Please help i need some advice. On saturday we rescued a puppy who had previously been a stray - so they don't know her history. They think shes around 4 months old.
I have noticed that she sneezes a lot - several times a day, and her nose runs - there is yellowy-green discharge on her blanket and she is always licking her nose after she sneezes. i thought it seems like a cold, but read in another post dogs do not get colds?
Also she has what looks like dandruff - i bathed her when we got her home with medicated shampoo in case of fleas (and cos she smelled rank from sharing a kennel!) but it hasn't gone away. On examining her coat i've found a few small, crusty scabs, but no hair loss or red patches of skin and no sign of fleas. Shes always very sleepy but i guess thats down to her age and the fact that she paces about at night cos she doesnt like us to leave her - she wil grow out of this i know.
Am really worried - i will ring the rescue centre and /or the vet for advice but am worried about going to the vet because they do tend to rip you off - i don't want to sound tightfisted, but from past experience i've been sold a £15 bottle of anti-mite shapoo for a hamster! But of course i'd pay for Tilly to get better if there was noting i could do about it myself.
She is a crossbreed/mongrel, and, as i said, we have no idea about her past history. poor thing could've been treated terribly.
Please help, any advice will be really appreciated.
Lynsey

I would have thought that would be one of the first things that you should do is go to the vets and have his health etc checked out. Unless you know the history of your dog you should take him for his vacinactions unless they have already been given at the rescue centre. Dont now the protocol at rescue centres for vacines worming etc. I wouldnt take the chance and take him to the vets. Better safe than sorry.
Hopefully others can give your more advise with his runny nose and flaky skin. Best of luck. Sorry to hear your pups sick.

She has an appointment with the vet fr her final vaccination jab, but it is a week on saturday. I am going to ring the rescue centre and ask if she was the same there - they never mentioned it to me if she was. If shes no better she is certainly going to the vet. She seems fine in all other respects otherwise she would've been straight down there.
Thanks
Lynsey

Lynsey,

I'm afraid in your position I would be concerned about Kennel Cough at best, and Parvovirus at worst, although other posters may feel this is scaremongering? I would suggest you get her to the vet immediately, I'm afraid, as if it is either of these problems you need to catch it ASAP before it gets a) more expensive and b) (most importantly) far more serious and possibly life threatening.

Skin I would imagine is unrelated to any other illness - if a normal medicated shampoo from a decent pet shop does not clear it, you may be looking at mites, and may require a prescribed shampoo from the vet. Has she had a 'Frontline' or similar flea treatment from the vet (not from a shop), as this may cure some issues?

Marina

parvo?! but wont she have been vaccinated against that? she has had 2 jabs already. I thought it came along with the runs? that side of things is fine, so is her appetite. You've scred me now. I'd thought about kennel cough - thats why im phoning the rescue place.
Lynsey

Unfortunately, that would depend on whether she was brewing it before she had her vaccination, I would imagine. As you say she doesn't have her final jab for another 10 days or so, and they are not immediately effective, she may not have been fully covered while in the kennels :(

Which jabs has she had already, if she's had two - normal puppy course is only two jabs?

Hopefully, as I said in my original post, I'm scaremongering, but far rather get the vet to check it now and catch problems early ............. even if it's 'just' kennel cough, that can be a real problem for young or old dogs where immune system is not as strong as it might be. (If she doesn't have sickness or diaorrhea, hopefully parvo isn't an issue.)

M.

Lynsey - bottom line here is you have a young puppy who sounds quite ill. The fact you have an appointment booked for the future does not stop her needing treatment now. Ring the vet, explain the position and if they are any good, they will see her quickly. Sadly, you'll have to pay what it takes to ensure you protect this baby. I wouldn't ring the rescue place yet get the priorities right - she needs to see a vet now. After that when you have the diagnosis and treatment, ring the centre to let them know.

Hope all goes well

Pam n the boys

Hiya,
thanks for your replies, dont get me wrong, i was ringing the rescue place to ask if she was showing symptoms before i adopted her so i could let the vet know that - also whether they had any kennel cough going round there. Tilly went to the vet last night, behaved beautifully for her, and she diagnosed an infection in the nose or throat, along with a high temperature - something like a human cold. Tilly is now on antibiotics and anti-inflammitaries, the vet reckons she'll be better after a week, but just in case, shes going back next week for a checkup.
Apparently, re: the jabs, some vets do it in 2, some in 3, cos i asked about that at the vets last night.
So Tilly still feels sorry for herself and is snotty and sneezy! The scabs are old flea bites, but she has no fleas now and the vet said they will heal and drop off.
So - thanks again for your help, i will keep you updated with her progress.Right now me and her are going to cuddle up on the couch!
Lynsey and Tilly

Good for you Linsey - hope Tilley is feeling better. At least you can put your mind at rest now too.

Pam n the boys

Message for Tilly (sorry spelt your name wrong first time)
Definitely sounds as if you have got yourself a nice home now, cuddles on the sofa that's the way to go :D
Hope you feel better soon, but don't forget to let your mum know that you need lots and lots of treats as well as cuddles.
Kisses & Tailwags Hobbs & Amber

Thanks Stephanie :)
Tilly update: shes been great at taking her tablets, just crunches them up like doggie chocs! Yesterday she was worse, but today she seems much better. I had the oil burner going all day yesterday with tea tree to kill germs and eucolyptus for her breathing which seemed to help her sleep better last night.
Don't encourage her with the treats! hehe she loves them - especially those tiny bonios you can get, and puppy markies and tubos :) But! she has to eat her bakers first! Or learn a new word - we already know 'sit', 'gimme your paw' and 'lie down'.
thanks for all your messages,
Lynsey and Tilly