391/Capstar-Flea-Tablets-for-Pets.aspx

     

    :gh_bow

    Florida And Fleas Help

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by Greydawg

    Your first infestation was a month ago, so now is about the right time for the second infestation. You likely killed the adult fleas then, but their eggs have started hatching a new generation of them. (I know... Ick. But after you get this under control, the regular maintainence is pretty easy.)

     

    I have been in Florida for 35 years. Here's what I'd do...

    1. Get Capstar. You can get it at Petco, etc... Not cheap, but worth it. Give one to your Greyhound. Any fleas he has on him will die and fall off of him within an hour. Capstar is good for only 24 hours. But it gives you a great head start on getting everything else done.

    2. Bathe your Greyhound. A mild pet shampoo is fine, and it will make him feel better. You won't want to load him up with unnecessary chemicals. (Dawn dish washing detergent works on this first bath too, but I would only use it on a dog that has been covered with fleas for a long time.)

    3. Wash. Everything.

    4. Inspect dog regularly with a flea comb. If you find any lone ranger fleas, pluck and kill them. Keep looking for more.

    5. Currently, I use Frontline Plus (kills fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and chewing lice), once-a-month drops. I get them from my vet, and I would apply a treatment to my dogs now. This should keep fleas off your dog for a month.

    6. A cycle of fleas usually brings a cycle of tape worms about 4 weeks later. Ick. No biggie, though, just get a stool sample to the vet to confirm the type of worm, and get a prescription to get rid of them. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/tapeworm-infection-in-dogs/949

     

    I don't use a spray-on treatment like Adam's on my dogs. If you do all of the above, I don't think you need to, especially if you not going to take your dog into the swamp.

     

    Good luck. And get busy!

     

    :gh_bow

    First Time Adopter

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted

    Congratulations on bringing your new boy home! He is a very handsome lad... Love his formal tuxedo markings!

     

    I have learned how valuable "pack walks" are to bonding. (You and Talos being the new pack, that is.) During the cooler parts of the day, you may want to take him on 20-30 minute walks or so, side-by-side, and just "be." For me, these routine daily walks with my dogs have become the most treasured parts of my day.

     

    Best wishes to you and Talos as you learn from and adjust to each other!

     

    :gh_bow

    Exercising Your Hound

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    As a fellow Floridian, we have the following routine during the week...

     

    7-ish am... 20-30 minute walk

    Midday... a shorter "tinkle walk" (on the hottest summer days, the boyz don't want to go too far from the a/c!)

    5-ish pm... 20-30 minute walk

    9-ish pm... a 15 minute last call "tink-and-a-stink" walk

     

    The weekends usually involve longer walks. And beloved car-rides, too!

     

    :gh_bow

    Hi From Florida...please Read (About Adopting This Weekend)

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted · Edited by Greydawg

    Hello from Sarasota!

     

    Exciting times are in store for you... Enjoy the process.

     

    I read everything I could about Greyhounds before we adopted Heisman, and I found the Cynthia Branigan book, "Adopting the Racing Greyhound," very helpful. http://www.amazon.com/Adopting-Racing-Greyhound-Cynthia-Branigan/dp/0764540866/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365129282&sr=1-3&keywords=Adopting+a+retired+greyhound

     

    Keep us posted, ok?

     

     

    :gh_bow

    Dominant Greetings, Other Dogs Frightened.

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Oh, I recognize that puffed-up look!

     

    My Alex looks like this sometimes when he greets a new dog, and I am never sure what it means.

    I don't like how the encounter could end, so I get him away from the other dog right away.

     

    This just happened on Friday with another big male Greyhound who mirrored Alex's puffy behavior, and I removed Alex before it escalated. Was I right or wrong?

     

    This is an interesting discussion, and I appreciate the different viewpoints.

     

    :gh_bow

    Picking Up Runny Poop Sucks.. Food Suggestions?

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted

     

    Poop Pick-up Tip I learned from Heisman's foster mom when we first adopted him...

    Put newspaper down just when dog positions himself. Then gather it up into your bag and go. It is much easier and more sanitary, no matter what the consistency.

     

    It is not uncommon after first adopting, so be patient. I struggled with Heiman's poop at the beginning... Trying to find the right food for him was a challenge. The expensive dog foods were the worst for him. I ended up with using balanced dog food found in most grocery stores and everything normalized. More economic too.

     

    Hoping he"ll have perfect poop soon! Good luck.

     

    :gh_bow

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